SANTA CLARA, Calif. – San Diego State was once again unable to contain a high-powered San José State offense after the Spartans clubbed their way to a second straight 17-3 victory in the second game of a Mountain West series at Stephen Schott Stadium.
Five Aztec pitchers were plagued by additional struggles on Saturday, combining for 11 walks, three hit batters, two wild pitches and a balk, while SJSU continued its barrage at the plate, with 10 of their 16 hits going for extra bases.
With the result, SDSU slips to 9-20 on the year and 4-10 in conference play, while the Spartans secure the series win, moving to 11-19 overall and 6-8 in MW action.
The Aztecs opened the scoring when Colby Turner doubled home Finley Bates and Shaun Montoya with one out in the top of the first. Previously, Bates threaded a leadoff single through the left side, while Montoya followed with a walk.
However, those two markers would be the lone highlight for the Scarlet and Black until the sixth when Tino Bethancourt led off the frame with his first home run of the season.
In the interim, SJSU scored nine straight runs between the third and fifth innings to steal the momentum. The Spartans closed the third with three consecutive RBI doubles, while Nathan Cadena provided the big bat in the fourth with a three-run homer shortly after Robert Hamchuk went yard with a solo shot.
Along with Cadena (2-for-5), Hamchuk (3-for-4, 3 R) and Jackson Forbes (2-for-5, 3 R) finished with three RBIs for the afternoon, while Theo Hardy tied the latter two teammates with three runs scored.
Dalton Bowling (3-for-5) also got into the act with a pair of doubles, driving in a pair with his first two-bagger of the day to punctuate SJSU's five-run outburst in the sixth, which gave the host school a commanding 14-3 lead.
Later, SDSU loaded the bases in the top of the seventh after Manoah Chapman was hit by a pitch, while Irvin Weems and Turner followed with two-out singles. However, Spartan reliever Tyler Albanese received a strikeout to extinguish the threat.
SJSU starter Micky Thompson (2-3) picked up the victory after tying his career high with eight strikeouts in six innings, which offset three runs (one earned) on five hits and four walks.
Meanwhile, Omar Serrano (2-4) fanned five batters for the Scarlet and Black but absorbed the defeat after giving up seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.
Offensively, Bates, Turner and Bethancourt racked up two hits apiece to lead SDSU.
UP NEXT
San Diego State wraps up its northern California excursion on Sunday when it faces San José State in the series finale between the two squads, starting at 12:05 p.m. PT. Xavier Cardenas III (1-3) is expected to take the hill for the Aztecs, while the Spartans' hurler is to be announced.
Aztecs Fall at San José State
