Courtesy: San Jose State Athletics Branden Dewing needed only 96 pitches to toss his second collegiate shutout. (Photo by Ron Fried.)

San Jose, Calif. – Branden Dewing threw a four-hit shutout to lead the San Jose State University baseball team to a 6-0 victory over visiting Cal Poly in its 2006 season opener at Blethen Field on Friday, February 3. The game was played in front of a crowd of 433.

Dewing (1-0) needed 96 pitches to complete the second shutout of his college career. The 2006 Brooks Wallace Award candidate had previously blanked Louisiana Tech as a junior in 2005. Dewing allowed just one walk and struck out three Mustangs, facing just five batters over the minimum.

"DEW" FOR SOME CREDIT

“Branden (Dewing) was very dominant today,” remarked Sam Piraro, who began his 19th year at the helm of the Spartans. “This was one of the top three games he has had in his San Jose State career, and it came against a tough, explosive lineup. He pitched very, very well.”

“This was a good way to start it off,” said Dewing. “We put it on them early. We had good intensity throughout. This is a new start and a big weekend for us.”

The Spartans (1-0) scored all six of their runs in the third and fourth innings to send Cal Poly (3-1) to its first defeat of the year following a three-game home sweep over No. 21 Fresno State a week ago.

Cal Poly committed six errors on the afternoon, with four of them coming in the third inning and leading to four unearned runs against Mustang starter Gary Daley (1-1). Aaron Loewenthal and Nick Epidendio picked up an RBI each for a walk and a hit-by-pitch, respectively, in the wild inning. Brandon Fromm provided a two-run single in the fourth, to add to the cushion for the home side.

“It was good to get this first one, especially against a team which swept Fresno State,” said Fromm. “It was important to win it for the new guys on this team, to give them the feeling of winning a Division I game. Now we’re in good position to take the series, and our goal is to win every series.”

“David’s (Pierson) money,” added Dewing about his slick-gloved fellow senior at second base while commenting on the solid defense his teammates played behind him. “The middle infield played a great game, as did the whole outfield. This was the first time in a while that Brody (Massman) caught me, but we played well together.”

Spartan hitters drew seven walks on the afternoon, including two by Epidendio. Ryan Angel scored twice. Despite producing six runs, the Spartans stranded 11 runners in the game, leaving the bases full in the third, fifth and sixth innings.

A PIRARO SUMMARY

“Defensively, we were very sound,” added Piraro. “We made two or three tough plays, and most of the routine ones. Pitching and defense is what we preach. Offensively, our guys did a good job against (Gary) Daley. We laid off some pitches, took advantage of some control issues, and got a key hit from Brandon (Fromm). I was disappointed with how we let some opportunities get away. We have put a big emphasis on being opportunistic, and capitalizing on situations. But overall, it was a good opening day.”

For Cal Poly, Daley went four-plus innings, allowing five hits, five walks and six runs, two of them earned. Andrew Slorp and DJ Mauldin tossed four innings of hitless relief.

San Jose State and Cal Poly continue their three-game non-conference series with a 1:00 p.m. game at Blethen Field on Saturday, February 4.

Cal Poly (3-1) 000 000 000 0-4-6
San Jose State (1-0) 004 200 00X 6-5-1

Daley, Slorp (5), Mauldin (6) and Canepa, Woodcox. Branden Dewing and Brody Massman. WP – Branden Dewing (1-0). LP – Daley (1-1). Save - none. 2B - none. 3B - none. HR – none. 2 hits - none. 3 hits – none. 2 RBI – Brandon Fromm (SJSU), 1x4, run, 2 RBI. Attendance - 433.