By Alex Stoev (@alexstoevsjsu) – Spear Reporter | Senior shortstop Rocco Caballero ready to bat vs Santa Clara (Photo by Alex Stoev) – Spear Photographer
San Jose State baseball (2-2, 0-0 MW) lost a rainy contested game to the Santa Clara Broncos (3-2, 0-0 WCC) 8-6 on Wednesday night.
Both teams started off red hot in the game, as the first two innings saw a combined 10 runs, with the score tied 5-5.
However, a rain delay took effect in the middle of the first inning, and once play resumed, both defenses settled in for the chilly night.
Santa Clara outscored SJSU 5-3 in innings one and two after the delay. After that , it took four innings to see the next score.
As pitching started getting hotter, Santa Clara redshirt junior left fielder Max Ross caught senior pitcher Kyler Bacosa off guard with an RBI single that brought home senior second baseman Thomas Ferroggiaro to give Santa Clara a 6-5 lead.
Santa Clara would maintain their lead for the rest of the game.
During the game, SJSU used six different pitchers, the most in a game so far this season. SJSU head coach Brad Sanfilippo addressed the struggles saying “trying to get the guys nerves under control.”
“We’re trying to get into some game shape and game action and obviously we need to be more competitive in the zone,” Sanfilippo said. “We gave too many free bases away and that doesn’t lead to winning baseball often. And in these midweek games we oftentimes go through quite a lot of arms.”
The pitcher that struggled the most was arguably junior Spencer Kratt. As although he only pitched the first inning, he gave up four runs on two hits and walked three batters.
Senior right fielder Alex Fernandes though continues to play great, this time not much on the mound.
Even though he had one hit in four at-bats, he managed to score two runs, but he feels like he could’ve done better in this game.
“Just trying to carry my same approach across all my at-bats,” Fernandes said. “Hit my first one, then hit a ball hard during my third or fourth at-bat that didn’t go my way, and you know just gotta keep going up there and stay consistent.”
The game featured two of three different weather delays and postponements that SJSU has experienced so far this season.
The first was that Tuesday’s game had to be postponed against Cal Poly, and the second had the game be played at Stephen Schott Stadium instead of at Excite Ballpark.
Coach Sanfilippo expressed how he was able to keep the team fresh through all the delays and postponements.
“I think you’re just ready for it. You know these guys play summer ball back in the Midwest and all over the country so they’re used to playing in this type of weather,” Sanfilippo said.
Fernandes gave his perspective on staying ready through the delays.
“You just can’t lose focus. You know we just treat it as a normal day and if you gotta wait 20 minutes or two hours you gotta stay ready and stay loose,” Fernandes said.
The Spartans will return home for a three game series against the University of San Francisco with the first game being at 3:05 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 20 at the Excite Ballpark.
