SAN JOSE, Calif. – Senior pitchers Andrew Mitchel and Fineas Del Bonta-Smith combined for 14 strikeouts and just three hits to lead San Jose State baseball to a series opening win over New Mexico in a 4-2 victory Friday night at Excite Ballpark. The win snaps a six-game losing skid.
Mitchel did the bulk of the work as he worked 7.0 innings tallying 11 strikeouts opposed to five walks and gave up just three hits over 125 pitches. The left-hander from Atwater, California bounced back after giving up a pair of earned runs in the second inning to put up four-straight scoreless frames and give way for Bonta-Smith in the eighth.
Mitchel, the MW leader in strikeouts, tightened his grip on the lead and has 67 on the season in eight starts.
Del Bonta-Smith picked up save No. 8 on the season, bringing him within two of the career school record of 10 saves. The Soquel, California product was spotless in his two innings on the bump with three strikeouts.
The Spartans (15-15, 9-4) scratched across the game's first run in the first inning as designated hitter Blake Berry laced a double to right field that plated Aaron Pleschner. New Mexico (15-15, 6-7) took the lead in the third inning, however as Jared Mang hit a bloop single to shallow left field that plated a pair for the 2-1 advantage.
Both Mitchel and Lobos' starter Justin Slaten settled in and exchanged scoreless frames until SJSU broke through in the seventh inning. Brandon Peterson, pinch hitting for Jack Colette, stepped up to the plate with a runner on and one out and hit a drive back to the pitcher, who went to second looking for a double play, however the throw was mishandled and both players reached safely. One batter later, Toi Moyer dribbled a slow roller to the shortstop and beat the throw to load the bases for Nico Malbrough.
Malbrough delivered with a RBI single to center field to tie the game at 2-2. The Spartans then gained the lead as Peterson scooted home from third after a wild pitch made its way to the backstop.
The Spartans added an insurance run in the eighth as Kellen Strahm blasted a solo home run over the wall in left-center. It was Strahm's fourth of the season and the first by any Spartan at home this season.
SJSU finished with 10 hits. Berry and James Shimashita led the way with a pair of hits each.
Slaten (3-3) was rock-solid for the Lobos in his 7.0 innings of work, giving up three runs, one earned, and striking out eight batters while scattering seven hits.
Game two between the Spartans and Lobos will be played Saturday at 2:00 p.m. PT at Excite Ballpark.