By Nancy Castaneda — Staff Writer
A 10-run eighth inning by University of San Francisco was the difference as San Jose State baseball (7-5, 1-2 MW) fell 12-6 at Benedetti Diamond on Tuesday.
Down by three in the eighth, the Dons (6-5) erupted for 10 runs on 7 hits that ultimately won them the non-conference matchup.
The Spartans had a strong first inning as they scored five runs. With bases loaded, junior infielder Troy Viola was hit by a pitch that scored an easy run.
Three RBI singles followed from junior infielder Blake Berry, and freshmen outfielder James Shimashita and infielder Nico Malbrough to make it 4-0.
The last run for the inning came from freshman catcher Ryan Belluomini, who grounded into a fielder’s choice to give SJSU a 5-0 lead.
Sophomore pitcher Nicholas Morales was on the hill for the Spartans and threw 2.0 scoreless innings with two strikeouts.
In the third inning, freshman Chandler Giles relieved Morales and gave up two runs in his 2.0 innings pitched.
With a 5-2 lead entering the eighth, the bullpen could not keep it together and allowed the Dons to score 10 times.
After relieving senior Zach Wallace with two runners on, junior Anders Davidson gave up a single and a bases-loaded walk that made it 5-3.
Sophomore Connor Konishi came in to pitch from right field and allowed 6 unearned runs on 5 hits, including a three-run homer from senior Jonathan Allen. He finished the game 4-for-5 with 5 RBIs.
Junior outfielder Kellen Strahm drove in the SJSU’s sixth and final run of the game with an RBI single in the ninth — but it wasn’t enough to recover from USF’s late offensive splurge.
Davidson was credited with the loss after he left the go-ahead run on base when Konishi relieved him.
San Jose State returns to Municipal Stadium on Friday at 6 p.m. to start a three-game series with Air Force Academy.
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