By Larry Larkin (@larrylarkinsjsu) – Spear Reporter
Michael Rice pitching during the game against St. Mary’s on March 12, 2024. I Photo by Nick Orozco – The Spear
San Jose State baseball (7-13, 3-6 MW) lost the final game of its three-game series 6-2 Sunday at home against Fresno State (14-5, 4-2 MW).
The game was tied 2-2 after six innings before Fresno State took the lead in the seventh.
The Bulldogs would tally on three more runs, extending their lead to 6-2 in the eighth inning on sophomore infielder Murf Gray’s three-run home run.
The Spartans outhit the Bulldogs seven to five but couldn’t capitalize with runners on base.
“Just didn’t do enough offensively to create opportunities and cash them in,” SJSU baseball head coach Brad Sanfilippo said.
The difference was Fresno State’s five extra base hits compared to SJSU’s one. That hit was redshirt senior third baseman Dalton Bowling’s double in the fourth inning.
Bowling went 1-3 with a double and a walk.
Fresno State’s leadoff hitter, junior infielder Eddie Saldivar, walked to start the game.
He advanced to third base on back-to-back groundouts before scoring on a wild pitch.
The second inning was more of the same for Fresno State, with Gray taking the walk to start the inning.
Fresno State’s second run of the game came two batters later, with Gray scoring from second base on an error.
The Spartans’ best inning of the game was the sixth inning, where they scored their only two runs of the game. The two runs came on redshirt senior first baseman Hunter Dorraugh’s sacrifice fly and redshirt junior outfielder Kimo Fukofuka’s RBI single.
Fresno State took a 3-2 lead in the seventh inning when junior catcher Justin Stransky hit a solo home run.
SJSU starting pitcher Michael Rice had a short but effective outing, pitching four innings, giving up one hit, two runs, one earned run, walked two batters and struck out one.
Redshirt senior outfielder and San Jose native Robert Hamchuk was the only Spartan with multiple hits in the game, going 2-4.
SJSU’s next game is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. Tuesday on the road against Santa Clara.