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LATE RALLY DOOMS BASEBALL IN 5-3 LOSS AT SAN JOSE STATE
4/20/2007
 SAN JOSE, Calif. — San Jose State scored two runs in the eighth innings to break a 3-3 tie en route to a 5-3 win over Sacramento State, Friday evening at Municipal Stadium.
Trailing 3-2 entering the eighth inning, the Hornets rallied to tie the game. Ryan Blair, who hit in the leadoff spot for just the second time this season, opened the inning with an infield single and was advanced to second base by Blake Crosby. A deep fly out to center by David Flores allowed Blair to tag and move to third before Jacobo shot a ball through the left side of the infield for his team leading 25th RBI of the season. The Hornets eventually loaded the bases with a single from Tim Wheeler and a walk to Montana Dye before the Spartans were able to induce a groundout to end the threat.
Sacramento State turned the game over to Cyrus Sarraf in the bottom of the eighth. Sarraf came on in relief of starter Alvaro Orozco who allowed three runs in seven innings of work but threw 118 pitches during that span. Sarraf began his stint by fanning Brian Yocke but then issued a walk to Justin Santich-Highes and a single to Ryan Angel to place runners on first and second with one out. San Jose State then took advantage of an error to load the bases before Donata Giovanatto singled up the middle to drive in two runs.
The Hornets attempt to tie the game in the ninth inning fell short despite a valiant effort. Pinch hitter Wes Oberlin reach first with a one-out walk and Blair singled to center to place runners on the corners. However, the Spartans turned a 1-6-3 double play to end the game.
San Jose State jumped on Orozco to start the game before the junior found his groove. A leadoff walk and a double Marcus McKimmy began the game. The Spartans looked to take an early lead sending Ryan Angel to the plate on McKimmy’s double but Blair hit his cutoff man (Crosby) who rifled a shot to Travis Kirkman at the plate in time for the first out. Giovanatto followed with a double of his own to score McKimmy and later scored on a fielder’s choice to make the score 2-0 after one inning.
The Hornets answered right back with two runs of their own in the second. Jacobo singled to start the rally and moved to third on a double from Wheeler. Dye did his job with a ground ball to the right side of the infield to plate Jacobo. The second run scored on a fielder’s choice to second to give Jeff Hannah an RBI.
That score held until the sixth inning when McKimmy singled to score Yocke.
Offensively, Blair, Jacobo and Wheeler each had two hits to lead the Hornets. Dye, Hannah and Kirkman also added a hit
Orozco recorded another strong start, scattering 10 hits over seven innings. The junior also added three strikeouts with two walks in a no-decision.
Greg Shannon picked up the win after pitching the eighth inning to improve to 5-1. Corey Cabral came on in the ninth for his first save of the season. Sarraf moved to 0-4 with the loss.
The series will continue on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
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