March 12, 2011
Box Score
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Scott Lyman hit a three-run home run to left field to tie the game 6-6 in the fifth inning, but San Jose State rallied with three runs in the sixth, then held off the Aggies to win 9-6 Saturday at Municipal Stadium in San Jose.
UC Davis drops to 3-11 on the year while San Jose State improves to 10-4.
San Jose State jumped out to a 3-1 lead, before UC Davis tied the game with two runs in the top of the fourth. Lyman led off with a base hit up the middle, before Paul Politi followed with a double into right field. Eric Johnson reached first base on a fielder's choice as Politi moved to third, but Lyman was thrown out at home for the first out of the inning. An error was called on San Jose State second baseman Michael Reiling after he mishandled Alex Dreyfuss' hit. The ball rolled under Reiling's glove and into center field, allowing Politi to score. Johnson would get home on an RBI base hit from Justin Andrade to tie the game at three runs apiece.
In the fourth, San Jose State took back a 6-3 lead on a base hit from Danny Stienstra which scored both Nick Borg and Michael DiRocco. Zach Jones would score the Spartans' third run of the inning on a single by Jason Martin.
Lyman hit a three-run homer over the left field wall in the fifth to tie the game at 6-6. Scott Heylman and David Popkins led off with back-to-back singles before Lyman stepped up and cleared the bases with his shot.
The Spartans, however, rallied back with three runs in the sixth inning as, with two outs, Stienstra walked, then advanced to third on a base hit from Martin. Caleb Natov singled to left center, allowing Stienstra to score, then Tim Quiery tripled to right center field, bringing home Natov and Martin.
UC Davis was unable to score again and San Jose State claimed the 9-6 win.
The Aggie offense strung together a streak of six straight innings with the leadoff batter reaching first base that lasted until Popkins hit a fly ball to center field to start the seventh inning.
Brett Morgan and Lyman each hit 2-for-5 while Politi was 2-for-4. Justin Andrade was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Scott Walker started the game on the mound for UC Davis but was replaced by Nathan Slater after only one hitting. Ryan Lucas relieved Slater in the fourth inning, but picked up the loss to move to 0-2 after giving up the two-RBI triple in the sixth.
For the Spartans, Jones, Stienstra and Martin each registered two hits. Stienstra added three RBIs while Martin and Quiery each drove in two runs.
Roberto Padilla moved to 3-1 as he earned the win after throwing eight complete innings and giving up six runs while striking out four. Eric LeBaron got his first save of the year after he entered in the ninth to close the game.
UC Davis concludes the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament on Sunday, taking on Santa Clara at 3 p.m. at Stephen Scott Stadium.
