BERKELEY, Calif. (Interstat) — The San Jose State Spartans, defying pregame projections and capitalizing on a relentless offensive performance, defeated the California Golden Bears 10-7 on Wednesday at Evans Diamond.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 7-3 California victory, giving the Golden Bears a 71.9% probability to win based on its ELO system. Instead, the Spartans pounded out 11 hits, took advantage of four California errors and weathered a late rally to even the season series after the Golden Bears won a 3-2 contest in San Jose on March 10.

The most important sequence of the game arrived early, setting a decisive tone. After two quiet innings, San Jose State broke through in the top of the third against California starter Jett Wright. Dylan Jackson and Alex Fernandes worked back-to-back walks, and a wild pitch moved both into scoring position. Following a pitching change that saw Ryan Spalliero replace Wright, Jake McCoy reached on a critical fielding error by catcher Tyler LeRoy, which loaded the bases.

JC OsorioAgard then delivered the key blow, lacing a two-run double down the right field line to score Jackson and Fernandes. Rohne Klein followed with an RBI groundout, plating McCoy to push the Spartans’ lead to 3-0, with all the damage coming with two outs. The error extended the inning and transformed what could have been a minimal rally into a three-run frame, a deficit from which California would spend the rest of the game trying to recover.

San Jose State continued to build its lead in the fifth. McCoy led off with a solo home run to deep center field. Later in the inning, with OsorioAgard on second and Klein on first after a hit-by-pitch, Rocco Caballero drove an RBI double to right center, making it 5-0.

California finally answered in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homer to left field by Daniel Murillo, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Golden Bears chipped away again in the fifth on a sacrifice fly from Jacob French and another from Jett Kenady, pulling to within 5-4.

The Spartans responded immediately, however, showcasing their ability to counter every California push. In the top of the sixth, Peyton Rowles doubled and scored on an RBI double from McCoy. McCoy then came home on a throwing error by shortstop Kenady, restoring a three-run cushion at 7-4. Caballero added a solo homer in the seventh to make it 8-4.

California mounted its most serious threat in the bottom of the seventh. After Kalen Applefield was hit by a pitch and scored on an RBI double from Hideki Prather, French followed with an RBI double of his own, trimming the lead to 8-6. The Golden Bears appeared poised for more with French on third and only one out, but Neil Jansen in right field snuffed out the rally. He caught a fly ball from Murillo and threw a strike to the plate, nailing French trying to score and completing an inning-ending double play.

San Jose State added two unearned insurance runs in the ninth on an RBI double from Fernandes, securing the final margin. California’s French hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, but it was not enough.

With the win, San Jose State improved to 15-20 overall. California fell to 18-17. The Spartans next travel to face Fresno State for a weekend series beginning Friday. California will host Louisville in a three-game set starting the same day.