The Diamond ‘Dogs (25-24, 12-15 Mountain West) were handed a 5-2 loss by the conference rival San Jose State Spartans Sunday afternoon at Municipal Stadium.

The Spartans (16-33, 9-17 MW) started off hot, recording four runs off five hits in the first inning for an early 4-0 advantage.

SJSU added another run in the second for a commanding 5-0 lead.

However, the Bulldogs responded in the fourth inning when they cut the Spartans’ lead to three. Manny Argomaniz hit a bunt single to send Taylor Ward home and get the ‘Dogs on the scoreboard. Moments later, Chris Mariscal scored the second and final run of the afternoon off an RBI single from Jesse Medrano.

The Bulldogs were unable to capitalize on run-scoring opportunities. They left two runners on base, with the tying run at the plate, in the fourth and fifth frames.

Junior right-hander Derick Velazquez was the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs, but Blake Quinn relieved him after just 1 2/3 innings pitched. Quinn closed out the fourth inning before the Bulldogs called in William Munro for the next 1 2/3 innings. Right-handers Garrett Mundell and Jake Shull pitched the final four innings for Fresno State.

The Bulldogs had taken Game 2, shutting out the Spartans for an 8-0 victory, but SJSU also topped the ‘Dogs in Game 1 to take the set. The three-game series win over Fresno State marks SJSU’s first of the season.

Fresno State will take on CSU Bakersfield (20-26, 12-9 Western Athletic Conference) Wednesday in what will be its final road game of the regular season. The Roadrunners currently stand in a tie for fifth place in the WAC after completing a three-game road sweep of Northern Colorado over the weekend.

The ‘Dogs have five contests remaining on the schedule before they head to Las Vegas for the 2014 Mountain West Baseball Championship Tournament which runs from May 21-25.