Moraga, Calif. - If Opening Day is any indication, fans of the San Jose State University baseball team are in for another exciting season in 2010.

The Spartans (1-0) rallied for two runs in the eighth inning thanks to run-scoring doubles by Jason Martin and Anthony Bona, and got a big lift from their bullpen to edge Saint Mary's College (0-1), 7-6, in an entertaining affair between non-conference area rivals on an overcast afternoon at Louis Guisto Field on Friday, February 19.

Corey Valine reached on a throwing error by Mikey Reynolds to lead off the eighth with the Spartans trailing, 6-5, before being forced out despite a second straight misplay by the rookie shortstop, as he had to hold at first on a sharp liner by Alex Sofranac. With the senior rightfielder at first, one away and an 0-2 count on him in likely his last opportunity to extend a current league-best 23-game hit streak, Martin roped a double into the gap in left center to send Sofranac flying home with the game-tying run. After a pinch-hit flyout by a fourth junior college newcomer in his first action for the Spartans, Barney Evans, Bona took a 1-1 pitch from junior right-hander Alex Schmarzo (0-1) and drove it deep to left center for another RBI double, putting San Jose State on top to stay, 7-6.

The remainder was not without further drama, however. In the bottom of the inning, junior left-hander Graham Rodriguez (1-0) got the first out and left in place of junior right-hander Luke Mazzanti. Mazzanti struck out pinch-hitter Cole Norton before going to a 3-0 count on Reynolds and storming back with three strikes in a row to send the Spartans back into the dugout. Rodriguez would ultimately earn the winning decision in his major college debut.

The Spartans were unsuccessful in their bid to add an insurance run in the ninth. Mazzanti returned to the mound and got senior catcher Ryan Mulligan to ground out on the first pitch, with Valine showing good range to his left at third base. That still brought Troy Channing to the plate as the tying run. The sophomore third baseman, a consensus Freshman All-American a year ago, a preseason All-American heading into the new campaign, and the single-season school record-holder with 20 home runs in 2009, watched a strike, fouled off the second pitch, took a ball, and then swung at a low throw by Mazzanti and missed to fan for the second time in the game. The next batter lifted a fly ball, but junior centerfielder Tommy Gale was shaded perfectly toward the gap in left center, to make the easy catch and end the contest.

Back-to-back one-out singles through the left side of the infield by senior co-captains Karson Klauer and Valine got the Spartans going early in the first, but senior right-hander Brandon Berl rallied to set the next two batters down on strikes to end the threat.

Esteban Guzman drew the first Friday start of his college career from head coach Sam Piraro. The sophomore right-hander allowed a bloop single to left center to Reynolds before getting a popped bunt for the first out. A stolen base put a Saint Mary's runner in scoring position for the first time on the day, before Channing worked the count full and drew the first of his three walks to duplicate what San Jose State had done in the top half.

Guzman almost looked like he would fight his way out of it like his counterpart. He first benefitted from a rare call by the home plate umpire, whereby junior leftfielder Justin Fazio got plunked, but was judged to have stuck his elbow out at what was headed toward a called strike, and ruled out. Guzman got the first two strikes on the next batter before freshman rightfielder Brenden Kalfus was able to poke an RBI single through the right side to generate the game's first run. Two quick strikes on freshman first baseman Sean O'Brien led into Guzman's second strikeout of the frame, and the end of a busy first.

The Spartans needed two pitches to put a pair of runners on base in the second, as junior designated hitter Kerry Jenkins took the first pitch he saw in a San Jose State uniform and dropped it in front of the leftfielder. Redshirt junior first baseman Breyon Canez, making his first collegiate start, chopped the next pitch with a half-swing, to almost the identical spot. Junior catcher Bryson Rahier followed with a perfect bunt toward third base. Sophomore Michael Reiling, a San Jose native out of Valley Christian High School in the starting lineup for the first time as the Spartan shortstop, lined the very next pitch into right field, where Kalfus almost let it go over his head for extra bases, only to make the difficult snatch for a sacrifice fly and 1-1 tie.

Returning to the top of the order, Gale laced a double into the gap in right center as Canez crossed for the Spartans' first lead of the year. Klauer worked the count full and picked out a spot down the third base line for his second successive single and a 3-1 advantage as Gale sprinted around and scored.

Guzman took to the hill again and produced the contest's first 1-2-3 inning, freezing sophomore centerfielder Donald Collins on the inside corner for the third strike and thus the third out.

San Jose State went right back to work in the third, Sofranac providing a soft single up the middle, before Martin reached on a fielder's choice, with Sofranac safe at second on the late throw. Berl wriggled his way out of it, however, with a strikeout, popout and fielder's choice groundout, keeping the Gael deficit at two runs, 3-1.

Saint Mary's pulled one of those runs back in the third, getting a bunt single to break up a stretch of five straight retired batters by Guzman, and a second walk to Channing, both with one out, before another two-out RBI single by Kalfus. Channing got caught in between second and third on the play, and was tagged out to end the inning.

Leading off the fourth, Reiling hit it that much further than his first at-bat, this time connecting on a double over Kalfus' head. Gale and Klauer then drew four-pitch walks from Berl, who immediately got Valine to pop out to short on the infield fly rule. Sofranac came next and put an absolute charge into the first offering, with Collins ranging over into the gap in right and making a tough catch toward the warning track for what was ultimately a long sacrifice fly. A four-pitch walk to Martin loaded the bases for Jenkins, who flew out to right center.

The Gaels generated a walk and a single to open their half of the fourth. A second balk by Guzman put both runners in scoring position, before a right-sided RBI groundout made it a 4-3 scoreline. Collins' first collegiate hit, a single through the left side, knotted the score. After a called third strike for the frame's second out, Mulligan belted a two-run home run that snuck over the wall in right field, to regain the lead for Saint Mary's, 6-4.

The Spartans put two runners on base with one out again in the sixth on a leadoff walk by new pitcher Dorsey Ek to Klauer, and a one-out hit-by-pitch to Sofranac, but a 6-3 double play wiped out the rally.

Junior second baseman Michael Gastelum opened the home half of the sixth with a double into the right field corner off of sophomore right-hander Sean Martin. The Ohlone College transfer, making his Spartan debut, worked out of his first major college frame, however, with a well-executed bunt play defensively that kept Gastelum at second, a groundout with Reiling showing a strong arm at short, and a routine fly ball to Gale in center.

Jenkins walked off of freshman left-hander Dylan Chavez to open the seventh. Bona, hitting for Canez, battled Chavez for eight pitches, with a couple of two-strike foul-offs, and also reached base via a walk. Rahier then laid down a second solid bunt to third on the day. Reiling came to bat with the tying run at second, and skipped a single through the hole on the left side, plating Jenkins and moving Bona to third. Chavez struck out Gale swinging and got a fielder's choice ground ball out of Klauer to retire the side still holding the slight edge.

Saint Mary's moved runners to second and third with one out in the seventh on a leadoff walk, infield single and sacrifice bunt. Martin struck out the next batter, and gave way to Rodriguez. The transfer from Chabot College threw two strikes, and got pinch-hitter Greg Ditmer to ground out to Valine at third, setting up the eighth-inning rally.

Reiling finished 3-for-4 with a double, sacrifice fly, run scored and two RBI. Klauer was 2-for-4 with two walks and an RBI. Jenkins wound up 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Guzman allowed six runs, all earned, on eight hits and three walks in his five frames, striking out five. Mazzanti's save was the third of his career. Spartan pitching did not allow a run after the four-run SMC fourth.

For Saint Mary's, Mulligan and Kalfus each had two hits and two RBI, with Mulligan scoring twice. The Gaels used a total of five pitchers. Senior starter Brandon Berl went five innings.

This three-game series now shifts to Blethen Field on San Jose State South Campus for the Spartans' 2010 home opener on Saturday, February 20. First pitch is slated for 1:00 p.m. Junior left-hander John Austin, a transfer from College of San Mateo, should make his major college debut on the mound for San Jose State, opposed by sophomore Gael right-hander Kyle Barraclough. Season tickets for Spartan Baseball are available by calling 924-SJTX (7589).

San Jose State 7, Saint Mary's 6

San Jose State (1-0) 030 100 120 - 7 12 0
Saint Mary's (0-1) 101 400 000 - 6 10 2

Esteban Guzman, Sean Martin (6), Graham Rodriguez (7), Luke Mazzanti (8) and Bryson Rahier. Berl, Ek (6), Chavez (7), Schmarzo (8), Munill (9) and Mulligan. WP - Graham Rodriguez (1-0). LP - Schmarzo (0-1). Save - Luke Mazzanti (1). 2B - Tommy Gale, Michael Reiling, Jason Martin, Anthony Bona (SJSU); Gastelum (SMC). HR - Mulligan (1) (SMC). 3 hits - Michael Reiling (SJSU). 2 hits - Karson Klauer (SJSU); Kalfus, Mulligan (SMC). 2 RBI - Michael Reiling (SJSU); Kalfus, Mulligan (SMC). Attendance - 315.