Feb. 15, 2014
SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Diego State used a four-run sixth inning to build a lead and then held on for a 5-3 victory over San Jose State Saturday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. The result left both teams with records of 1-1 overall and in league play after spitting the first two contests on opening weekend.
The Aztecs put their first run on the board in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead. Seby Zavala walked, was sacrificed to second by Spencer Thornton, advanced to third on a single to right by Ty France and scored on Brad Haynal's sacrifice fly to center.
SDSU starter Mike Robards made that run stand up through five innings as he shut out the Spartans on four hits over that span. His teammates then produced a four-run rally in the top of the sixth to give him some breathing room.
Back-to-back one-out singles by Zavala and Thornton set the table to France to lash a two-RBI double to right center to put the Aztecs up 3-0. Haynal followed up with a double of his own to bring France home. Walks to Andrew Brown and Greg Allen loaded the bases with two out before Tim Zier's infield single drove home the fourth run of the frame.
The Spartans finally got to RoBards in bottom of the sixth when Matt Carroll connected for a home run to left with a man on board to cut the SDSU lead to 5-2. When RoBards issued a two-out walk in the next inning it signaled the end of his afternoon as he was lifted in favor of closer Bubba Derby.
Derby worked his way out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh inning and got through the eighth allowing just a walk. The Spartans did get to him for a run in the bottom of the ninth and had runners at first and second with two out before he got a strikeout to end the contest.
RoBards, whose final line read 6.2 innings allowing two runs in six hits with a walk and strikeout, picked up the win while Derby was credited with his first save of the year. San Jose State starter Jonathan Hernandez took the loss.
Ty France and Spencer Thornton led the Aztecs with two hits apiece on the day with France and Brad Haynal each driving in two runs.
San Diego State and San Jose State will wrap up their weekend series Sunday afternoon with a contest scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start at Municipal Stadium.