BASEBALL DROPS FIRST WAC TOURNAMENT GAME TO FRESNO STATE 3-2
5/22/2008
RUSTON, La. - The Sacramento State baseball team dropped a 3-2 decision to Fresno State, in a rare pitchers duel at Louisiana Tech's J.C. Love Field in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference tournament on Thursday, May 22.
With the loss, the Hornets fall to 23-33 overall, while the Bulldogs improve to 34-27. Sacramento State will play the loser of the first round game between Hawai'i and New Mexico State in an elimination game on Friday at 11 a.m. Central, while Fresno State will play the loser of the game between Nevada and San Jose State in the game that follows at 3 p.m.
With the wind blowing in at J.C. Love Field, which is normally a hitters park, many fly balls that would have normally left the yard were simply outs, keeping the score low. Fresno State opened the scoring in the first inning with a bit of small-ball, as following Gavin Hedstrom's one-out single, Erik Wetzel sacrificed him to second, bring up WAC Player of the Year Steve Susdorf, who singled him home for a 1-0 Fresno State advantage.
The Hornets tied it back up in the top of the fourth, as with two outs, junior Gabe Jacobo walked on four pitches, and was followed by senior Wes Oberlin, who singled through the right side, giving the Hornets a runner in scoring position and two outs. Sophomore Tim Wheeler then singled up the middle, scoring Jacobo to move the score to one run apiece.
Fresno State retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth with a one out rally, as Alan Ahmady walked and Tommy Mendonca singled, bringing up Ryan Overland, who brought them home with a long two-run double, giving the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.
The Hornets would pull the score to within one in the top of the seventh, as with two on and two out, senior Taylor Watanabe reached on a fielding error by Bulldog shortstop Danny Muno, scoring junior Jeff Roth on the play to make the score 3-2. The Hornets, however could not pull closer, as the game ended on a hard hit shot off the bat of Watanabe that looked to be headed out of the park near the 370 sign in left center. The wind caught hold of the baseball and kept it in the park to retire the Hornets.
Sophomore Trevor York (4-6) was the hard-luck loser for the Hornets, allowing just three runs on eight hits in seven innings of work. The outing marked the six straight start for York where he held the opposing team to four runs or less. Justin Wilson picked up the win for Fresno State, allowing two runs, one earned, on five hits in seven innings on the hill. Brandon Burke picked up his eighth save of the season, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning.
Wheeler led the Hornets at the plate with a 2-for-4 day, while three other Hornets notched hits of their own. Mendonca had a two-hit game to lead the Bulldogs, while seven other players recorded one hit.
