By Lucas Quick (@quick_lucas12) – Content Editor | SJSU’s baseball team storms the diamond after Peyton Rowles’ walk-off single on March 10. (Photo by Niles Hall – The Spear)
Chaos unravels at Excite Ballpark, with San Jose State baseball (5-11, 0-0 MW) stuns U.C. Berkeley (13-4, 0-0 ACC) as freshman second baseman Peyton Rowles knocked in a blooper single to walk off a 3-2 nailbiter on Tuesday night.
Trailing 2-1, Rowles stepped up with the bases loaded and two outs that would eventually snap a five game losing streak for the Spartans and the Golden Bears’ 11-game win streak.
“It’s an unbelievable spot for the freshman to come through in,” SJSU head coach Brad Sanfillipo said. “He shows that the moment is not too big for him.”
The Spartans rotated through six pitchers in the game, but fifth-year pitcher Caden Duke created momentum for the Spartans. He threw 2.2 innings and escaped a jam with runners on first and third base, shutting down the Golden Bears in the ninth inning.
Over the past three seasons, he’s pitched only 13.1 innings and returned this season after suffering a broken spine that kept him out all of last season.
“It was pretty heartbreaking but I’ve trusted it,” Duke said. “A couple of rough years doesn’t change that. I know who I am, I’ve played this game for a long time and I know what my team can do around me.”
After a leadoff solo home run by senior right fielder Alex Fernandes in the first inning.
The Spartans’ batting struggled at the plate, recording only two hits and no runs until the eighth inning.
That’s when the Spartans were able to spark ignition and revive the batting order. Rowles singled and third baseman Alan Ramirez doubled, which would give SJSU life and tie the game, 2-2.
SJSU’s pitching collectively got out of situations with runners in scoring position and paved the way for the offense to stay in a tightly contested match. U.C. Berkeley left 13 men stranded on base in the loss.
Majority of U.C. Berkeley’s scoring chances came in the first few innings. Pitchers Jesse Gutierrez and Kyle Calzadiaz would get out of multiple jams and help the Spartans hold a 1-0 lead through the first three innings.
Gutierrez is still in the process of recovering from Tommy John surgery. He got the start, but only pitched in the first inning before Calzadiaz took over.
The Spartans have had a difficult schedule to open their season, being on the wrong end of both blowouts and close games. But a comeback like this can be all that’s needed for them to gain momentum.
“I know we all know how we are,” Duke said. “Putting the pieces together is nice. I think we’re going to go on a little run here.”
SJSU now has two days of rest before its opens up conference play, hosting University of New Mexico at 6:05 p.m. on Friday at Excite Ballpark.
