What the Spartan baseball team needs to do to win the WAC

By: Matthew Kimel

Posted: 5/13/09

The Spartans are in first place in the Western Athletic Conference and will close out their regular season with a four-game home stand this weekend against Nevada.

"Hopefully this weekend we can win every game. That's our goal. If we can do that, we'll be sitting good," shortstop Kyle Bellows said.

The Spartans (11-7 WAC) hold a one-game lead in the conference standings over Louisiana Tech (11-9 WAC).

SJSU would be assured its third conference championship if it wins three-out-of-four games against the Wolf Pack (10-9 WAC).

"As far as the WAC goes, we control our own destiny," associate head coach Tom Kunis said. "What we do this weekend is ultimately going to be whether we win the WAC or not."

The Spartans could still clinch the conference with a split against the Wolf Pack if Louisiana Tech loses at least two games in its three-game series finale against New Mexico State.

The Spartans last won the conference in 2000 when they were co-champions with Rice. In 1997, the Spartans won their first conference championship in the West division of the WAC.

There are two ways that SJSU can make the field for the NCAA Regional Tournament.

The Spartans would be guaranteed to make the field if they were to win the double-elimination WAC Tournament, hosted by Hawaii, which begins Thursday, May 21 in Honolulu, and concludes on May 24.

Six of the conference's seven teams will compete in the tournament. SJSU, Louisiana Tech, New Mexico State and Hawaii have already secured tournament berths. The Spartans have never won the conference tournament before, though.

If the Spartans don't win the conference tournament, it is possible that they will be selected to the tournament field at-large. The ESPN selection show will be televised on Monday, May 25, at 9:30 a.m. The NCAA Regionals will begin Friday, May 29 and will conclude on June 1.