By Matt Weiner (@MattWeiner20) — BSB Beat Reporter
Lost in the war of the Spartans’ thrilling 6-5 walk-off win against the San Francisco Dons, was a meticulous defensive effort to fend off a merciless blitzkrieg featuring bunts and aggressive baserunning.
Without it, the comeback would’ve fallen down like a house of cards.
The Dons laid down a sacrifice bunt on three occasions and were successful twice.
In the second inning, Darius Foster tear dropped an Aaron Eden fastball right in front of Makan Olaso to advance Lane Oliphant to second base, who came around on a single by Luke Keaschall to put the Dons up 3-1.
The Dons’ lone bunt-blemish came in the top of the sixth inning with no outs and runners on first and second. Nick Yovetich was given the simple task of committing baseball seppuku. He needed to sacrifice his own at bat to move each guy over 90 feet to set up a potentially prosperous runner on second and third with one out situation that could put the game out of reach. Yovetich committed a blunder by shooting a pea to Thompson, setting the lefty up to hose the runner at third base on the force out.
Makana Olaso threw his hat into the ring the following at bat, by sniping a runner out attempting to steal third. The Spartans ability to withstand the “Engage Eight” blitz the Dons sent their way was a masterful display of team baseball.
Olaso’s snipe to third base wasn’t enough evidence for the Dons to call the dogs off.
In the next inning, Keaschall led off the inning with a single and decided to see if Olaso was a one hit wonder like Iyaz. If the name doesn’t ring a bell you’ve clearly never had your iPod stuck on replay.
“That was a big league play,” said SJSU head coach Brad Sanfilippo. “That’s a big time arm and play that was huge in terms of defensively for us to control the running game.”
While Omar Gastelum’s walk-off stole the show, it’s important to remember the plays that kept the Spartans in the game to set up for the heroics.
