Feb. 24, 2014
#13-CAL POLY, PACIFIC VISIT MUNI THIS WEEK
San José State will host #13-Cal Poly Tuesday night and Pacific on Wednesday night before jumping back into Mountain West play this weekend against Nevada. The Mustangs come into town after taking two of three from #12-UCLA last weekend. The Spartans fell 2-1 to the Tigers last Tuesday night in Stockton, Calif.
SCHEDULE NOTE
SJSU will continue a heavy home schedule heading into March. After the upcoming weekend series at Nevada (2/28-3/2) the Spartans play eight of the next nine games at home. To get your tickets in advance call the Spartan Ticket Office at 408-924-SJTX (7589).
Games #9-10
vs. #13-Cal Poly Mustangs (6-1)
Tuesday, February 25, 6:00 p.m.
Municipal Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
(RHP) Michael Wright (0-2, 15.19) vs. RHP Justin Calomeni (1-0, 0.00)
TV: Mountain West Digital Network
Radio: KSJS 90.5 FM
vs. Pacific (4-5)
Wednesday, February 26, 6:00 p.m.
Municipal Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
Pitching Matchup TBA
TV: None
Radio: None
YOUTH GET IN FREE
All season long youth under 12 years old will receive free admission to Spartan baseball games. Tickets for adults are just five bucks and can be purchased at the ticket window beginning one and a half hours prior to first pitch. For advanced ticket sales call the Spartan Ticket Office at 408-924-SJTX (7589).
FAN PROMOTIONS
Fans of all ages can look forward to fun and engaging action at Spartans baseball games this year. Each Sunday at home will be "Sunday Fun Day" where fans can collect baseball cards featuring the 2014 Spartans. As part of Sunday Fun Day, fans can bring their cards on the field for postgame autographs. Little League baseball teams get to take the field with the Spartans for the National Anthem on every Sunday Fun Day and run the baseball following the game. To sign your team up for these fun activities call Promotions & Fan Experience Coordinator Dan Hackett at 408-924-1596. California Pizza Kitchen and Rubios are just a few of the in-game sponsors that provide giveaways. Be sure and pick up a Spartan Gameday Program to have a chance at winning.
BAUTISTA ESTABLISHES RANK
Spartans' left fielder/designated hitter Brett Bautista ranks second among all Mountain West hitters with a .381 batting average. Bautista was 5-for-10 (.500) in three games versus UC Santa Barbara (2/21-23). San Diego State's Ty France leads the conference with a .417 average.
CONTRADES AN EARLY ERA LEADER
In two appearances out of the Spartan pen Kalei Contrades has a 1.08 ERA which ranks him third among all Mountain West pitchers. The opponents are hitting just .154 against Contrades who has six strikeouts on the year.
SJSU TOPS MW IN FIELDING
After eight games San José State's .975 fielding percentage is tops in the Mountain West. New Mexico is a close second at .973.
GALLEGOS HAS ACTION PACKED WEEK
Catcher Kyle Gallegos hit .300 in five games last week (2/18-23) with three RBI and two runs scored. He had a go-ahead 2-run double in the Spartans' victory over UC Santa Barbara on 2/22. Gallegos' 10 hits this season ranks him sixth in the Mountain West.
LOPEZ HAS EARLY TOP-10 RANKING
Matt Lopez has come around to score six runs this season, ranking him sixth in the Mountain West Conference. The Spartans' outfielder scored four of those runs in the weekend series against UC Santa Barbara while hitting .400.
OLIVET SHOWS A GOOD EYE
Spartans' second baseman Tyler Olivet has struggled to get hits this season, but his .400 on base percentage ranks him third on the team. He has walked six times this year which is second most for any individual in the Mountain West. Trent Woodward of Fresno State leads the conference with seven.
SCOUTING CAL POLY
The Mustangs (6-1) took two out of three from #12-UCLA last weekend. They outscored the Bruins 17-1 in the final two games. Cal Poly is ranked 14th in the February 24th release of the Collegiate Baseball Poll and 13th in Baseball America's latest national rankings. Righty Justin Calomeni will start for the Mustangs on Tuesday night. He allowed no runs and one hit in 5.0 innings for a victory in his first start of the year at Santa Clara on February 18.
SCOUTING PACIFIC
Pacific comes into Wednesday night's game with a 4-5 overall record. They beat SJSU 2-1 just one week ago in Stockton when the teams combined for only nine hits. Brothers Brett and Tyler Sullivan are on a terror to begin the 2014 season For the Tigers. In nine games the two have combined for 11 RBI and 13 runs scored. Brett is leading the team with a .438 batting average and Tyler is a close second at .429.
NEW SPARTANS CONTRIBUTING EARLY
Head coach Dave Nakama has wasted no time getting his new and young players in the mix this season. In the first eight games, 15 Spartans have made an appearance in their first major college game. 10 of the 15 have started at least one game.
RETURNING CONFERENCE HONOREES
Spartans' center fielder Andre Mercurio and first baseman Matt Carroll were second-team All-Western Athletic Conference selections in 2013. Mercurio was SJSU's hits leader with 74 and Carroll knocked in a team-high 40 runs.
NEW TERRITORY
In its first season of Mountain West play, San José State joins some familiar foes in Fresno State and Nevada whom the Spartans have played a combined 378 times. 109 games have been played between the Spartans and the other four MW programs: San Diego State, Air Force, New Mexico and UNLV combined. SJSU is 199-288 (.409) all-time against its MW competitors.
MW DIGITAL NETWORK COVERAGE
All home SJSU baseball games will be streamed live on the Mountain West Digital Network. Fans can access the live streams at www.sjsuspartans.com/videos. Due to conflicting home games with men's and women's basketball the following baseball contests will not be streamed live: February 15 vs. SDSU, February 26 vs. Pacific and March 4 vs. Saint Mary's.
Jason Armstrong JOINS SJSU AS VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT
Jason Armstrong comes to the Spartans after serving as UC Davis' hitting coach from 2010-2013. He helped turn around the Aggies hitting statistics from worst in the Big West to the top-three marks in 2013. Armstrong teaches from experience as he was an NCAA All-American shortstop for Trinity (2004).