By Lucas Quick (@quick_lucas12) – Senior staff writer | Junior pitcher Kyle Calzadiaz throws a pitch. (Photo by Lucas Quick)
It was a back-and-forth game, but San Jose State (3-1) got the final punch in a thrilling 8-7 win over Utah Valley (2-3).
Through seven and a half innings, both teams were knotted up until senior outfielder Jeriah Lewis stepped up to the plate. He was the leadoff hitter and would hit a solo shot out of right center field that would eventually become the winning score.
Lewis’ home run was just one of many contributing factors behind the top of the batting order. The first three leadoff hitters with Lewis, junior infielder Rocco Caballero and Zach Chamizo have been crucial to the success of the Spartans’ offense through the first four games.
“We all pull for each other really well,” Chamizo said. “And that’s what makes us such a good team.”
They went for a combined six hits and four RBIs in their victory over the Wolverines.
Early on, the game looked to be a pitchers duel between Cade Cushing and Landon Zaborowski, as both teams had a combined four hits and Utah Valley held the only run through the first three innings.
That would halt immediately, as both offenses dueled through the rest of the game.
A surging sixth inning by the Spartans look to have prevailed, breaking the 3-3 tie with four runs scored. They were able to capitalize on the bases loaded, as the Wolverines left them stranded in the same inning.
However, a second chance was given to Utah Valley, and four runs were scored to even it back up.
Senior outfielder Alex Fernandes kept his momentum in a strong beginning to his season. He knocked in a run from a triple and has hit .529 through four games.
On the pitching side, SJSU took the approach to have a bullpen game and rotated through seven pitchers. The results were both positive and negative.
“When you have a bullpen game, you have some flexibility,” head coach Brad Sanfilippo said. “Sometimes when you throw that many arms in a game, it’s not exactly going to go perfectly planned.”
Both teams still have three more matches, as game two of their four game series is on Friday at 3:05 pm at Excite Ballpark.
