May 26, 2018
San Diego, Calif. --- The San Jose State University baseball team (27-30) lost 9-2 to UNLV (35-23) in the Spartan's second Mountain West Tournament elimination game Saturday at Tony Gwynn Stadium.
"We played well here," said interim head coach Brad Sanfilippo. "We proved to a lot of people that we are a really good baseball team and I am proud of that."
The Spartans dug themselves a hole early in the first inning by giving up five runs to the Rebels.
Wesley Clawson strung together three straight shutout innings in a career-high 3.2 innings. The freshman struck out two batters, but gave up four runs in the fifth.
Then Justin Watland, Zach Wallace, and Fineas Del Bonta-Smith combined for four shutout innings with six strikeouts in the last 4.1 innings to give the Spartans a shot at a rally.
SJSU pieced together two runs in the seventh to avoid the shutout. Kyle Morrison was hit by a pitch, and Johnny Mendoza singled to left center. Ruben Ibarra pinch hit for Connor Konishi and singled to left field to load the bases with no outs. Strahm then singled to third base to drive home a run, and a throwing error from third allowed Mendoza to score.
Mendoza went 4-for-4 at the plate notching his second four-hit game of the year.
UNLV's Chase Maddux recorded his fourth win of the year by pitching six straight shutout innings against SJSU.
The Spartans wrapped up the 2018 season as one of the most successful San Jose State baseball programs in the last decade.
"It's always hard when it ends. You can't lose sight of how many amazing moments there have been in the last six weeks. We have had walk offs and celebrations to get to this point and compete for the Mountain West Championship," added Sanfilippo.
Earlier this season, Brad Sanfilippo and the Spartans were predicted to finish last in a preseason poll voted on by the conferences head coaches. They finished this season in third place in the Mountain West with a 16-14 conference record; Their most conference wins since 2008.