By Larry Larkin (@larrylarkinsjsu) – Spear Reporter
SJSU catcher Matt Spear jogging back to the dugout after flying out to center field. I Photo by Andrew Hartley – The Spear
San Jose State baseball (6-12, 2-5 MW) lost 9-6 Friday night against Fresno State (13-4, 3-1) in the first game of a three-game series at home.
It was a wild game where SJSU continued to fight after falling behind 6-0 in the fifth inning.
“Being down 6-0 and able to make it a game and then making it a game again after they put up a few more runs,” SJSU baseball head coach Brad Sanfilippo said. “I was pretty happy with our fight but obviously fell a little short.”
The Spartans got an outstanding hitting performance by redshirt senior outfielder Robert Hamchuck, who reached base four times, going 3-4 with one walk and one strikeout.
It wasn’t enough for the Spartans to get the win.
Fresno State blew the game open in the third inning, scoring three runs on three consecutive hits. The second of those hits was a two-run double by junior Rocco Peppi.
SJSU redshirt senior starting pitcher Ethan Ross didn’t have a great performance, giving up eight hits, six runs, walked three batters and struck out two in five innings pitched.
The Spartans had an opportunity in the third inning but left the bases loaded after senior shortstop Theo Hardy lined into a double play.
Fresno State scored one run in the fourth inning on an RBI groundout by junior infielder Eddie Saldivar, increasing its lead to 4-0.
Senior Tommy Hopfe hit a triple for Fresno State to start the fifth inning, setting the tone for the inning.
Fresno State jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the fifth inning.
However, the Spartans wouldn’t go away quietly, scoring four runs combined in the fifth and sixth innings.
Junior Nathan Cadena led the way with his home run to start SJSU’s half of the fifth inning.
Fresno State jumped away once again, scoring three runs in the seventh inning.
SJSU once again didn’t go away and responded by scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh via redshirt senior first baseman Hunter Dorraugh’s two-run home run, cutting the Spartans deficit to 9-6.
Ultimately, that’s all SJSU did, falling short and ending with a loss.
SJSU’s next game is at home against Fresno State scheduled for 2:05 p.m. Saturday.