May 13, 2018
San Jose, Calif. --- Johnny Mendoza's 10th inning two-RBI single gave the San Jose State University baseball team (23-27, 13-14 MW) a 6-4 win over their Mountain West opponent San Diego State (35-17, 17-10 MW) at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
"I couldn't be prouder of these guys," said interim head coach Brad Sanfilippo. "These guys showed heart, and their effort was special. I can't say enough about how hard they play, and how they never give up."
Mendoza went 4-for-5 scoring one run with five RBI's against the Aztecs Sunday afternoon. In the first inning, Mendoza struck first with a two-out single to plate Shane Timmons. Then with the score tied up 2-2 with two outs in the top of the fifth, he hit a two-run bomb over the left field wall to give the Spartans a 4-2 lead.
In the four-game series against the Aztecs, Mendoza batted .533 and had 11 RBI's. The sophomore catcher recorded two home runs with a .933 slg% and a .563 ob%.
In the Spartan's two series wins, he had two go-ahead hits and a game-tying home run. Mendoza led the Spartans to a 2-2 series against the number two team in the Mountain West on the road in San Diego.
"Without Johnny, it's a different series," added Sanfilippo. "He came through and caught every inning this weekend, and performed really well offensively."
Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (4-3) got the win after pitching 2.0 innings and striking out one batter. Del Bonta-Smith entered in the bottom of the eighth with Chase Calabuig on first. He caught a line drive up the middle from two-time National Player of the Week Jordan Verdon and got Calabuig out at second for a double play.
Tevin Cadola pitched 7.0 innings for San Jose State. Cadola allowed seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts to an Aztec offense that put up 20 hits on the Spartans in game three.
Wesley Clawson closed out the game in the 10th inning and struck out two of four batters for his sixth save of the season. Clawson's sixth save ties him for sixth most in a single season by a Spartan pitcher in SJSU history.