The day started bright and early at 10 a.m. as the two teams looked to finish what they started Friday night. In the ninth inning, San Jose State's Tyler Christian led off with a double and scored on a single by Michael DiRocco. Esteban Guzman pitched the final two innings for the Spartans, striking out the side in the ninth inning to earn the victory.
In the first inning of the first full game, San Jose State (14-6) collected five consecutive hits, including three doubles, off Seattle U starting pitcher Brandon Kizer (Marysville, Wash.), who lasted just 1/3rd of an inning before being taken out. The Redhawks scored once in the bottom of the first without the benefit of a hit, as Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.) walked, advanced to third on a Spartan error, and scored on a wild pitch.
San Jose State starting pitcher Roberto Padilla cruised through the first eight innings, allowing only three hits while striking out seven Redhawk batters. Meanwhile, the Spartans increased their lead throughout the game, helped by four Seattle U errors as well as home runs from Nick Borg in the seventh inning and Christian in the ninth inning.
Down 9-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth, Seattle U started to solve Padilla, thanks in part to an RBI double by Roberts and run-scoring singles from Matt Comer (Bozeman, Mont.) and Bryndon Ecklund (Elma, Wash.). Even though the Redhawk rally ended with a foul out, the home team would score four runs and use that momentum to help them in the second game.
Another Seattle U defensive miscue allowed San Jose State to score first in the second game, as Zach Jones reached on an error and scored on a double by Danny Stienstra. The Spartans had a chance to extend the lead in the third inning when Michael Reiling was hit by a pitch and advanced all the way to third base, but a groundout by Jones ended the inning.
In the bottom of the third, Steve Kirbach (Kirkland, Wash.) led off with a single, and Trent Oleszczuk (Beaverton, Ore.) singled to put runners on first and third with one out. After Cullen Hendrickson (Auburn, Wash.) drove in Kirbach with a groundout, Doug Kincaid (Portland, Ore.) launched a home run over the right field wall to put the Redhawks ahead, 3-1.
San Jose State cut the deficit in half in the fourth inning when Stienstra doubled to right-center field and scored on a single by Kerry Jenkins. However, Seattle U starter Seafth Howe (Seattle, Wash.) would not allow any further runs, earning his third victory of the season after giving up five hits and two runs in six innings of work.
Seattle U put the game away in the bottom of the fifth, as Josh Kalalau (University Place, Wash.) drove in two runs with a double to left field and scored on a single by Roberts. Blaine Jones (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) fought with his control in the seventh inning by allowing three walks, but a double play and a strikeout would close out the Spartans, as the game ended in the middle of the seventh inning due to a pre-determined time restriction to allow for San Jose State's travel plans.
"It was hard for us to maintain the momentum we created Friday night thanks to yesterday's day off. They jumped on us and we were not able to answer right away," head coach Donny Harrel said. "We challenged ourselves a little after that (the first game Sunday) and the guys responded really well by not giving up a full series like we did at times last season. Our growth and maturity as a club showed in the final game today."
Oleszczuk finished off a spectacular weekend offensively, going 8-for-12 during the three-game series. Kincaid went 2-for-3 in the second game of the day with a ground-rule double and a home run, his second home run of the season.
Seattle University (8-6) leaves Tuesday morning for a Spring Break road trip south, first heading to Corvallis, Ore., to face the Oregon State Beavers Tuesday and Wednesday, March 22-23. The Redhawks then stop on their trek back north to take on the Portland Pilots next Friday and Saturday, March 25-26, before returning to Seattle and hosting Nevada at Bannerwood Park Monday, March 28, at 12:30 p.m.