By Matt Weiner (@MattWeiner20) – BSB Beat Reporter
Omaha of Nebraska 4 (1-2, 0-0) vs SJSU 5 (2-1,0-0)
Home runs from Omar Gastelum and Hunter Dorraugh, a scoreless five innings from Micky Thompson and a gutsy bullpen, resurrected a Spartans team 45 minutes removed from a 15-0 thumping.
Thompson bobbed in and out between unhittable and unable to find the zone, a common theme as the Spartans allotted a total of 14 walks while striking out 15. Potentially messy situations were made by the southpaw, however he stuck with Gastelum’s game plan behind the plate and found success.
“It’s huge to have the trust with him behind the dish,” Thompson said. “He’s a great asset to the team and honestly a great kid.”
Gastelum rode the momentum Thompson built from a strikeout to end the third by launching his first Division I big fly.
“It was a new game and we knew we were going to have to punch back,” Gastelum said. “We got punched in the mouth pretty hard and it was a family effort today.”
Gastelum’s 6 RBI’s and .500 BA are both good to lead the Spartans.
The lead was taken from one to three in the fourth inning, following a sacrifice RBI groundout from Jack Collette and a bloop single from Dalton Bowling. Hunter Dorraugh tacked on a solo bomb in the fifth inning for his second home run in as many days.
Calling the bullpen gutsy is a two way street because they got out of tight situations that they put themselves in to begin with.
Kyle Bratset came in for Thompson and got the hook immediately following back-to-back walks. James Cammarata came in right after him, walking two himself, however held the damage to one run as he got a pop out and was fired up after striking out two Mavericks to end the frame.
Cammarata wasn’t able to lock up shop in the seventh as he walked the lead off man and eventually allowed two more hitters to reach, leaving Corey Sanchez to clean up the bases loaded mess with only one out.
Sanchez didn’t disappoint. He got two outs while only allowing one runner to score on a fielder’s choice.
“I know when I come out of the game,” Gastelum said. “Whoever’s behind me is going to clean up my mess and if I go in for someone, I’m going to clean up their mess.”
The Spartans took a 4-3 lead into the eighth and were able to sneak out an extra insurance run that started with a dropped can of corn in the outfield, a sacrifice bunt and pinch runner Jeriah Lewis came around to home from second base on a wild pitch.
“It was an opportunity they gave us,” said SJSU head coach Brad Sanfilippo. “We capitalized by a sacrifice bunt and aggressive base running.”
At the time it seemed big, but the value of it wasn’t realized until Spartans RHP Brady Hill allowed a solo shot to right to begin the inning.
Hill left the eye of the storm without so much of a scratch on his body after striking out the side, ending on a controversial check swing call.
“I had a feeling it was going to be a dirt ball,”Gastelum continues “So I was prepared for it and right when I saw it I bounced up and went ‘Yes he did, he went!’ and our whole dugout as a team we sold it.”
The Spartans split the double header and now have an opportunity to take the series tomorrow afternoon.
