Tanner Mendonca had his best outing as a Hornet - five hits in eight scoreless innings.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Despite a gem from starting pitcher Tanner Mendonca who surrendered just five hits in eight scoreless innings, the Sacramento State baseball team dropped a 3-0 decision in 11 innings to San Jose State on Sunday in a Western Athletic Conference series at John Smith Field.
The Hornets fell to 15-31 (2-10 WAC) with the loss while the Spartans improved to 30-16 (9-7 WAC) with the win.
Mendonca, a freshman from Visalia, Calif., had his best collegiate outing. He allowed just five hits in eight innings with two walks and three strikeouts. But San Jose State got an equally strong performance from their starter, Andy Hennessey, who gave up just three hits in 8.1 innings with four walks and three strikeouts.
It became a game for the relievers in the ninth. Brandon Creel came in for the Hornets and faced just four batters to record three outs. After Hennessey forced Derrick Chung to fly out to deep right, David Del Grande bounced a single up the middle and then advanced to second on a passed ball, the Spartans made a change on the mound. Reliever Johnny Melero came into the game and tallied a fly out and strikeout to escape the inning.
Both teams went easily in the 10th inning, but the Spartans were able to break the scoreless tie in the 11th.
With the bases loaded and one out, catcher Michael DiRocco doubled down the left field line to drive in a pair of runs. After a sacrifice fly, San Jose State was up 3-0.
In the bottom of the 11th, after a ground out, Chung drew a walk. Eli Davis then singled up the middle and Chung moved to second. Both runners advanced on Jake Chilton's ground out to first. With runners and second and third and two outs, Melero was able to get another ground ball and the Spartans escaped with the game four and series win.
Creel (2-2) took the loss while Melero (3-2) earned the win. Melero allowed just one hit in 2.2 innings with one walk and one strikeout. Creel gave up three runs on two hits in three innings with two walks and three strikeouts.
Sacramento State has just three series left in the 2011 season. The Hornets will play at New Mexico State next weekend and at Nevada the following weekend. They close out the season by hosting Louisiana Tech on May 20-22 at John Smith Field.
San Jose State 3, Sacramento State 0 (May 01, 2011 at Sacramento, Calif.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
San Jose State...... 000 000 000 03 - 3 7 0 (30-16, 9-7 WAC)
Sacramento State.... 000 000 000 00 - 0 4 0 (15-31, 2-10 WAC)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Hennessey, Andy; Melero, Johnny(9). Sacramento State -
Mendonca, Tanner; Creel, Brandon(9).
Win-Melero, Johnny(3-2) Loss-Creel, Brandon(2-2) T-3:13 A-334
Weather: 77 degrees, clear, sunny
