Saint Patrick’s Day weekend did not bring Nevada any luck. Quite the opposite, actually.
Looking to shake a slow start to the season, Nevada went to San Jose State, a team entering with an identical 2-4 conference record, for a three-game set.
The Wolf Pack (5-15, 2-7) got swept, losing all three games by a single run and now holds just a one game lead over last-place Air Force. Two of the losses were of the walk-off variety in extra innings. The Spartans improved to 9-9, 5-4.
Nevada heads to the Bay on Tuesday for a non-conference game against San Francisco then hosts Air Force (9-11, 1-8) for a three-game set this weekend at Peccole Park.
San Jose State 6, Nevada 5 (10 innings)
The final one-run loss of the weekend was the most painful.
Mike Echavia plated Tyler Florres in the top of the 10th with an RBI fielder’s choice to give Nevada a 5-4 lead. The Spartans immediately tied it in the bottom of the 10th with a leadoff solo blast.
An ensuing single, an error, a sac bunt and a wild pitch led to the game-winning run.
Second baseman Keaton Smith went 2-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI and a run scored in the loss.
Nevada was outhit, 12-7, and both teams committed three errors.
Grant Ford was sharp in relief. He entered in the fourth and allowed just one run on three hits over 4.1 innings.
The Spartans took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the second. The Wolf Pack answered with a three-run frame in the top of the third.
San Jose State 7, Nevada 6
Two hits and a pair of San Jose State errors helped Nevada score four times in top of the top of the ninth on Saturday to get within a run.
The rally, and the game, ended with three-straight groundouts.
Nevada outhit San Jose state for the second-straight game, and was stuck with the same result: a one-run loss.
Reed grad Mark Nowaczewski got the start and was roughed up for five runs in the bottom of the first before settling in. He allowed just one more run over his final 4+ innings of work.
He was still stuck with the loss, allowing the six runs (three earned) on six hits and four walks. He struck out a pair.
San Jose State 6, Nevada 5 (12 innings)
A leadoff double in the bottom of the 12th forced manager T.J. Bruce to load the bases with a pair of intentional walks. A walk-off sacrifice fly ended the four-and-a-half-hour contest on Friday night.
It was the only run charged to Evan McMahan over 2.2 innings of relief. He was charged with the loss.
Trailing 5-1 in the eighth, the Pack scored four times. Catcher Kaleb Foster’s two-run single tied the game at 5-5.
Center fielder Cole Krzmarzick (4-for-6, double, run) and left fielder Chase Grant (3-for-5, double, triple, RBI) were responsible for more than half of Nevada’s 12 hits.
Krzmarzick’s one-out double in the top of the 10th was Nevada’s only hit in extra innings.
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