SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to come from behind and defeat UNLV 2-1 in the series opener Friday night at Municipal Stadium.
Trailing 1-0 entering the home half of the ninth, Kellen Strahm sent the first pitch of the inning through the left side for a base hit. Next man up, Blake Berry put Strahm on third on a double to the left-center gap. Johnny Mendoza then tied the game on a single to shallow center and the bases were then loaded after UNLV elected to intentionally walk James Shimashita.
Troy Viola grounded into a fielder's choice that snuffed out the winning run at the plate, bringing pinch hitter Nik Trapani to the plate. Trapani had no need to lift the bat of his shoulder as Rebels' pitcher Cameron Jabara's delivery sailed wide allowing Mendoza to score from third for the winning run on the wild pitch.
With the win, the Spartans improved to 10-7, 4-3 while UNLV dropped to 11-8, 2-2.
The game featured an outstanding pitcher's duel between starters Jabara and Andrew Mitchel. Mitchel, coming off an 18-strikeout performance in his last outing, gave up just two hits in 8.0 innings while striking out six and issued four walks.
Jabara (1-1) gave up 10 hits, but carried a shutout into the final inning before the Spartans took advantage of runners in scoring position for the first time. SJSU finished with seven runners left on base.
Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (2-1) picked up the win after relieving Mitchel in the ninth.
Berry led the Spartan offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate while Strahm went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Game two of the series begins Saturday at 2:00 p.m. PT at Municipal Stadium.
