April 23, 2011

Box Score

SAN JOSE, Calif. - San Jose State capitalized on two errors and three well-placed singles to compliment Blake McFarland's complete-game, five-hit shutout as the Spartans clinched the series win and knocked off Louisiana Tech, 4-0, Saturday afternoon at Municipal Stadium.

Following a leadoff single from Andrew Rodriquez, Craig Hertler reached after his sacrifice bunt was airmailed by Tech starting pitcher, Mike Jefferson. With two runners now in scoring position, the Spartans took advantage of a Danny Stienstra ground ball to second that went under the glove of Austin Hedges and brought home two runs.

After keeping the Bulldogs off-balanced in the first three frames, McFarland allowed a leadoff single from Hedges and a one-out walk to Alex Williams to put two runners on in the fourth. However, despite issuing a walk to Clint Ewing to load the bases, McFarland pitched himself out of the jam as he forced Colby Johnson to foul out to left field.

McFarland (5-2) was masterful the rest of the way as he allowed just five hits while striking out nine batters and issuing just three walks in 9.0 innings of shutout baseball to pick up the win.

In the eighth, Jefferson issued a leadoff walk to Rodriguez who then advanced to second on a sac bunt and stole third as the Tech battery was intentionally walking Stienstra. With his pitch count passing 110 pitches, Jefferson was relieved for Sam Alvis.

Inheriting two runners with just one out, Alvis fired a wild pitch that allowed Rodriquez to score and then gave up a soft single to center field that brought home another run to give the Spartans a 4-0 lead heading to the ninth that they would not relinquish.

Jefferson (4-3) was tagged with loss after allowing just two earned runs on two hits and a season-high six walks in 7.1 innings of work.

Louisiana Tech (19-21, 4-8 WAC) returns home to J.C. Love Field for 12 of their next 13 games beginning Tuesday night at 6 p.m. CT as the Bulldogs host Grambling State.