By Brian Allen

Sports Writer

This past weekend, Tech baseball started Western Athletic Conference play by losing two of three games against San Jose State University on the road.

The Bulldogs (10-16, 1-2 WAC) started off on a positive note by winning Friday night 11-4, but Saturday and Sunday proved to be tough losses for the young Tech team. Saturday's final was 10-2 and Sunday's final was 4-3 in a hard fought 11-inning game.

Clayton Meyer improved his season record to 3-2 while pitching an almost flawless eight innings, Friday, while only giving up one earned run in the performance. Meyer struck out six and only gave up five hits to the Spartan team.

The game was tied at zero for five innings until the Tech offense ignited, scoring six runs in the top half of the sixth inning. The offensive force was led by Jeff Walker, Brandon Hudson, Brandon Haygood and Gary Holik who all had singles in the inning.

Tech added five more runs in the top of the ninth to secure the lead over the Spartans. Andrew Alsup came in to pitch the bottom of the ninth for the Bulldogs and ended the Spartans hopes for a comeback in the seven-run victory.

Saturday's game forecasted a different outcome than Friday's game for Tech, as San Jose scored in six consecutive innings en route to a 10-2 blowout win over the Bulldogs.

Brody Love (1-3) was the starting pitcher for Tech allowing two earned runs and five hits in two innings of work.

In the third inning, the Spartans began their offensive performance by plating two runs on four hits while leaving two men on base.

The Bulldogs threw five different pitchers Saturday, which could not seem to slow down the offensive attack of San Jose, and Tech left eight runners on base.

Sunday's game was a pitcher's dual in all aspects for both teams. Blake Burns and Matt Lacy combined for 10 and 1/3 innings pitched, giving up a combined four runs on eight hits for the Bulldogs, but it was not enough as the Bulldogs fell 4-3 in an 11-inning heartbreaking loss.

Tech started the final game off strong in the top of the first inning with a lead off single by Haygood, who eventually scored off Jeff Walker's double.

The Bulldogs held a slim two-run lead for three innings, but the Spartans mounted a comeback and scored one run in both the fourth and sixth innings to tie the game.

In the top half of the ninth inning, with the scored tied 2-2, Haygood singled to center field and then stole second base to get into scoring position. Then Holik laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Haygood to third. Next, Walker came through in the clutch with a single through the left side of the infield to score Haygood.

However, in the bottom of the ninth, Matt Lacy walked the Spartan's lead off hitter, who eventually scored to send the game into extra innings.

In the 11th, after all three Tech batters struck out, San Jose's Ryan Angel scored on a Kevin Fransen single to win the game.

Tech will host Hawaii at J.C. Love Field Thursday and Friday night at 6 p.m. before Saturday's 1 p.m. contest.