Aztecs Secure Sweep at San Jose State with 2-0 Shutout on Saturday

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Behind Omar Serrano’s third career complete game, San Diego State captured a Mountain West series sweep of San José State with a 2-0 whitewash on Saturday at Excite Ballpark.

Serrano scattered four hits and one walk while striking out six batters to even his record at 4-4 on the season. With his performance, the Aztec senior secured his first collegiate complete game of the shutout variety.

As a team, SDSU (14-26, 10-8 MW) moves into a three-way tie for second place in the conference standings with New Mexico and Nevada, two games behind front-runner Fresno State (12-6 MW).

The two squads combined to strand 16 baserunners in the game, including nine for the Aztecs.

However, SDSU broke a scoreless tie in the seventh when Evan Sipe roped a two-out double to left and sprinted home moments later on pinch hitter Drew Rutter’s single to center.

SJSU (20-20, 8-10 MW) threatened in the eighth when Alex Fernandes drew a leadoff walk and stole second following Antonio Nanez’s flyout. After Sipe snared Zach Chamizo’s pop-up behind the plate in foul territory, however, Jonathan Smith made a spectacular diving catch in the left-field gap on Rocco Caballero’s sinking liner, keeping the Spartans off the scoreboard.

The Aztecs added an insurance run in the top of the ninth when Finley Bates singled home Zane Kelly, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and advanced on a passed ball and sacrifice bunt.

Serrano quickly retired the side in the bottom of the frame, inducing a pop foul to Zach Tallerman before striking out Jeriah Lewis and Jake McCoy to end the game.

Serrano, who threw a season-high 134 pitches, including 87 for strikes, allowed a runner to reach second on just two other occasions in the contest.

Neil Jansen laced a one-out single in the third but was left stranded after consecutive groundouts. SJSU also put two runners aboard in the sixth when Chamizo singled through the right side and Caballero was hit by a pitch. However, Serrano received a flyout from Tallerman before making a bare-handed toss to first on Lewis’ sharp liner back to the mound.

Serrano’s counterpart Luca Staiano (5.0 IP, 3 H) combined with Nolan George (1.0 IP 2 H) to keep the Aztecs off the board through six innings before giving way to Tyler Albanese to start the seventh.

Albanese (2-3) was charged with the loss after yielding two runs (one earned) on four hits and one walk with two strikeouts over the final three innings.

Bates and CJ Moran led the SDSU offense with two hits apiece.

UP NEXT
San Diego State returns to “America’s Finest City” on Monday, April 21, when it faces the University of San Diego in a crosstown battle at Fowler Park. The Aztecs will then play host to Cal State Fullerton the following night on April 22 at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Both games are slated for a 6 p.m. PT start.