2008 Woodie Awards
Durkin complete game sends SJSU past No. 3 Rice
Julian J. Ramos, Daily Senior Staff Writer
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The freshman from Willow Glen High School in San Jose limited the Owls to one run on nine hits in a 2-1 San Jose State University win at Municipal Stadium.
With the victory, SJSU (25-11, 6-6 WAC) avoided a three-game conference series sweep at the hands of Western Athletic Conference leader Rice (28-7, 11-1 WAC).
The Spartans lost Friday's contest 8-4 and lost on Saturday 8-2.
Facing the possibility of a sweep, Durkin said he knew his start Sunday was a critical one.
He responded with a career-high 10-strikeout performance.
"We didn't want to be embarrassed today," Durkin said. "Coach made a big point for pitchers to come through."
Durkin came through with a maturity that is beyond expectations of a first year Division I pitcher, catcher Adam Shorsher said.
"He has a very professional demeanor," Shorsher said. "It's rare for a freshman."
Shorsher said throughout the season, Durkin has shown steady improvement in control of his fastball, a pitch that has reached as high as 93 mph according to head coach Sam Piraro.
"He's come a long way in the last month," Piraro said. "He struggled his first few starts. Now he has control of his pitches."
As important as the win, which Piraro described as brilliant was, he said, the accumulation of experience in crunch time, which is just as valuable for a young player like Durkin.
"You can't buy it, you can't explain it," Piraro said. "You have to get it."
Spartan third baseman Kevin Frandsen returned to the starting lineup Friday, and started all three games batting second in the order following five weeks out because of an ankle injury.
A teammate of Durkin on a Palomino League World Series team, Frandsen said Durkin's outing was no surprise.
"He's experienced in tight situations," Frandsen said. "He was absolutely fabulous. He stuck it to them."
The Spartans' two runs in the game came in the third inning, when Rice starter Justin Crowder (3-2) began to unravel.
A two-out, bases-loaded walk allowed SJSU center fielder Dino Quintero to score and an error by Owls shortstop Paul Janish, brought home right fielder Travis Becktel.
The Spartans were held hitless until the fifth inning when Frandsen roped a single to left field. For the day, SJSU posted only five hits. Four walks and a hit batsman by Crowder as well as two Owls errors were all the breaks the Spartans needed to gain the win.
"We'll take it any way we can get it," Second baseman Gabe Lopez said. "When you put the ball in play, things happen."
The Spartan schedule doesn't get any easier. On Tuesday, SJSU is scheduled to take on No. 2 ranked Stanford University on the road.
"Our offense was not very efficient," Piraro said of the Rice series. "We struggled against strong pitching. We played great defense this weekend, it could have been disastrous if we didn't."
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