By Alex Diaz – Spear Reporter (@DiazOnSports) Spear Reporter | Spartan senior right-handed pitcher David Thomas sets into his delivery on the mound. (Photo by Matthew Meyer – Spear Photographer)
With the late afternoon sun dropping behind the stands at Excite Ballpark, San Jose State’s pitching staff finished what it had controlled all afternoon.
The Spartans delivered nine scoreless innings today to shut out the University of New Mexico, 3-0, and secure their first Mountain West series win of the season.
Behind a composed outing from senior starting pitcher Dylan Smith and a steady finish from the bullpen, SJSU kept the Lobos quiet from the first inning to the final out.
“Everyone’s all together focusing on one goal,” Smith said. “We know that if the hitters don’t have it that day, the pitching staff’s going to keep together.”
Smith set the tone early.
The right-hander worked six scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out three, attacking the strike zone and keeping New Mexico hitters off balance throughout his outing.
By the time he walked off the mound, the Spartans had already established control of the game.
Reliever junior pitcher Tyler Albanese handled the rest.
He pitched the final three innings without allowing a run and struck out three batters to earn his first save of the season as the Spartans completed the shutout.
The Lobos managed only four hits as the Spartans consistently limited hard contact and prevented any late rally.
“I’ve said it from the beginning of the year, this is probably the deepest pitching staff on a mid-major baseball anywhere,” Senior outfielder Alex Fernandes said.
While the pitching carried the afternoon, the offense provided timely support.
SJSU scored in three separate innings, manufacturing enough offense to build a cushion behind the pitching staff and keep pressure on New Mexico.
The offensive output was not explosive, but it continued a steady trend for SJSU as the lineup began to settle into conference play.
Combined with strong performances on the mound, the formula proved enough for the Spartans to claim the series and build early momentum into the next stretch of the season.
