MESA, Ariz. – Kyle Calzadiaz and Tyler Albanese combined for 11 strikeouts in 10 innings pitched while allowing just 10 hits and three runs to lead the No. 6 seed San José State baseball team (29-29, 13-17 MW) in a 4-3 extra inning victory over the No. 1 seed Nevada (34-23, 19-11 MW) at Sloan Park on late Friday night into Saturday morning in the Spartans’ fourth game of the Mountain West Championships. With the win, the Spartans advance to face the Mountain West Championship Game for the fourth consecutive season. The Spartans will face Fresno State, needing two wins over the Bulldogs to be crowned Mountain West champions.
The Spartans jumped out early with a two-run first inning thanks to a triple from Alex Fernandes and an RBI triple by Zach Chamizo, followed by a sacrifice fly from Jake McCoy. After a back-and-forth contest and a 3-3 tie through nine innings, the Spartans scratched across the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th. Pinch-runner Neil Jansen scored the decisive run on a wild pitch after advancing on a single by Antonio Nanez.
On the mound, Calzadiaz delivered a solid start for SJSU, tossing 7.0 innings while allowing just two runs and striking out eight. Albanese earned the win in relief, working 3.0 strong innings, giving up only one run and striking out three to improve to 4-3 on the season.
- The Spartans advance to the Mountain West Championship game for the fourth consecutive season
- The Spartans have won all three of their elimination games in the tournament, defeating the number three seed, five seed and one seed
- The Spartans were picked to finish last in the Mountain West preseason poll
- Calzadiaz’s eight strikeouts set a new career-high
- Rocco Caballero went 3-for-6 in the game with a double
- Chamizo went 2-for-4 with a triple, an RBI and a run scored
- Chamizo extended his hit streak to 20 games and on base streak to 26 games
- The Spartans are 11-6 across the last four years at the Mountain West Championship
UP NEXT: The No. 6 seed Spartans will face the No. 2 seed Fresno State at Sloan park in Mesa, Arizona on Saturday at 12:05 p.m. The game can be watched on the Mountain West Network. If the Spartans win, SJSU will rematch Fresno State directly after the game in what will be a winner takes all matchup for the conference championship.
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