Portland sophomore infielder Danny Meier hits a 2-run home run in the loss

SAN JOSE, Calif. --- The San Jose Spartans scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning to defeat the Portland Pilots 5-4 in a non-conference baseball game on Tuesday night at Municipal Stadium. Portland outhit the Spartans 10-7 in the loss, which drops UP’s overall record to 3-12.

SJSU improves to 14-9.

The Pilots, who have been outscored 25-4 during the first inning this season, again found themselves in an early hole as the Spartans scored two off of Portland starter Peter Beringhaus in the first. Ryan Angel and Aaron Loewenthal each knocked in a run with a single.

San Jose State added a run in the second when Nick Epidendio, who had reached base when Beringhaus plunked him, scored on a passed ball by reliever Blaine Hardy. Hardy then pitched a solid 4.2 innings allowing no runs on three hits and two strikeouts.

Still trailing 3-0 in the fourth, the Pilots scored when Andrew Wrisley brought home James Allan with a single to center fielder.

With the score still 3-1 with a runner on in the seventh inning, Danny Meier connected on his second home run of the season off of reliever Chris Balatico to tie the score at 3-3.

SJSU answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning. Chris Williammee made it a 4-3 ball game with a double down the right field line that scored David Pierson.

Matthew Peters led off the top of the eighth with a double down the right field line. With one out, Meier gave UP runners on the corners after drawing a walk. Sean Nicol then tied the game at 4-4 with an RBI on a fielder’s choice to the shortstop that allowed Peters to cross the plate.

But again the Spartans answered with a run in their half of the inning. With a runner on second, Austin Dirkx replaced Portland reliever Justin Ehlers on the mound. John Schafer then brought home the go-ahead run making it 5-4 with a single up the middle. Ehlers (0-2), who pitched an inning, was charged with the run and the loss.

The Pilots then had runners on first and second with one out in the top of the ninth. SJSU reliever Steve Jones got Travis Vetters to fly out to center, before striking out Peters to end the game and pick up his fourth save this season.

Wink (1-0), who gave up Portland’s run in the eighth, pitched one inning for the win.

Portland and San Jose State play the second game of a two-game set on Wednesday at 6 p.m.