SJSU baseball wins big series against UNLV

BriannaHuffmaster
By Brianna Huffmaster (@bhuffmaster2024) – Spear Reporter
Postgame high fives after a big win at home | Photo by Andrew Hartley – The Spear

After playing on the road for a month, San Jose State baseball (18-24, 13-11 MW) finally returned to Excite Ballpark to host a three-game series against Mountain West rival UNLV (23-20, 10-14 MW). Coming into the weekend SJSU was right in front of UNLV in the conference standings so all three games were pivotal for both teams. 

Game one Friday night was not the homecoming win SJSU expected. The team fell short 2-1 in a pitcher’s duel. Although pitching was a bright spot, the lack of offensive production was uncharacteristic for the Spartans. 

“When you get a game close like that, it just magnifies the opportunities that you get,” SJSU head coach Brad Sanfilippo said. “You gotta produce in limited opportunities and tonight we didn’t really do that.” 

The lone run came from first baseman and all-time SJSU home run leader Hunter Dorraugh in the third inning. 

“Anytime I can contribute to the team and score runs, that is my main purpose,” Dorraugh said. “I’m not very focused on the record or how many home runs I’m hitting, I’m focused on winning games.” 

Outside of Dorraugh’s record extending to 36 home runs, the offense left 10 runners on base. 

On the mound, Keaton Chase started the game and finished with a stat line of two runs, five hits and one strikeout through five innings. Jesse Gutierrez and Cade Van Allen came in for relief and did not allow the Rebels to score. 

In contrast to Friday pitcher’s duel, game two on Saturday was an offensive explosion with the Spartans evening out the series with a 8-7 win. The bats and gloves both contributed heavily to the close win. 

Center fielder Sebastian Orduno was a double away from the cycle and made a huge diving catch to end the fifth inning. Orduno went 3-for-4 and the diving catch made the No. 5 play of the day on ESPN. 

The biggest offensive inning for SJSU was the sixth where it scored four runs. Jackson Forbes began the rally with a two-run RBI double to score shortstop Theo Hardy and catcher Matt Spear. Dorraugh and third baseman Nathan Cadena also contributed with RBIs to continue the inning. 

“Moving forward these next series are the most important ones,” Orduno said. “This was a huge win today, team effort.” 

Micky Thompson started the game on the mound and pitched six innings, giving up four runs and seven hits. A ninth-inning UNLV leadoff home run became a high pressure situation for Van Allen, but he closed it out to secure the win. 

“Just staying on the attack (is key),” Van Allen said. “My curveball and off speed pitches felt really good so that helps and then everything else played out.” 

Saturday’s big win had the Spartans feeling good heading into Sunday’s rubber match. Ethan Ross was slated to start the final game and his last two Sunday performances were very dominant. 

“We got a good arm on the mound for us going into Sunday with Ethan Ross,” Spear said. “You can sleep on that pretty well. I think we’re looking good.” 

Ross continued his dominance Sunday with a big 5-1 win to take the series. He pitched seven innings and only allowed one run proving he is the go-to Sunday starter. 

“It’s awesome that my coaches and team trust me to go start Sundays which are big games,” Ross said. “I know our guys want to hit and they’re going to play great defense behind me.”

The offense started out slow for SJSU and the game was flying by until the fifth when Spear hit a two-run homer to start the offensive momentum. It was Spear’s eighth home run of the season and all of his big swings have occurred in April. 

Later on in the sixth inning second baseman Dalton Bowling hit a big RBI triple to score left fielder Robert Hamchuk. Two more insurance runs were added in the seventh inning with RBIs from Forbes and Hamchuk. 

“Everyone had really good at-bats throughout the game,” Spear said. “Piecing it together and putting some runs on later in the game helped us.” 

The Spartans had two weeks off from midweek games but will get back on the field Tuesday with a short roadtrip up I-680 to play Saint Mary’s. It will be the rubber match for the two teams. 

“We’re trying to get that (rubber match win), Saint Mary’s is a really good team,” Sanfilippo said. “It’s good to get back at it with the midweek games.” 

First pitch is set for 3 p.m. Tuesday at Louis Guisto Field. 

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