Santa Clara, Calif. -- The San Jose State bats came to life early, scoring runs in each of the first five innings in a 9-1 win against Santa Clara at Stephen Schott Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans collected 10 of their season-high 16 hits in the first five innings, and scored seven runs during that stretch. 12 of the 16 hits were singles, but the Spartans got huge extra-base hits in the game from Nick Schulz and Jacob Valdez.
An RBI-double by Schulz charged the Spartan offense in the top of the first inning.
"We came ready to play today," said Spartans' head coach Dave Nakama. "Once we got some runs on the board early it made it easy for guys to have confidence in their at bats."
Designated hitter Matt Lopez was feeling very confident at the plate, going 4-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. San Jose State had six players with multiple hits in the game.
Behind the early support, SJSU starter David Wayne Russo threw seven complete innings allowing seven hits and only one run. Santa Clara didn't put a runner in scoring position against Russo until the fifth inning.
"David did a great job for us," Nakama said. "He threw a lot more strikes and invited contact early in the count which worked for us."
Sheldon Daquioag made his second start of the season at third base and came through with some clutch hitting for the Spartans. He went 2-for-3 tallying two RBI with a sacrifice fly in the third and a base hit through the right side in the seventh.
Valdez went 2-for-4 at the plate with two RBI in his 14th consecutive start at second base this year for San Jose State. His RBI-triple to the wall in right-center field was part of a two-run fifth inning that extended the Spartans' lead to 7-0. Valdez was in on the action again in the seventh when he drew a walk and then came around to score on Matt Carroll's sacrifice fly putting San Jose State up 9-0.
Santa Clara left fielder Kert Woods drove in the only run for the Broncos with an RBI-single to right field in the seventh. Kyle Hassna took over on the hill for the Spartans in the eighth inning and closed out the final two innings allowing just two hits.
Russo improved his record to 2-2 with the win while Chris Mendoza pitched 3.0 innings for the Broncos and took his first loss of the season.
The three-game series shifts back to Municipal stadium tomorrow for the rubber-match between San Jose State (4-10) and Santa Clara (7-8). The Spartans will send D.J. Slaton (0-2, 2.84) to the mound to face Tommy Nance (1-1, 1.38). First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.