San Jose, Calif. The University of Nevada(31-21, 18-11 WAC) baseball team fell 7-4 to San Jose State University(28-23, 14-14 WAC) at Municipal Stadium in San Jose, Calif. Friday night in the first-game of a key four-game Western Athletic Conference series. The second place Wolf Pack had an opportunity to move into a tie with league leading Fresno State(19-10) as the Bulldogs lost 9-8 at Sacramento State earlier in the day but were unable to come up with a victory tonight. The Pack still remains one game back of FS with three games remaining for both teams. With tonight’s loss Nevada is now 31-21 on the season and 18-11 in conference play. SJSU improved to 28-23 overall and 14-14 in conference play.
After Nevada stranded two runners in the top of the first inning the Spartans got a two-out, two-run homer from third baseman Sonny Garza in the bottom half of the inning to take the early 2-0 lead. The Spartans got a three-run homer from shortstop Kyle Bellows in the bottom of the third inning and it was 5-0. Right fielder Alex Sofranac singled home Garza, who was hit by pitch with the fourth run of the inning to make it 6-0.
The Pack got on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth after shortstop Kevin Rodland doubled and eventually scored on center fielder Jason Sadoian’s RBI single to left field.
Nevada put together a three-run top of the sixth inning to close with two at 6-4. First baseman Shaun Kort started the inning with a double and designated hitter Terry Walsh walked. A ground out by second baseman Nick Lead erased Walsh but there were runners on the corners for right fielder Mike Hale. Hale’s infield single scored Kort as Leid moved to second base. Rodland walked to load the bases and Waylen Sing Chow came off the bench to pinch hit. With Sing Chow at the plate a wild pitch allowed all three runners to advance and Leid scampered home to score. Sing Chow grounded out to second base to score Hale with the third run of the inning. Sadoian flew out to left field to end the inning as Rodland was stranded at third base.
SJSU scored the final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth inning off reliever Dan Eastham. Designated hitter Corey Valine singled and eventually scored on a ground out by left fielder Craig Hertler to make the final score 7-4.
Pack starter Rod Scurry(5-7) was tagged with the loss after giving up six runs on six hits in five innings of action. SJSU starter David Berner(3-7) earned the win after allowing four runs on seven hits in 5.1 innings of action. Anthony Vega(3) recorded his third save of the season pitching three innings of shutout, one hit baseball for the Spartans.
Bowman(2-for-4) led Nevada with two hits in the game as the team totaled eight. Sadoian, Hale and Sing Chow drove in a run apiece.
For SJSU second baseman Karson Klauer(2-for-5,R), Bellows(2-for-4,2R,3RBI) and center fielder Jason Martin(2-for-4) each had two hits in the game. Bellows drove home three with his home run and Gaza two with his homer.
The two squads play a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m.
