SAN JOSE, Calif. – Alex Fernandes went 3-for-5 and hit his first home run of the season to lead the San José State baseball team (4-11, 0-0 MW) in a 3-2 loss to Pitt (12-2, 0-0 ACC) Sunday afternoon from Excite Ballpark in the final game of the three game series in which Pitt took all three games.
The Spartans trailed 3–0 entering the bottom of the eighth inning before mounting a push that brought the tying run into scoring position. Fernandes sparked the comeback with a leadoff home run to right field, cutting the deficit to two. Moments later, Alan Ramirez delivered an RBI double down the left-field line to plate Peyton Rowles , trimming Pitt’s lead to 3–2.
San José State threatened again in the ninth, as a hit-by-pitch and sacrifice bunt moved the tying run into scoring position, but the Pitt reliever retired the next two batters to secure the save. The Spartans left nine runners on base and went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Pitt jumped out early with a two-run home run in the first inning and added another run in the third to build the early advantage. Spartan starter Dylan Smith (0-2) took the loss after allowing three runs over five innings, while the bullpen duo of EJ McGrew and Tyler Albanese combined for four scoreless frames to keep San José State within striking distance.
- Fernandes’ home run was his first of the season and sixth of his career
- Fernandes now has six multi-hit games this season which leads the team
- Fernandes extended his on base streak to 15 games and hit streak to six games
- Ramirez went 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI
- Rowles went 1-for-5 and scored a run
- Smith held Pitt to five hits and one walk and struckout three across five innings of work
- Albanese and McGrew did not give up a hit across a combined four innings pitched
- Albanese struck out three of the four batters he faced
UP NEXT: The Spartans will host Cal on Tuesday, March 10, at 6:05 p.m. at Excite Ballpark. The game can be watched on Mountain West Network.
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