SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose State baseball left-handed pitcher Andrew Mitchel struck out a career-best 18 batters in a four-hit complete game performance as the Spartans defeated Air Force 4-1 in the series opener Friday night at Municipal Stadium.
Mitchel's 18 strikeouts are the third-most in a single game in school history and second-most in a nine-inning game. The only Spartan with more in nine innings was Jim Visher, who struck out 20 vs. CSU Hayward on March 7, 1964.
Mitchel, a senior from Atwater, California, improved to 1-2 on the season with the win. He walked just two batters while scattering four hits. In doing so, he saw a huge drop in his ERA from 9.00 to 5.57. The lefty entered Friday's game with a team-high 19 strikeouts but walked away with a Mountain West-leading 37.
Despite the tremendous pitching, it took eight innings for Mitchel to finally become the pitcher of record. Tied at 1-1 heading into the eighth inning, the Spartan bats came to life as Nick Knecht led off the inning with a single. Two batters later, Connor Konishi laced a single through the right side and Aaron Pleschner walked to load the bases for Kellen Strahm.
Strahm, the Mountain West leader in hits, responded with a 2-RBI single to right field that dropped just in front of the right fielder's glove to give SJSU (8-5, 2-2) a 3-1 lead. After a double steal, James Shimashita plated the game's final run on a passed ball for the decisive 4-1 win.
Mitchel returned to the mound for the ninth looking to finish the game out, however after recording one out, he gave up a double back up the middle. Head coach Brad Sanfilippo made a visit to the mound, but after a brief talk he allowed his ace to remain on the bump to the roar of crowd. Mitchel responded with back-to-back strikeouts to finish things off.
Air Force (6-4, 1-1) also saw outstanding pitching in the form of starter Tyler Mortenson and reliever Jake Gilbert. Mortenson pitched 3.1 innings with three hits allowed and was lifted after allowing two batters to reach safely to start the fourth. Gilbert (2-1) took his place and Konishi took advantage with a RBI single to plate the game's first run.
The Falcons tied the game on a bases-loaded fielder's choice. Gilbert, who scattered six hits and walked five batters, was responsible for all three runs in the eighth and was charged with the loss.
Konishi, Knecht and Troy Viola led the Spartans with two hits each. Viola finished 2-of-4 with a double and a run scored.
Game two of the three-game series is set to be played tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Municipal Stadium.