SAN JOSE, Calif. – With the game all tied up at 1-1 in the seventh, San José State loaded the bases and managed to push across two runs in the last of the seventh en route to earning a 3-1 victory over Utah Valley University in the first game of a four-game non-conference series on Friday night at Excite Ballpark in San Jose.
 
UVU drops to 1-8 on the young season with the setback, while SJSU has now won four straight and improves to 4-5 on the year. 
 
"I think when we have opportunities to score runs, we need to produce. It's that simple," head UVU coach Eric Madsen said. "We are a talented team and we definitely let the game get away from us. We need to come out and be ready to win two games tomorrow (Saturday)." 
 
With both starting pitchers putting up zeros into the fourth inning, the Spartans were the first two get things going with a run in the bottom of the fourth to take a 1-0 advantage. Following a leadoff walk from Reece Hernandez, SJSU's Drew Williams drove in the first run of the game with an RBI double to center give the Spartans the one-run advantage. UVU did cut down Williams trying to advance to third on the play, however, to help end the threat in the frame. 
 
UVU starter Jesse Schmit then responded by tossing scoreless frames in the fifth and the sixth to keep a 1-0 contest.
 
Still 1-0 in the top of the seventh, the Wolverines threatened by getting runners on the corners with two away. Following a one-out single from Mick Madsen and a two-out hit from Jeff Arens, UVU then loaded the bases thanks to a base on balls drawn from Bay Area native Jake Berry. With SJSU reliever Nicholas Morales now on the mound, freshman Garrett Broussard delivered a two-out RBI single through the ride side of the infield to drive home Madsen and tie the game at 1-1. Arens also tried to score on the play for UVU, but was cut down at the plate on a nice throw from SJSU right fielder James Shimashita to keep the game deadlocked at 1-1. 
 
The Spartans didn't waste any time answering, however, by loading the bases and scoring twice in the last of the seventh to regain the lead at 3-1. Following a trio of singles, SJSU's Ruben Ibarra managed to draw a bases loaded walk to give the Spartans a 2-1 lead. San José State's Hernandez followed with a sacrifice fly to center to give SJSU a little insurance at 3-1. With two outs and runners on first and third, San José State then tried a double steal attempt but UVU managed to cut down a run at the plate to keep it a two-run contest. 
 
UVU got a leadoff single from Connor Hall in the eighth, but SJSU reliever Morales bounced back by retiring the next three batters in the frame and fellow Spartan reliever Jonathan Clark earned the save in the ninth by retiring the side in order to end the ballgame. 
 
Madsen led the Wolverines offensively on the day by going 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Broussard went 1-for-3 with a run batted in. Johnny Mendoza led SJSU by going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Ibarra, Hernandez and Williams all drove home runs in the game from the Spartans. 
 
Despite taking a no decision, Schmit again had another impressive outing for the Wolverines by surrendering just one run on two hits over 6.0 innings of work. Schmit also struck out seven in the contest and retired the side in order in both the third and the sixth innings. Travis Parker (0-2) was tagged with the loss in relief for UVU while SJSU reliever Morales (2-0) earned the win and Clark picked up his first save of the season. 
 
The weekend series will continue with a Saturday doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m. MT/1 p.m. PT. The finale is then set for Sunday at 1 p.m. MT/noon PT. Following the series, UVU will return to the state of Utah for a midweek matchup against crosstown foe BYU on Tuesday, March 3 at 5 p.m. at Larry H. Miller Filed in Provo. 

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