By Marissa Scott (@marissascotttt ):
A career-high nine strikeouts from SJSU junior Andrew Mitchel paved the way for a 3-1 win over Air Force Friday afternoon in Colorado Springs.
The Spartans (10-15, 3-7 MW) snapped a five–game losing streak on the season and eight-game losing streak against the Falcons (10-15, 4-7 MW) dating back to 2014.
A stellar one-run, seven inning performance by Mitchel (3-0) followed by a six-out save by junior Fineas Del Bonta-Smith shut down the Falcon offense.
SJSU sophomore center fielder Kellen Strahm started off the game with a single and went 2-for-4 with two hits, including one of the four doubles smashed in the outfield by the Spartans.
After a double with one out in the third inning by junior shortstop Aaron Pleschner, the Spartans quickly took a 1-0 lead when senior left fielder Brett Bautista singled him in.
Back-to-back doubles by second baseman Shane Timmons and right fielder Chris Williams gave the team a three-run lead going into the fourth inning.
The Spartans did not score any runs after the third inning but were still able to hang on to the lead after only allowing a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the fifth by Air Force senior second baseman Jacob Booker.
Timmons made the start at second base for the first time in his college career while freshman Ruben Ibarra got the start at first.
For the first time all year, Air Force was held to three hits in a game and also the first time they failed to reach the five run mark.
Falcons junior Matt Hargreaves (1-4) made his seventh start of the season and allowed three runs in six innings pitched.
Sophomore Josh Leaser came in for relief of Hargreaves and threw three shutout innings while only allowing one hit, lowering his ERA by almost three points.
The Spartans look to win their first road series when they take the field for game 3 Saturday at 11 a.m.
