May 5, 2016
GAMES 46-48
San José State (15-30, 6-18 MW) at Nevada Wolf Pack (24-20, 13-8 MW)
Peccole Park (Reno, Nev.)
Friday, May 6 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, May 7 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, May 8 1:00 p.m.
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: TBA vs. LHP Christian Stolo (3-5, 4.25 ERA)
Saturday: RHP Hilario Tovar (2-2, 5.06 ERA) vs. RHP Trevor Charpie (4-3, 4.04 ERA)
Sunday: RHP Josh Nashed (0-4, 5.05 ERA) vs. LHP Trenton Brooks (3-3, 7.20 ERA)
Live Video: Mountain West Digital Network (www.nevadawolfpack.com/videos)
Radio: None
Social Media: @SJSUBaseball (Twitter, Instagram) • facebook.com/SJSUSpartansBaseball
All-Time Series: San José State leads, 87-77
BASEBALL OPENS FINAL ROAD TRIP WITH VISIT TO NEVADA
The Spartans embark on their final road trip of the season when they travel to take on the Nevada Wolf Pack this weekend. The first meeting of the season between the Spartans and Wolf Pack gets underway Friday at 6:00 p.m., with the series continuing Saturday at 6:00 p.m. before wrapping up Sunday at 1:00 p.m. All three games will be streamed via the Mountain West Digital Network. Thunderstorms are in the forecast all weekend.
SCOUTING NEVADA
Overview: Nevada, led by first-year head coach T.J. Bruce, sits at 24-20 overall and 13-8 in the Mountain West Conference. The Wolf Pack is currently riding a six-game win streak and has won seven of its last eight after sweeping San Diego State and taking a pair from Air Force. Nevada is just three games behind conference-leader New Mexico in the loss column.
Offense: The Wolf Pack has posted a .292 team batting average thus far. TJ Friedl (.396), Cole Krzmarzick (.393), Miles Mastrobuoni (.346), Justin Hazard (.315) and Justin Bridgman (.307) have carried the potent offense. Mastrobuoni leads the club with 14 doubles, while Friedl is tops with seven triples. Reigning MW Player of the Year Trenton Brooks has rebounded from a slow start to the season and is currently hitting .252 with 12 doubles.
Pitching: Nevada brings a 4.69 team ERA into the weekend. Reigning MW Pitcher of the Week Trevor Charpie owns a 4.04 ERA in 62.1 innings, and Christian Stolo is not far behind with a 4.25 mark in 72.0 innings. Evan McMahan has appeared 19 times out of the Wolf Pack bullpen and picked up four saves in 25.1 innings. Alex Lott has been the most effective regular reliever, posting a 1.06 ERA in 14 appearances.
SERIES HISTORY
The Spartans lead the all-time series with the Wolf Pack, 87-77. Last season, the Spartans grabbed the first and last of six games against Nevada - one at home and one in Reno. San José State last won a series against Nevada in 2007, and is looking for its first series win in Reno since the 2006 campaign.
THE WEEKEND THAT WAS
San José State hosted UNLV over the weekend and grabbed the middle game of the series between a pair of losses at the hands of the Rebels. UNLV came out swinging and cruised to a 12-0 victory on Friday before the Spartans rebounded with a 5-3 win on Saturday, led by seven combined hits from Josh Nashed and Shane Timmons. San José State took a 2-1 lead into the ninth inning on Sunday, but saw the Rebels tie it up and force extra innings before the visitors prevailed in the 11th.
WHAT'S ON DECK
San José State plays its final midweek game of the season when it travels to Louis Guisto Field to take on Saint Mary's on Tuesday. The 3:00 p.m. showdown is the first of the season between the schools after the March 9 contest was rained out.
OZZY DOES IT
Senior Ozzy Braff is putting together another impressive season on the heels of last year's Second Team All-Mountain West performance. Braff is currently leading the team with a .325 batting average and owns club-bests in slugging percentage (.543), on-base percentage (.404), home runs (6), total bases (82), hits (49), triples (3), games played (41), stolen bases (6) and assists (115). He has only been under .300 for the season at the conclusion of a game five times this year, and reached base in 24 consecutive games earlier in the campaign.
SENIOR LEADERSHIP
San José State will lean on its lone two regular starting seniors for both leadership and production this season. Ozzy Braff and Dillan Smith represent the only seniors projected to start in the infield and outfield, respectively, on an everyday basis. Last season, Braff led the team with a .298 average and posted a clean sheet at second base en route to Second Team All-Mountain West honors. Smith started all but three games in right field a year ago and will be counted on to lead off for the Spartans.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
After fielding one of the youngest teams in the country a year ago, the Spartans will again feature a host of youngsters seeing significant playing time in 2016. Six of the probable starting position players and three of the starting pitchers this week are underclassmen. Corey Olivet (So. - OF), Cal Koga (Fr. - C) and Kyle Morrison (So. - INF) represent three more underclassmen who will compete for time throughout the season.
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