SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball's Tuesday game vs. the University of San Francisco Dons originally scheduled for a 5:30 p.m. first pitch at Municipal Stadium has now been moved to San Francisco due to the threat of inclement weather. The game will begin at 2:00 p.m. PT at Benedetti Diamond.
Game No. 13
San José State (7-4) at San Francisco (5-5)
Tuesday, March 5 | 2:00 p.m. PT
Benedetti Diamond |San Francisco, Calif.
QUICK LOOK AT THE DONS
San Francisco checks into Tuesday's game at 5-5 overall. The Dons began the season with a 2-1 series loss at San Diego State before sweeping CSU Bakersfield. Last weekend, the Dons took one of three from Kansas State at a neutral site series played in Fort Worth, Texas.
Jack Winkler leads the San Francisco bats with a .385 average and has tallied seven RBI on 15 hits including five doubles. Right-hander Riley Ornido touts an outstanding 0.95 ERA and is 2-1 on the early season with 17 strikeouts.
SPARTAN LEADERS
Hitting
Batting Average – Kellen Strahm (.478) – leads MW
Walks – James Shimashita (9)
Runs Scored – Kellen Strahm (17) – leads MW
Stolen Bases – Kellen Strahm (7) – leads MW
Hits - Strahm (22) – leads MW
RBI – Shimashita (14) – 2nd in MW
Doubles – Connor Konishi (4)
Triples – Johnny Mendoza, Nico Malbrough (1), Brandon Peterson (1), Blake Berry (1)
Pitching
ERA – Josh Zanger (1.38)
Opposing BA – Andrew Mitchel (.227)
Wins – Seven tied at 1
Saves – Josh Zanger (2), Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (2)
Strikeouts – Andrew Mitchel (19) – 3rd in the MW
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans dropped 2-of-3 at New Mexico in the conference-opening series for both teams. SJSU won the finale in a thrilling 22-18 final that last 4:52. The teams combined for 40 runs and 42 hits. The 22 runs were SJSU's most since scoring 31 vs. Chicago State on March 18, 2009, and their 26 hits were the most since a 30-hit day at New Mexico State on May 8, 2009.
Kellen Strahm was one of six Spartan batters to finish with multi-hit games. He led the way with a 5-of-6 day at the plate with four RBI, two stolen bases and knocked a 3-run homerun. Troy Viola and James Shimashita also hit homers.
20-20 VISION
SJSU has scored 20 runs not once, but twice already in 2019. The first time came in the series finale at Santa Clara in a 20-10 win.
NCAA RANKINGS
The Spartans are not only putting up some of the top numbers in the Mountain West, but in the entire NCAA. Here are some of the national team and individual rankings:
Team Rankings
Batting average – 5th (.338)
Hits – 7th (134)
On Base Percentage – 10th (.434)
Stolen Base – 18th (23)
Individual Rankings
Batting Average
Kellen Strahm – 17th (.478)
Connor Konishi – 22nd (.474)
Hits
Kellen Strahm – 4th (22)
Runs
Kellen Strahm – 14th (17)
SECOND YEAR FOR SANFILIPPO
Head coach Brad Sanfilippo had an outstanding first season at the helm of SJSU baseball as interim coach in 2018, leading the Spartans to a 27-30 overall record and a third-place finish in the Mountain West standings with a 16-14 record, their most conference wins since 2008. Sanfilippo was promoted to head coach following the season on June 12, 2018.