RAMIREZ PITCHES FOUR-HIT GEM AS HORNETS DOWN SJSU 3-1
3/15/2008
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Junior Jose Ramirez, the reigning WAC pitcher of the week, pitched 8.2 innings of four-hit baseball, leading the Hornets to a 3-1 victory over San Jose State in the conference opener for both team on Friday, March 14 at Municipal Stadium.
With the win, the Hornets improve to 1-0 in WAC play, 4-8 overall, while the Spartans fall to 0-1 in conference, 8-5 overall.
In a game where runs were at a premium due to quality pitching, only two innings in the contest saw runs put on the board. In the top of the second, sophomore Tim Wheeler connected on a two-out single, and advanced to third after junior Blake Crosby reached on an error. Senior Jeff Hannah came up with the clutch hit in the inning, producing a RBI single to right center, scoring Wheeler and giving the Hornets the 1-0 lead on the unearned run.
San Jose State came right back to score in the bottom half of the inning, as Michael Maehl produced a sacrifice fly RBI, bringing home Sonny Garza to make the score 1-1. The Spartans were shut down for the next six innings, as after connecting on a hit apiece in the first two innings, Ramirez did not allow a another San Jose State hit until the bottom of the ninth.
In the meantime, the Hornets had a scoring opportunity in the top of the eighth turned away, as with two outs senior David Flores reached on an error, and was followed by a double by junior Gabe Jacobo. Flores, however, was turned away trying to score on the play, and the game remained tied at 1-1.
After a 1-2-3 inning for the Spartans, the Hornets came to bat in the top of ninth, and senior Wes Oberlin led off the inning with a single. Wheeler then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, moving Oberlin to second with one out. Following a flyout that provided the second out, the Spartans appeared to be out of harms way, as it appeared Hannah was out following a groundout to third. But after the Spartans had left the field, the umpires ruled that San Jose State catcher Corey Valine had interferred with Hannah. The catchers interference call put both teams back onto the field, and runners to first and third with still two outs. Reliever Ryan Shopshire uncorked a wild pitch throwing to senior pinch hitter Brian Boyd, allowing Oberlin to score the go-ahead run, and move Hannah to second base. Boyd then connected on an insurance RBI, doubling home Hannah to make the score 3-1.
The Spartans did spark a rally in the bottom of the ninth, as Karson Klauer hit a pinch-hit single, and then, following a pop out, Tommy Gale singled to second base. With two down, Ramirez was lifted for junior Jeff Roth, who struck out pinch hitter Jacob Bruns to end the contest.
Ramirez (2-1) threw 8.2 innings, allowing just one run on four hits, while striking out five batters and walking just two. Ramirez held San Jose State's two through five hitters in the lineup to a 0-for-12 performance at the plate. Roth picked up his first career save following the clutch strike out in relief. For the second straight start, Spartan pitcher David Berner was a tough luck loser, allowing two runs, none of which were earned, in 8.2 innings pitched, striking out seven while not allowing a walk.
The two teams will meet again in a doubleheader tomorrow in San Jose. First pitch of game one is scheduled for 1 p.m., with the second game starting 40 minutes following the first.
SAN JOSE, Calif.
