By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Basketball Beat Reporter
Photo via Titus Wilkinson
Celebratory bubbles wafted aimlessly from a bubble machine as Dalton Bowling was caught in the eye of a storm of Spartans by second base.
Ironically, it was because Bowling bursted Saint Louis’ bubble of a late-inning, four-run comeback with a walk-off single in the 10th inning during Saturday’s 7-6 win.
“It’s fun having that energy in the dugout the whole day then giving your guys a win is just awesome,” said Bowling.
Bowling’s hot-shot down the line came on the same slider from Ethan Bell that fooled him earlier in the at bat and twice during a strikeout in the seventh inning. The difference this time, other than connecting, was the pitch’s location.
“He [Bell] kind’ve has that funky arm motion so it was hard to pick up in the first at bat, but in the second at bat saw it a little bit better. I just saw it up right away,” said Bowling.
The aforementioned strikeout came amidst dry spell from the the seventh through ninth innings where SJSU didn’t score a run and let Saint Louis rally back from a 6-2 lead.
Spartans’ manager Brad Sanfilippo felt confident sending starting pitcher Micky Thompson out for the seventh inning for the first time in his two seasons at SJSU. His pitch count was favorable and he struck out he Billikens three and fourth hitters — Patrick Clohisy and Cameron Swanger — during a dominant 1-2-3 inning.
However, things went downhill quickly after Thompson struck out Tyler Fogaty to start the inning.
He allowed a walk to Dominic Cusumano followed by a one-hop double off the wall to Austin Neuweg and with runners on second and third, third baseman Dalton Bowling booted a ground ball allowing SLU to make it 6-3.
The Billikens tacked on two more runs to make it 6-5 after an RBI groundout from Ethan Sitzman and Thompson’s day finished after Cole Smith singled to centerfield.
SJSU’s manager Brad Sanfilippo said he kept Thompson in because of a low pitch count and “there hadn’t been a ton of stress, and he was really good in the sixth. Almost looked like he was getting stronger there.”
It was a disappointing ending to what would’ve been one of the best starts from Thompson’s during his resurgence.
Thompson’s ERA now stands nearly seven runs lower at 2.60 than what it was a year go (9.50) and he finished with a final line of 6.1 IP, fives runs (two earned runs), three strike outs and three walks.
Thompson, a transfer from Washington State, credits his success and ability to pitch through difficult situations to the game becoming “fun again” for him after his time spent playing in a summer league. “Overall, my mechanics are the same just mentality is a lot different.”
Keaton Chase relieved Thompson and got out of the inning without any scratches. The righty, who missed all of last year with Tommy John, mowed through Saint Louis’ lineup in the eighth and took the mound in the ninth with the score at 7-6 to close the game.
Chase, who hadn’t shown any control issues, walked the first batter and advanced him to second base on a wild pitch with one out. Stitzman grounded out to Bowling deep in the hole and Hayden Moore advanced to to third. This set-up a critical moment as SJSU catcher Matt Spear allowed him to score from third on a passed ball to tie the game.
“We haven’t played Friday, Saturday, Sunday yet. So trying to figure out how the weekend rolls,” said Sanfilippo.
It was the first time SJSU lost sole possession of the lead since scoring three runs in the bottom of the third to charge past an early 2-0 deficit.
Chase got himself out of the inning, but the game went to extras after SJSU couldn’t advance Theo Hardy past first base in the bottom of the ninth.
The 10th inning lasted a handful of minutes as Darren Jansen retired the order 1-2-3 with two strikeouts.
“Keaton was rolling. He did a great job of getting the first out in the ninth,” said Sanfilippo. “Keaton’s thrown 10 pitches and he’s pounding strikes with three different pitches.” He also said that Jansen is available tomorrow if needed.
Sanfilippo’s decision to have Jereiah Lewis pinch run for Hamchuk back in the bottom of the eighth inning came back around to benefit SJSU in a huge way.
Jereiah Lewis led the inning off with a walk and advanced to second on a stolen base. By moving into scoring position it decreased the pressure on Bowling. “Jeriah stole a bag so I just wanted to drive him in for a chance to win.”
All he needed was a nice swing to call game.
Which he did.
The Spartans finished the day with 15 hits, hit .419 (13-31) in advancement opportunities, but hit just 1-10 with two outs and left 12 runners on base.
Hamchuk, Charles McAdoo and Bowling each had three hits a piece and Jack Colette and Theo Hardy both had two hits.
The Spartans look for the series sweep over Saint Louis tomorrow at 11:05.