Spartans stranded on islands

By Daniel Reedy:

Even after accounting for 22 hits over two games, San Jose State still finds itself 0-2 in its four-game series with Hawaii.

After a 6-2 loss on Thursday, the Spartans couldn’t bounce back and fell short losing to the Rainbow Warriors 8-7 on Friday.

The starting pitching buried SJSU in both games.

Game 1 starter Jake Swiech and Game 2 starter Cameron Keup each lasted three and two thirds innings giving up a combined 10 earned runs.

After sitting in the season opener, outfielder Kyle Blakeman went 2-4 and knocked in three runs during the second contest. Blakeman’s three RBIs were tied with Hawaii outfielder Adam Fogel’s three for the game-high.

Shortstop Aaron Pleschner hasn’t been affected by the geographical change and is 5-9 so far with three runs and an RBI. Pleschner is up to .353 for the year.

The only other Spartan with two or more hits in both games was the 6-foot-3 David Campbell who went 2-3 in both.

Not that a loss can be blamed on one player, but leaving several runners on base certainly plants some guilt. Juniors Corey Olivet and Shane Timmons had some chances.

Olivet left four runners on base in Game 1, finishing 0-3 knocking in just one of them. He entered Game 2 as a pinch hitter and his ninth-inning single put the tying run on base but SJSU couldn’t get him home safely as he was thrown out trying to score off a double by Campbell.

First baseman Shane Timmons went 2-4 in the first game, but was shut down in Game 2, going 0-3, stranding three runners. He still leads the team in RBIs with 13.

Second on the team in RBIs is Chris Williams who also went 2-4 in Game 1 but went hitless in the second contest.

Freshman Kellen Strahm’s went 1-2 with a walk and a run in Game 2. Strahm’s 16-game hitting streak ended Thursday.

SJSU has used 10 different pitchers thus far, with starters Graham Gomez and Josh Nashed expected to start the next two games.

Hawaii will look to guarantee a series win as the Rainbow Warriors face off with the Spartans for Game 3 in Hawaii. First pitch is scheduled for 9:35 p.m Pacific time.

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