MESA, Ariz. – Alex Fernandes went 3-for-5 and Jeriah Lewis hit a two-run home run to lead the No. 6 seed San José State baseball team (28-29, 13-17 MW) in a 7-6 victory over the No. 5 seed San Diego State (20-39, 14-16 MW) at Sloan Park on Friday morning in the Spartans’ third game of the Mountain West Championships. The Spartans advance to face the loser of Nevada and Fresno State tonight at approximately 7:05 p.m.
The Spartans posted runs in four of the first six innings and built a 7-1 advantage heading into the bottom of the sixth. The Aztecs mounted a late comeback, scoring three runs in the eighth, but closer Tyler Albanese slammed the door in the ninth with a perfect inning to earn his ninth save of the season.
Starter David Thomas (2-5) picked up the win, tossing 7.1 innings while scattering 14 hits and striking out seven. Albanese recorded the final three outs after Nolan George bridged the gap with a brief relief appearance. Offensively, Zach Chamizo added an RBI double, and Rocco Caballero drove in a run and stole a base.
- With nine saves on the season, Albanese is tied for third for the most saves in a single season in SJSU history
- Thomas’ 7.1 innings pitched set a new career-high
- Fernandes is batting 7-for-14 across the Mountain West Championship
- Fernandes has now recorded three or more hits for the seventh time this season
- Lewis’ home run was his 12th of the season
- Lewis leads the Spartans with 43 RBIs on the season and four RBIs in the Mountain West Championship
- Drew Giannini and Zach Tallerman each tallied two hits
- Chamizo extended his hit streak to 19 games and on base streak to 25 games
- The Spartans are 10-6 across the last four years at the Mountain West Championship
UP NEXT: The No. 6 seed Spartans will face the loser of No. 1 seed Nevada and No. 2 seed Fresno State at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona tonight at approximately 7:05 p.m. The game can be watched on the Mountain West Network. With a win, SJSU will return to the Mountain West Championship title game for the fourth consecutive year. The Spartans’ season will end with a loss.
#AllSpartans