By Brianna Huffmaster (@bhuffmaster2024) – Spear Reporter
SJSU assistant coach Joshua Pike talking to the infield during a mound visit. | Photo by Brianna Huffmaster – The Spear
San Jose State baseball (12-21, 7-8 MW) traveled to Fayetteville, Ark. to play a two-game series against No. 1 Arkansas (29-3, 11-1 SEC). The Spartans entered the series with a four-game winning streak while the Razorbacks looked to extend their 21 home-game winning streak. SJSU was the team who not only had its streak ended, but also swept.
Game one Tuesday night was a 5-1 loss but there were some Spartan highlights against the best collegiate baseball team.
SJSU starting pitcher Keaton Chase struck out a career-high seven batters through 4 2/3 innings. Jesse Gutierrez and Cade Van Allen came in for relief and did not allow the Razorbacks to score.
The lone run for the Spartans came in the second inning with a solo homer from catcher Matt Spear. It was his second home run of the season.
Though SJSU’s offense outscored San Diego State 41-10 last series, the team only had two hits in its first game of the series. Both hits came in the first two innings.
“I liked our effort, I thought we did some really good things,” SJSU head coach Brad Sanfilippo said. “Offensively, we have to do a better job of creating opportunities.”
Game two on Wednesday afternoon followed a similar script. The final score was 8-2 and the only runs came from a two-run homer from Spear in the seventh inning. SJSU shortstop Theo Hardy went 2-for-3 with a single, double and a walk.
It was a 4-2 game going into the bottom of the seventh inning, but Arkansas capitalized to expand its lead.
The Spartan offense once again couldn’t solve Razorback pitching. SJSU could not capitalize with runners on base leaving five stranded throughout Wednesday’s game.
On the mound starting for the Spartans was Tyler Albanese who finished his day just after two innings of work giving up two runs on five hits and two strikeouts.
“We were going to need to play perfect baseball to win today,” Sanfilippo said. “We played well, but we did not play perfect baseball.”
Playing the Razorbacks at their home field was going to be the biggest challenge for the Spartans this season.
SJSU baseball will continue to travel this weekend with a three-game series against Mountain West rival Nevada. First pitch of the series is set for 6:05 p.m. Friday at William Peccole Park.