By Marissa Scott (@marissascotttt ):
Senior Josh Goldberg’s complete game wasn’t enough in San Jose State baseball’s 5-4 loss to Air Force Thursday afternoon.
The Spartans (9-15, 2-7 MW) extended their losing streak to five and their road-losing streak at seven in the loss against the Falcons (10-14, 4-6 MW).
Dating back to 2014, SJSU has lost its last eight to the Falcons and its last 10 in Colorado Springs.
As far as Thursday’s action, Goldberg (2-3) pitched eight innings and gave up five earned runs, including a solo home run in the bottom of the seventh inning by Falcons sophomore right fielder Ashton Easley.
Spartan pitching has now given up 19 home runs on the season which puts them in the No. 4 spot in the conference behind Nevada, SDSU and Fresno State, respectively.
The Falcons struck first in the bottom of the third with a run off of a double play, but the Spartans quickly answered.
In the top of the next frame, Air Force committed two errors which resulted in two unearned runs after freshman DH Ruben Ibarra hit a double to right center to score the second run.
Air Force took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth with two singles and a double and carried a three-run lead going into the bottom of the ninth inning.
The Spartans nearly came back by scoring two runs off of three hits and an error, but fell one run short after senior right fielder Chris Williams ended the game with a ground ball to the first baseman.
SJSU junior shortstop Aaron Pleschner snatched his first double of the season and went 4-for-4 in the game. The team had a season-high five doubles.
In a starting-pitcher dominated game, both teams’ starters went at least eight innings. Air Force senior Nick Biancalana pitched 8.1 innings and gave up only two earned runs in his first start of the season.
Junior Jake Gilbert came in relief for Biancalana and pitched a two out save, the team’s first save of the season.
With hopes of snapping their five-game losing streak, the Spartans will take the field for the second game of the series on Friday at noon.