Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Santa Clara
Bulldogs Win First Game of Doubleheader
2/12/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 12, 2000
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Fresno State extended its winning streak to four games by defeating Santa Clara 5-3 in the first game of Saturday's doubleheader at Buck Shaw Stadium. The Bulldogs improved to 4-2, while Santa Clara dropped to 2-5.
After falling behind 2-0 after the first inning on Bronco third baseman Matt Queen's second home run of the year, the Bulldogs scored a run in the second to pull within one run. However, Santa Clara plated a run in its half of the second to extend the lead to 3-1. Fresno State added single tallies in the third and fifth innings to knot the game at three.
Third baseman Nick Garcia's (Jr., Lakewood, Calif.) two-out single to left off Bronco reliever Jim DeMartini scored Tom Creighton (So., Weldon, Calif.) and Josh Labandeira (Jr., Porterville, Calif.) to give the Bulldogs lead for good in the top of the seventh.
Creighton, Labandeira and Brandon Gemoll (So., San Jose, Calif.) each had two hits to pace the Bulldog offense. Designated hitter Ben Fritz (Fr., San Jose, Calif.) added a pair of RBIs in the two-run victory.
Hans Smith (Sr., Central Point, Ore.) pitched the final four innings in relief of starter Tom Graham (Sr., Modesto, Calif.) and earned his first victory of the season. Smith (1-0) shut out the Broncos in his four innings pitched on three hits and struck out one. Graham allowed three runs on seven hits and struck out one in his five-plus innings of work.
Matt Travis picked up the loss for Santa Clara. Travis (0-1) allowed five runs - four earned - on nine hits, walked three and struck out four in 6.2 innings pitched. DeMartini tossed the final 2.1 innings, striking out four Bulldogs.
