April 25, 2014
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - San Diego State scored two runs on a wild play in the bottom of the 11th inning to overcome a one-run deficit and defeat San Jose State, 3-2, in the opening contest of their three-game weekend series Friday night at Tony Gwynn Stadium. With the victory the Aztecs improved to 30-12 overall and 11-8 in the Mountain West Conference while dropping the Spartans to 12-30 (6-16 MW).
Both SJSU starter Kalei Contrades and SDSU's Bubba Derby turned in stellar performances on the night, but neither was around at the end figure in the decision.
Contrades went nine full innings allowing a run on seven hits with a walk and six strikeouts. Derby tossed 7.2 frames giving up an unearned run on two hits with three walks and eight strikeouts.
Brad Haynal staked the Aztecs to a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second with his team-leading seventh home run of the season. Haynal and freshman Tyler Adkison would finish with a team-best two hits each.
San Jose State countered Haynal's long ball with an unearned run in the top of the sixth that came on a walk, fielding error and passed ball.
Aztec closer Michael Cederoth would come on in relief of Derby with two out and runner at second in the eighth, striking out the first batter he faced to end the threat. Three innings later the Spartans would get to the junior right-hander for an unearned run to take a 2-1 lead in the 11th.
An error to open the frame allowed Jacob Valdez to reach first and he advanced to third on a double by Matt Carroll. Matt Lopez then singled to left to bring home Valdez with the go-ahead run, but Cederoth got a fielder's choice and an inning-ending double play to escape further damage.
Spartan reliever Jackson Berumen, who had put two Aztecs on base with one out in the 10th, began the bottom of the 11th by walking Tim Zier and Ty France. San Jose State then called on right-hander Myles Jackson to take over for Berumen. After a fly out, both runners moved up a base on a bunt by Steven Pallares.
Then with Haynal at the plate with a 2-2 count, Jackson uncorked a wild pitch allowing Zier to score. Catcher Kyle Gallegos chased down the wild pitch and when his throw to Jackson covering the plate sailed past the SJSU pitcher France was able to score the game-winning run.
Cederoth was the beneficiary of his team's good fortune as he chalked up the victory to improve to 4-1. Berumen (2-1) was the hard-luck loser for the Spartans as he lost for the first time this season.
San Jose State and San Diego State will square off for game two of their three-game series Saturday evening (Apr. 26) at 6:05 p.m. at Tony Gwynn Stadium.