SAN JOSE, Calif. (Interstat) — In a marathon contest defined by dominant pitching and a frantic late-inning rally, the San Francisco Dons outlasted the San Jose State Spartans 7-6 in 13 innings on Friday night.

The game’s most critical sequence unfolded in the top of the 13th, breaking a tense extra-inning deadlock. With the score tied, San Francisco’s JO Lewis led off with a walk against reliever Gutierrez. After Garrison walked and Esquivel walked to load the bases with no outs, a wild pitch allowed Lewis to scamper home with the go-ahead run. Another wild pitch brought Garrison across, providing a crucial insurance run. Davis later added a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 7-5.

San Jose State refused to go quietly in the bottom half. Facing Dons closer Nick Bacura, the Spartans loaded the bases with one out on two walks and a hit batsman. Fernandes delivered a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to one, but Bacura struck out McCoy swinging to end the four-hour, 13-minute battle, stranding the potential tying and winning runs.

The victory improved San Francisco to 4-1 this season, while San Jose State fell to 2-3.

For much of the night, the story was stifling pitching. San Francisco starter Gabriel Barrett was the top star, firing six innings of one-run ball, allowing just two hits while striking out five. He was followed by Kai Yovanovich, who tossed four scoreless innings of relief with five strikeouts. For the Spartans, Kyle Calzadiaz was brilliant in his five-inning start, surrendering only one hit and one run while fanning eight. Reliever Tyler Albanese was equally sharp, striking out six over three perfect frames.

San Francisco built an early lead, scratching out a run in the second on an RBI groundout by Harries. The Dons extended their advantage to 2-0 in the sixth when shortstop TJ Rogers launched a solo home run.

The Spartans chipped away, scoring once in the third on a double play and again in the seventh on an RBI double by McCoy. They then staged a dramatic three-run rally in the ninth to force extra innings. Down 4-2, Jackson and Rowles singled before Fernandes walked to load the bases. Cota delivered a two-run single, and a sacrifice bunt by Gamberdella later in the inning tied the game at 5-5.

Both bullpens held firm until the Dons’ patient approach in the 13th. Brendan Burke led San Francisco’s nine-hit attack, going 4 for 7 with two RBIs. Rogers added two hits, including his homer. The Spartans out-hit the Dons 11 to 9 but grounded into three double plays, stifling potential rallies.

The teams will continue their three-game series on Saturday in San Jose.