SANTA CLARA, Calif. – San Diego State's late rally fell short on Sunday, as host San José State held on for a 7-4 victory in the finale of a Mountain West series at Stephen Schott Stadium on the campus of Santa Clara University.
The Aztecs (9-21, 4-11 MW) scored three runs on four hits in the ninth off the Spartans' Cade Van Allen and threatened to narrow the gap with runners at first and third. However, the SJSU reliever induced a pop-out to end the game.
With the result, the Spartans (12-19, 7-8 MW) completed the weekend sweep and won their fifth straight over SDSU since last season.
Trailing 7-1, the Aztecs trimmed the margin in final frame when pinch hitter Drew Rutter doubled home Tino Bethancourt and Josh Quezada, who led off the inning with a walk and a double, respectively.
Following a groundout to the pitcher, Rutter crossed the plate on David Whittle's RBI single up the middle, pulling the Scarlet and Black to within three at 7-4. Despite striking out the next batter Finley Bates, Van Allen still found himself on the ropes after yielding a single to Shaun Montoya, but Irvin Weems popped up to second base for the final out.
SJSU starter Ethan Ross (2-3) picked up the win after scattering four hits and three walks in six scoreless innings before giving way to Jesse Gutierrez (1 IP, 2 H, 1R) and Corey Sanchez (1 IP 0 H, 0 R) in succession.
Nursing a 2-0 lead, the Spartans took advantage of four walks and a hit batter in the sixth, plating five runs on just two hits to give themselves some separation.
Dalton Bowling provided the key hit with a two-run single after Sebastian Orduno and Matt Spear drew bases-loaded walks, while Hunter Dorraugh scored on a wild pitch.
Earlier, Theo Hardy scored on Robert Hamchuk's RBI single in the second before racing home in the fourth on Forbes' infield hit.
Despite five strikeouts, SDSU starter Xavier Cardenas III (1-4) absorbed the loss after giving up five runs on four hits and five walks in five-plus innings before giving way to Chris Canavan, who was lifted for Jadon Bercovich after walking two straight batters in the sixth.
The Aztecs held a 10-7 advantage in hits, including three by Quezada, who set a season high, while Whittle (2 RBIs) finished with two.
Quezada broke their scoring drought in the seventh when Quezada led off with a double down the right-field line and advanced on a wild pitch before crossing the plate on Whittle's single through the left side.
UP NEXT
San Diego State will split a pair of non-conference midweek games, playing host to Long Beach State on Tuesday, April 9 at Tony Gwynn Stadium before heading across town to battle UC San Diego on Wednesday, April 10 at Triton Ballpark. Both contests are slated for a 6 p.m. PT start.
Late Aztec Rally Falls Short at San José State
