McDaniels scored to give the Hilltoppers an 8-6 lead. Leading off the bottom of the ninth with the score again knotted, 8-8, Roberto Garcia drew a walk and was replaced at first by Taclas. Ricardo Banuelos' sacrifice attempt was popped up behind the plate where Nitschke made a sliding catch, but speedy Taclas tagged up and advanced to second. Watkins and freshman Brian Hardt then walked, loading the bases and setting the stage for McDaniels.
Jim Rogan, a transfer from East Carolina, "could be our best defensive catcher right now," according to Hill, who can also call on junior Ted Turkington (Foothill JC) and sophomore Brian Hardt, who batted .246 in his first season at USF.
In the tenth, the Dons looked to have things sewn up when Clark scored on a Brian Hardt double, but the Spartans answered back yet again, sending the game spiraling into the twelfth inning. Then, center fielder Jess Taclas led off with a single, advancing on a Clark sacrifice and stealing third on his own. McDaniels, Hardt, and Fegan then drew back-to-back-to-back walks to score Taclas, and San Jose State was out of answers. Derek Johnson, who struck out five in his 4.2 innings of work, set the Spartans down in the bottom of the twelfth to earn the 7-6 win, his first of his collegiate career (TheFoghorn).
