Hot-hitting Kyle Bellows ripped two home runs to back the strong pitching of Ryan Shopshire and top-seeded San Jose State held off sixth-seeded Nevada, 5-3, yesterday in the opener of the NAPA Auto Parts Western Athletic Conference baseball tournament at Les Murakami Stadium.

The Spartans (40-18) advance to today's winners' bracket game at 3 p.m., while the Wolf Pack (25-30) move to the elimination bracket game at 11 a.m.

Bellows, who doubled and scored the Spartans' first run in the first inning, hit solo homers in the third and fourth innings for his ninth and 10th of the season. He has hit seven homers in his last 11 games and this was the second time he has homered twice against Nevada. The other time was in the WAC tournament in 2007 in Reno.

"I'm just putting good swings on right now," Bellows said. "My swing is in a groove right now, doesn't matter who's pitching, I guess."

Bellows led SJSU's 11-hit attack by batting 3 for 4; the only out he made was a lineout to the left fielder in the alley. Corey Valine also hit a homer, which followed Bellows' second of the game in the fourth.

"It's great to get to 40 wins," Bellows said. "That's a big feat for our team. Everybody's playing good. The pitchers are giving us a chance to win and the hitters are giving them the lead."

Shopshire (6-1) went 7 2/3 innings, allowing three runs, seven hits and four walks with six strikeouts. Anthony Vega entered with the bases loaded and two outs in the eighth, allowing a two-run single by Nick Melino on runs charged to Shopshire, but retired four of the next five for his ninth save.

Derek Achelpohl (4-6) was tagged for five runs (four earned), 10 hits and four walks with four strikeouts in seven innings for Nevada, which has dropped five in a row to SJSU, which swept a four-game series last weekend from the Wolf Pack. Struggling Nevada has dropped 10 of its last 11.

NEVADA (25-30) 010 000 020—3 9 1

SJSU (40-18) 112 100 00X—5 11 0

Derek Achelpohl, Beau Witsoe (8) and Travis Simas. Ryan Shopshire, Anthony Vega (8) and Anthony Aguilera. W — Shopsire (6-1). L — Achelpohl (4-6). S — Vega (9).

Leading hitters — Nevada: Westley Moss 2-3, double; Matt Browman double; Brock Stassi homer; Nick Melino 2 RBIs; Brett Hart 2-4, double; Kevin Rodland double. San Jose State: Jason Martin 2-5; Kyle Bellows 3-4, double, 2 homers, 3 runs, 2 RBIs; Corey Valine 2-4, homer, 2 RBIs; Karson Klauer double.