March 20, 2016
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - After out-hitting the high-flying New Mexico offense in each of the first two games of the series, San Jose State's offense fell flat in an 11-1 loss to the Lobos on Sunday afternoon at Santa Ana Star Field.
In what was a pitcher's duel through the first six innings, it was New Mexico (13-6, 5-1 MW) that was able to put together a big inning and salt away a sweep of the visiting Spartans (6-13, 2-6 MW).
San Jose State starter Josh Nashed (0-4) matched Lobos senior left-hander Colton Thomson (2-1) almost every step of the way until running into trouble in the seventh. The Spartans' sophomore right-hander gave up just one hit in his first time through the potent New Mexico lineup, but the hosts were able to claw out a run on a sac fly in the fourth.
The Lobos slowly came to life from that point on. They threatened in the fifth and scored a second run in the sixth before plating seven runs in the seventh off Nashed and relievers Zach Wallace and Josh Goldberg. Eric Anderson threw the last frame and yielded two runs on three hits.
The Spartans had their hands full with Thomson all afternoon. Thomson carved through the San Jose State lineup with the help of a nasty slider and some fantastic defense behind him. He finished with a line of 8.0 innings, four hits allowed, one run, two walks and four strikeouts in just 82 pitches, while lowering his ERA to 2.79 on the year.
Taylor Duree came in to finish the game for New Mexico when Thomson issued a walk to Kyle Morrison to start the ninth. Two outs later, Morrison came home to score the Spartans' lone run of the game on Justin Beck's single up the middle.
In the loss, Shane Timmons (0-3) saw his 12-game hit streak halted and David Campbell (0-3) had his 10-game reached base streak and seven-game hit streak snapped.
San Jose State returns home to face Fresno State in a Thursday-Saturday series this week.