By Hannah Moore:
After a rough patch of home losses on the weekend, the pressure is surely on for the San Jose State baseball team to win tonight’s home game.
The series sweep by the Air Force Falcons began Friday April 21, when the Falcons took an early lead, scoring two runs in the first inning but eventually lost 12-6.
The Spartans fell behind early on in Game 2 and went on to lose 9-7. SJSU led 7-4 going into the ninth, but gave up five runs in the final inning. Air Force scored a pair of runs, bringing the score to 7-6 with two singles, a double and a walk. Falcon Nic Ready whacked a three-run homer, which brought Air Force ahead to 9-7 as the visitors racked up five runs in the inning. Spartan Starter Jake Swiech pitched eight innings, a career high for the student-athlete, and scattered ten hits.
The pattern of falling behind early in games appeared to end in against the Falcons when the Spartans grabbed 4-1 lead from the start of Sunday’s game. The Spartans managed to get ahead in the first inning as they had in Saturday’s game, aided by two Air Force errors, but could not overcome the pair of home runs hit by the Falcons.
The Spartans hit four doubles during Saturday’s game, which was a season high for the team, and catcher Joseph Stefanki roped the second home run of his career.
Saint Mary’s College has had two consecutive wins against Pacific this past weekend. The Gaels won 5-1 on Saturday and 3-2 on Sunday. Right-handed pitcher and infielder Kevin Milam leads ST. Mary’s in RBIs with 33. Outfielder Joey Fiske’s 48 hits this season lead the Gaels.
The Spartans will face Saint Mary’s in a non-conference game tonight at 7:00 p.m. at the Municipal Stadium. The game will conclude the season series against the Gaels, in which part one took place last week on Tuesday April 18 in Moraga, California.