By Sara Biela (@sarabielaa ):
Sawyer Pittman’s first career home run was not enough for San Jose State baseball against the Saint Mary’s Gaels at Municipal Stadium.
It dropped its non-conference matchup 5-2 thanks to Matt Green, who had himself a four-RBI night.
The Spartans (9-14, 1-5 MW) handed the Gaels (13-9) 12 free base runners while stranding seven of their own.
“On a lot of levels, it’s definitely frustrating,” said head coach Brad Sanfilippo. “You have to play cleaner baseball to beat a really good team.”
SMC got on the board first in the top of the second inning off an RBI double from Green.
The sophomore then made it 3-0 Gaels in the fourth frame with a two-RBI single to right center.
Junior Pittman’s first-career home run gave the Spartans their first run of the game in the fifth.
“That was pretty awesome seeing that out of Sawyer,” said freshman pitcher Walker Brinkman. “I’ve been waiting for him to do something special and that was it.”
Sophomore catcher Johnny Mendoza scored on a wild pitch later in the inning and made it 3-2 Gaels after five.
Green hurt the Spartans for a third time in the eighth inning with another RBI single that extended SMC’s lead to two.
Senior catcher Jackson Thoreson tacked on an insurance run for the Gaels in the ninth with a fielder’s choice.
The Spartans extend their losing streak to four after the Gaels took the three-run victory. Sophomore starting pitcher Josh Zanger received his first loss of the season.
“We need to limit the free bags,” said junior pitcher Justin Watland. “We need to take it amongst ourselves for our pitching staff to do our job.”
The Spartans resume conference play on Thursday with a three-game series against the Air Force Falcons (9-14, 3-6 MW) in Colorado Springs.