By Marissa Scott
Jake Swiech’s six innings of one-run baseball propelled San Jose State baseball to a 3-1 win over Air Force Thursday night.
The Spartans’ (24-28, 14-14 MW) win against the Falcons (24-28, 12-14 MW) brought them one victory away from solidifying their Mountain West Tournament Conference Championship appearance.
“It was a really well-pitched game,” said interim head coach Brad Sanfilippo. “I am happy that we came out with the win tonight, but we still have a long weekend ahead against a very good baseball team.”
The senior right-hander pitched one of his best and longest outings of the season. His strong performance came out when the team needed it most.
“I had the thought in the back of my head that it might be the last game I throw,” Swiech said. “We handled our business and we won today, it gives us new life.”
The Spartans struck early after senior first baseman Shane Timmons singled in a run in the bottom of the first. In the next half inning, the Falcons knotted the game at one after sophomore right fielder Ashton Easley hit a sacrifice fly to account for the only Air Force run of the game.
Four innings later, Timmons led off the inning with a double and the hero of the Spartans’ series in San Diego played that role again.
Sophomore catcher Johnny Mendoza singled in Timmons to break the tie. Timmons went 3-for-3 with an RBI and two runs scored on his birthday.
In a similar story, Timmons got on based and was knocked in by senior third baseman David Campbell’s double to give the Spartans insurance runs in the eighth.
SJSU’s pitching staff held Air Force’s strong offense to just five hits. Junior right handers Justin Watland and Fineas Del Bonta-Smith followed Swiech’s strong outing with four shutout frames to secure the 3-1 win for the Spartans.
“Winning tonight was huge, it gives us momentum going into the rest of the weekend,” Campbell said. “We have the confidence so we should be able to do it.”
With a win on their side, the Spartans look to clinch their postseason birth as they head back on the field Friday night at 6 p.m. for the second game of the series.
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