By Andrew Hartley(andrewhart1ey) – Spear Reporter
Spartans head into the dugout after retiring the side. | Photo by Titus Wilkinson
The second most runs allowed in a series in the Brad Sanfilippo era led to SJSU (20-20, 13-9 MW) being swept in three games by Air Force in Colorado Springs, CO. (21-24, 14-10 MW). A big series between two of the top three teams in the conference.
The 42 runs allowed this weekend were only behind the 46 they allowed last year on the road against Nevada.
Twenty four runs were given up on Sunday in a game that the Spartans even led at one point, 11-9.
“Our guys learned some tough lessons in all phases of the game and we’ll take these lessons home,” said Sanfilippo.
SJSU wasn’t able to overtake SDSU in the Mountain West standings this weekend and are now two losses behind the Aztecs
Air Force’s Jay Thomason and Jake Grieving slugged a combined 17 for 27 with 22 RBIs. Thomason drove in a Mountain West record 10 runs during Sunday’s blowout victory over SJSU.
In total from the series, SJSU’s pitching allowed four runs or more in seven different innings. The pitching staff also committed three of the Spartans’ five errors amidst the sweep.
SJSU entered the weekend with the third-best ERA in the Mountain West, but slid down one spot to fourth.
It felt irregular for a team that coming into the series had the third-best ERA in the Mountain West.
SJSU managed at least nine hits in all of the games this weekend but left eight runners on base in each game. More offense was expected this weekend with the added elevation coupled with Air Force positing a Mountain West-worst 7.30 ERA.
Charles McAdoo continued his strong season in this series going 10 for 15 with four RBIs. Theo Hardy also did his job as the leadoff hitter, hitting .428 this series and added two RBIs.
SJSU will fly back home and is set to face Saint Mary’s this Tuesday at 3 p.m.
