SAN JOSE, Calif. (Interstat) — The Pacific Tigers erupted for 11 runs on 11 hits Tuesday night to defeat the San Jose State Spartans 11-5 in a nonconference baseball game, overcoming a shaky start from their ace and defying pregame projections.

The victory evened Pacific’s record at 6-6, while San Jose State fell to 4-7.

The most important part of the game came not from the Tigers’ offense but from their bullpen, which delivered five perfect innings to preserve a lead and stifle any chance of a Spartans rally. After starter Liam Smith allowed three runs on nine hits over six innings, relievers Brady Wilson and Ethan Shaver combined for three hitless, scoreless frames, striking out six of the 10 batters they faced. This dominant relief effort, following Smith’s gritty performance, allowed Pacific’s offense to steadily pull away.

Smith, the top star for Pacific, earned the win despite a challenging outing. The right-hander, coming off a difficult appearance on Feb. 25 where he allowed five earned runs in just 1.1 innings against Sacramento State, battled through six innings, surrendering three earned runs while striking out four. His ability to navigate nine Spartan hits and keep his team in front was pivotal.

Pacific’s offense provided consistent support. Derek Bartram led the charge, going 2-for-4 with a triple, a double, two RBIs and three runs scored. Robert Orr added a two-run homer in the ninth inning, part of a 2-for-5, two-RBI night. The Tigers capitalized on opportunities, scoring in five different innings.

San Jose State struck first in the bottom of the opening inning when shortstop Rocco Caballero launched a solo home run to left field. The Spartans added another run in the third on a Caballero sacrifice fly, but could not sustain the early momentum against Smith and the Tigers’ bullpen.

Pacific responded immediately after Caballero’s homer, tying the game in the second on an RBI single from Colin Spear that scored Bartram, who had reached on an error. The Tigers took the lead for good in the third inning. Jake Tandy singled, Grant MacArt doubled him home, and Bartram followed with an RBI triple to make it 3-1.

The Tigers extended their lead with single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and broke the game open with a three-run seventh, highlighted by a bases-loaded walk to Diego Davis and a run-scoring groundout from Blaine French. Orr’s ninth-inning homer and an RBI single from JT Shank provided the final margin.

San Jose State scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the ninth against Shaver on an RBI single from Rohne Klein, but it was too little, too late.

Spartans starter Gutierrez took the loss, charged with four runs (three earned) over three-plus innings. Reliever Landon Marchetti struck out four in two innings of work, while Caden Duke and Cade Cushing provided scoreless relief out of the bullpen.

The result contradicted pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a narrow 5-4 Pacific victory, while its ELO system gave San Jose State a 71.6% probability to win.

Pacific travels to face Nevada for a three-game series starting Friday. San Jose State will host Pittsburgh for a three-game set beginning the same day.