March 2, 2014
Reno, Nev. --- San Jose State took a two-run lead into the sixth inning of Sunday's game against Nevada but was unable to hold off the Wolf Pack and fell 8-3 in Mountain West action at Piccole Park.
The Spartans (3-9, 2-4 MW) took a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning when Jacob Valdez and Sheldon Daquioag came up with a couple of clutch RBI-hits. With runners on first and third, Valdez poked one through the left side allowing Andre Mercurio to score and make it a 1-1 game. It was Mercurio's first full game back after missing his last seven starts with a wrist injury.
Two batters later Daquioag bounced a ball off the left field wall that brought home Tyler Olivet, who walked, and Valdez to make it 3-1 Spartans.
Nevada (4-7, 2-4 MW) bounced right back in the bottom of the fifth with two runs. Justin Bridgeman hit a one-out triple to start the damage. After Spartan reliever Michael Wright issued a walk and hit a batter, Kewby Meyer hit a 2-run single to tie the game at three.
The Wolf Pack scored put more runs on the board in the sixth, seventh and eighth innings on the way to the win which clinched a 2-1 series victory over SJSU. Kyle Hunt led Nevada in the game going 3-for-4 with an RBI and two runs scored.
Matt Lopez had two of the Spartans' eight hits in the game. Valdez had his fourth multi-hit game of the season, and finished the series 5-for-12 (.417) with five runs scored.
Jace Puckett, in his third start, allowed one earned run on four hits in 4.1 innings. James Glawe (1-1) took the loss for San Jose State. In 1.2 innings he allowed his first two earned runs of the season on four hits.
Matt Carroll led San Jose State in hitting for the series going 6-for-13 (.462) with a home run, four RBI and two runs scored.
The Spartans continue the season next week with five games. Saint Mary's College will visit Municipal Stadium Tuesday night before SJSU hosts four games in the Jack Gifford Memorial Tournament.