SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball completed the series sweep over UNLV with a 7-6 come from behind win Sunday at Municipal Stadium. The Spartans erased a 6-1 deficit to pick up the win and improve to 12-7, 6-3.
Tied 1-1 after just one inning of play, UNLV (11-10, 2-3) used a five-run second inning to take a commanding 6-1 lead. Spartans starter Ben Polack was lifted after loading the bases with one out and Jonathan Clark replaced him on the mound. A bases-loaded walk and back-to-back 2-RBI singles gave the Rebels the advantage.
SJSU didn't give up and began chipping away at the lead as Johnny Mendoza plated Aaron Pleschner in the third on a sacrifice fly and Troy Viola came across on Brandon Peterson's RBI groundout in the fourth to bring the score to 6-3.
Peterson tallied his second RBI to start the sixth as plated Nick Knecht on a single up the middle. After Pleschner drew a walk, Kellen Strahm, who finished the day 4-for-4 with a walk, laced a rocket to right-center that resulted in a triple and scored two runs to tie the game at 6-6.
SJSU took their first lead of the afternoon in the bottom of the eighth. Down to his last strike with two outs, designated hitter Blake Berry notched a bloop single to shallow left field to plate Nico Malbrough for the decisive run.
Fineas Del Bonta-Smith took the bump for the ninth and made quick work to pick up his fifth save of the season as a 4-6-3 double play ended the contest. Reliever Wesley Clawson improved to 1-1 as he was the pitcher of record when SJSU took the lead in the eighth.
The Spartans tallied 13 hits to UNLV's eight. Peterson, Pleschner, Berry and Malbrough all finished with two hits.
UNLV reliever Jackson Cofer (1-2) was charged with loss after surrendering the game-winning run. Third baseman Dillon Johnson led the Rebel offense with two hits.
SJSU will next hit the road for a midweek tilt at Sacramento State on Tuesday.
