SAN JOSE, Calif. – Dylan Smith turned in a dominant complete-game performance, allowing just one run on seven hits over nine innings while striking out five to lead the San José State baseball team (20-25, 7-11 MW) in a 6-1 series deciding victory over Grand Canyon (17-28, 7-11 MW) Sunday afternoon from Excite Ballpark in the final game of a three game series.
After three scoreless innings by both sides, Grand Canyon hit a solo home run in the fourth inning, briefly giving the Lopes a 1–0. The Spartans would break the game open in the bottom of the fifth, plating five runs on four hits. With two outs, Jake McCoy tied the game with an RBI single up the middle, bringing Alex Fernandes home. Later in the inning with bases-loaded, Neil Jansen hit a three-RBI double past the Lopes’ third baseman and into left field to make it 4-1 Spartans. Rohne Klein followed with an RBI single to cap the five run inning.
SJSU added an insurance run in the seventh when Jansen delivered again, driving in JC Osorio-Agard with an RBI single after a leadoff double, making it 6-1 Spartans.
Jansen led the Spartans offensively with a perfect 3-for-3 day, four RBIs, and a double, while Osorio-Agard scored twice and added two hits. The Spartans finished with 10 hits and went 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
On the mound, Smith (3-3) stranded seven runners and limited the Lopes to 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
- This marks the fourth complete game by a Spartan this season and the second complete game of the series
- This was Smith’s first complete game of the season and the third of his career
- Jansen’s four RBIs was a season-high and marked his fifth multi-RBI game of the season
- This was also Jansen’s second game this season with three hits
- Osorio-Agard now has 17 multi-hit games on the season
- Osorio-Agard improved his hit streak to 12 games while Fernandes improved his hit streak to eight games
- Peyton Rowles’ on base streak concludes at 21
- With six games remaining in the season, SJSU, Grand Canyon and UNLV are all tied at 7-11 for the six seed in the Mountain West Tournament
UP NEXT: The Spartans will open a three game series against San Diego State on Friday, May 8, at 6:05 p.m. from Tony Gwynn Stadium. The game can be watched on Mountain West Network.
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