With the game tied in the top of ninth, a runner on third and two outs, the Cougs looked to Trevor Smith who had his first at bat of the day, pinch hitting for Matt Priest. Smith delivered with a single into right field, bringing home Max Hartman from third to take a 4-3 lead.
That was not it for the Cougar bats in the ninth. Alexandre Giguère singled to left allowing Ollie Obenour and Cole Watterson to score, making the game 6-3.
The Cougars offense was not alive just in the ninth, but started in the second inning, where Dustin Robinson was able to hit a single up the middle sneaking just past the glove of shortstop Rocco Caballero, allowing for Giguère and Priest to score, tying the game. The single was the first hit in his last 17 at bats.
Robinson would deliver again for the Cougs in the sixth inning, hitting a solo home run to right field to give the Cougars a 3-2 lead. This was Robsinson’s first home run in the Crimson and Gray.
“He’s a very talented player and when you struggle it gets harder and harder… he has kept such a positive attitude… I really thought the home run was a massive deal down the stretch,” Choate said.
Starter Luke Meyers started off the game shaky allowing a two-run home run in the bottom of first, giving the Spartans an early 2-0 lead. Those would be the only runs Meyers would allow on the day, going five straight scoreless innings. Meyers would end the game with five hits, two earned runs, four strikeouts and zero walks through six innings pitched.
“He stayed on the attack, so pretty proud of him,” Choate said.
Taber Fast came in for ⅔ of an inning where he allowed the Spartans to hit a game-tying sac-fly. That would be the only hit he would allow. Rylan Haider came into a tied game and was able to keep the game tied in his 1.0 inning pitched, finishing with one hit allowed.
“[Haider] came in and did what he did. He got some ground balls…it was about the mentality of those guys out of the bullpen more than anything… you can’t ask for much more,” Choate said.
Finally Scott Reinguette was able to close it out for the Cougs, finishing with a strikeout.
This game had two additional storylines as well. Hartman’s triple in the ninth inning gives him six on the season and tied him for fifth all time in most triples in a single season. This win also means that the Cougs win the series over San Jose capping their first conference road series win since 2023.
“We were really disappointed after Friday night and how we played and I thought that the guys just stayed the course and showed up Saturday and played. Additionally, did the same thing today,” Choate said.
The Cougs will be back in action on Monday April 6 at Bailey Brayton Field to take on the Oregon State Beavers.
