By Dawson Smith – Spear Reporter | Infielder JC Osorio-Agard at bat on April. 25| (Photo courtesy of SJSU Athletics)
San Jose State baseball (17-22, 5-8 MW) lost 20-10 to Air Force (19-20, 10-6 MW) in a high-scoring blowout despite the Spartans’ early dominance.
The game featured 32 total hits, 30 runs, eight home runs, and eight walks. This led to 310 total pitches between the teams.
The Spartans had seven of nine in the lineup record a hit, and six of them had multiple hits during the game.
Redshirt junior infielder JC Osiro Agard led the Spartans today, going 3-for-5 with an RBI and a triple.
The Spartans held a 9-1 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning and appeared on their way to a mercy-rule victory.
Until Air Force came out of nowhere, gaining eight runs to tie the game.
“We came out with some pretty good energy in the first half to take a lead,” SJSU head coach Brad Sanfilippo said.
Senior outfielder Jake McCoy and senior outfielder Neil Jansen combined for 784 feet on the Spartans’ two home runs.
“The game became pretty offensive and we just didn’t keep up with it,” Sanfilippo said.
Senior pitcher David Thomas was dominant through four innings, allowing just a single run. However, Thomas kept digging himself a grave as he was unable to find his put-away pitch.
The thin air of Colorado caught up to the Spartans in the bottom of the fifth. Cooling off anything the Spartans had cooked in the previous innings.
The Falcons exploded for an eight-run frame, highlighted by back-to-back home runs off Thomas to tie the game at 9-9.
This collapse by Spartan pitchers extended to the bullpen, as all six allowed at least one earned run.
As a collective, the pitchers only punched out three batters, proving that they weren’t ready for the elevation.
While Air Force stayed hot, the SJSU bats went cold from the sixth inning on and were out-hit 10-2.
The result adds pressure to the Spartans’ last stretch of games. With 11 more Mountain West games remaining, each game matters as UNLV trails closely for the sixth and final conference tournament spot.
The Spartans look to even the series at 12 p.m. Saturday against Air Force at Erde Stadium in Colorado Springs.
