By Max Garcia (@Maxgarci09)-Spear Reporter | Jeriah Lewis in action during the game where San Jose State lost 3-5 against Utah. (Photo By Abby Westrope – Spear Photographer)
San Jose State baseball could not keep up with Cal Poly on Tuesday, falling 18-4 to the Mustangs.
The Spartans’ defense struggled early, giving up 18 runs on 15 hits in the first four innings.
Wild pitches proved costly for SJSU, leading to three runs for Cal Poly. The Spartans cycled through four pitchers before the fourth inning and made seven total pitching changes by the end of the game.
The Spartans couldn’t throw breaking balls, so they had to throw fastballs in hitters’ counts, and the Mustangs capitalized.
“We did not pitch as we have been pitching, and so obviously, they took advantage of a poor night on the mound for the first part of the game,” head coach Bradd Sanfilippo said, “we scored multiple innings. We had a Bases Loaded twice with less than two hours, and we didn’t capitalize on those opportunities.”
In the first inning, SJSU Designated hitter Jake McCoy tied the game 1-1 for SJSU with an RBI single, bringing in Right fielder Alex Fernandes.
Trailing 14-1 in the third, McCoy hit a two-run home run, driving in SJSU Zach Chamizo. The homer marked McCoy’s third of the season.
“I knew they were just going to try to attack the zone, so I went up there looking for that, and I was able to catch one just like it,” McCoy said. “He gave me a no-fastball, and I just didn’t miss.”
In the fourth inning, second baseman JC Osorio-Agaraed scored on a right-field double by first baseman Drew Giannini, adding another Spartan run.
Fernandes drew two walks, extending his on-base streak to 16 games
Despite recording 11 hits, the Spartans struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities.
SJSU’s scheduled game against Santa Clara was canceled due to weather. The Spartans will now face San Diego State in a three-game road series beginning Thursday, March 14, in San Diego.
