By Georgia Blair — Staff Writer
San Jose State (19-28, 12-11 MW) lost the weekend series to San Diego State (28-19, 13-9 MW) 9-7 and lost its second-place standing in the Mountain West conference.
A five-run second and a three-run third innings proved to be the difference in the loss as the Spartan pitching staff was unable to hold off the hard-hitting Aztecs.
After loading up the bases in the first inning, junior infielder Nick Knecht drove in two runs with a single to center field to give the Spartans an early 2-0 lead.
Senior Tevin Cadola seemed poised for a strong start after dealing with the SDSU hitters in the bottom of the first.
Things quickly changed in the bottom half of the second when Cadola issued three walks and gave up five hits and five runs.
The Spartans answered right back in the third. Four runs crossed the plate courtesy of senior shortstop Aaron Pleschner’s 2-RBI double and junior designated hitter Blake Berry’s 2-RBI single.
Cadola remained in the game and gave up three more runs on four hits in the bottom of the third.
Sophomore Wesley Clawson entered the game in the fourth and closed out the last five innings of the game for the Spartans, allowing just two hits and one run.
SJSU scored one more run in the seventh off the bat of junior center fielder Anders Davidson to make it 9-7 in favor of SDSU. It proved to be too little too late.
Berry, Knecht and Pleschner led the Spartans with 2 RBIs each.
SJSU threatened every inning with runners left on base all nine turns at bat. They left a total of 18 on base on the night.
After spending considerable time away from the line up due to injury, junior Kellen Strahm entered the game for a pinch hit in the ninth inning.
His presence in the line up has been missed and his return is something the Spartans definitely need.
The Spartans will look to avoid the sweep in the third game of the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
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