San José State University’s baseball team lost 3-2 to the University of Pittsburgh on Sunday at Excite Ballpark, concluding a three-game series in which Pitt won all games. The Spartans are now 4-11 for the season.
The game saw San José State trailing 3-0 until the bottom of the eighth inning. Alex Fernandes led off with his first home run of the season, reducing Pitt’s lead to two runs. Alan Ramirez followed with an RBI double that brought Peyton Rowles home, narrowing the score to 3-2.
In the ninth inning, San José State managed to get the tying run into scoring position after a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice bunt. However, Pitt’s relief pitcher retired the next two batters, ending San José State’s rally attempt. The Spartans left nine runners on base and had only one hit in eight opportunities with runners in scoring position.
Pitt took an early lead with a two-run homer in the first inning and added another run in the third. Dylan Smith started for San José State and allowed three runs over five innings, taking his second loss of the season. Relievers EJ McGrew and Tyler Albanese pitched four scoreless innings combined, allowing no hits and striking out three batters between them.
Fernandes finished 3-for-5 at bat, marking his sixth multi-hit game this year and extending his on-base streak to 15 games as well as his hitting streak to six games. Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI, while Rowles was 1-for-5 with one run scored.
San José State will next play against Cal on Tuesday, March 10 at Excite Ballpark. The game is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and will be available on Mountain West Network.
