SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball welcomes the Air Force Falcons to Municipal Stadium for a three-game series Friday through Sunday, March. 8-10. It will be the first home Mountain West series for the Spartans after falling 2-1 in their MW opening series at New Mexico. Fans can catch all the action this weekend on the Mountain West Network. Daniel Barrera will have the call.
Games No. 14-16
Air Force (6-3, 1-0) at San José State (7-5, 1-2)
Friday, March 8 | 6:00 p.m. PT
Saturday, March 9 | 2:00 p.m. PT
Sunday, March 10 | 12:00 p.m. PT
Municipal Stadium |San Jose, Calif.
PROBABLE STARTERS
LHP Andrew Mitchel (0-2) vs. RHP Tyler Mortenson (0-2)
RHP Tevin Cadola (1-0) vs. RHP Matt Hargreaves (1-0)
LHP Ben Polack (1-0) vs. LHP Ethan Nichols (1-1)
QUICK LOOK AT THE FALCONS
Air Force checks into Friday's opener at 6-3 overall and 1-0 in conference play. The Falcons starter Mountain West play with a 9-5 win over San Diego State before the second and third games of the series were postponed due to inclement weather.
Senior reliever Jake Gilbert is one of just two pitchers in the Mountain West that has yet to allow an earned run, doing so in 12.2 innings of work in three appearances.
The Falcons are led offensively by junior outfielder Ashton Easley, who leads the team with a .333 batting average, .567 slugging percentage, 11 hits, two triples and a home run.
SPARTAN LEADERS
Hitting
Batting Average – Kellen Strahm (.469) – leads MW
Slugging Percentage – Kellen Strahm (.551) - T-6th in MW
On Base Percentage – Connor Konishi (.569) – leads MW
Runs Scored – Kellen Strahm (18) – leads MW
Hits - Strahm (23) – leads MW
RBI – Shimashita (15) – 2nd in MW
Doubles – Connor Konishi (4)
Triples – Johnny Mendoza, Nico Malbrough (1), Brandon Peterson (1), Blake Berry (1)
Home Runs – Troy Viola (1), Kellen Strahm (1), James Shimashita (1)
Walks – Kellen Strahm (10)
Stolen Bases – Kellen Strahm (8) – leads MW
Pitching
ERA – Josh Zanger (1.38) – 6th in MW
Opposing BA – Andrew Mitchel (.227)
Wins – Seven tied at 1
Saves – Josh Zanger (2), Fineas Del Bonta-Smith (2)
Strikeouts – Andrew Mitchel (19) – t-3rd in the MW
LAST TIME OUT
The Spartans jumped out for five runs in the first inning at San Francisco, in a game that was moved from Municipal Stadium to Benedetti Park due to inclement weather. The lead did not hold up, however, as the Dons scored 10 runs in the eighth inning to win 12-6.
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.
The second time came in the series finale at New Mexico as the Spartans won 22-18 in a nine-inning game that last 4:52.
LEADING THE PACK
The Spartans are putting up some outstanding offensive numbers so far in 2019. They lead the Mountain West in several categories and ranks among the best in the NCAA as well.
Mountain West Rank (NCAA Rank)
Batting Average (.336) – 1st (3rd)
Slugging Percentage (.418) – 3rd
On Base Percentage (.434) – 1st (8th)
Runs Scored (93) – 2nd
Hits (144) – 1st (10th)
RBI (78) – 2nd
Walks (70) – 1st
Sac Bunts (12) – 1st (4th)
Sac Flies (7) – 1st
Stolen Bases (24) – 1st
STRAHM COMING OUT STRONG
Junior outfielder Kellen Strahm has cemented himself as one of the best hitters in the Mountain West this early season. He leads the team in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, hits, total bases, walks, and stolen bases.
He is also at the top of many of those categories in the Mountain West as well as NCAA rankings as well.
Batting Average (.469) – 1st (15th)
Hits (23) – 1st (7th)
Hits per game (1.92) – 1st (9th)
Runs (18) – 1st (15th)
Stolen Bases (8) – 1st (22nd)
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.