By Marissa Scott
San Jose State baseball clinched its Mountain West Championship Tournament spot after taking the second game of the series against the Air Force.
Shane Timmons smacked in all six RBIs and hit his 26th collegiate home run in the Spartans’ (25-28, 15-14 MW) 6-5 walk-off win against the Falcons (24-29, 12-16 MW) Friday night.
The first baseman’s grand slam in the third inning marked the 26th time Timmon’s cleared the fence in his career, a new all-time SJSU record.
“I’ve never really chased records or anything, but it’s pretty cool,” Timmons said. “It’s just a cool feeling.”
He also hit an RBI groundout in the fifth and a game-winning RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to clinch the Spartans’ postseason appearance.
Junior left hander Andrew Mitchel pitched a strong six innings and only gave up one earned run while striking out nine batters.
In the fifth, Air Force junior first baseman Nic Ready hit his team-leading 20th home run to put the Falcons within two runs. The three-run bomb was unearned because of a pass ball that allowed a strikeout victim to get on base earlier in the inning.
The Falcons went on to score one run in the sixth and one in the seventh to tie the game at five runs apiece.
Neither team would score until the ninth when sophomore center fielder Kellen Strahm was intentionally walked to load the bases before Timmons singled in the winning run. The dugout cleared to celebrate the win, and the clinch.
“It’s been a culmination of the last month-and-a-half,” said assistant coach Tyler LaTorre. “These guys have just been incredible on the road and at home and competing their tails off … it’s been absolutely amazing and it’s all because of the players.”
Following the game, the players doused interim head coach Brad Sanfilippo with a bucket of ice water.
“I don’t know if I have ever been a part of a group like this,” Sanfilippo said. “It is the most fun I’ve had coaching in a long, long time. It’s a special group.”
SJSU looks to sweep a series for the second time this season on Saturday at 12 p.m. The seniors will be honored prior to the first pitch.
Follow Marisa on Twitter @marissascotttt
