Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Rice
Bulldogs Drop Series Finale To Rice
2/27/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 27, 2000
HOUSTON - Rice jumped out to an early lead for the third consecutive game, but Fresno State was unable to recover and was shut out 8-0 Sunday afternoon at Reckling Park. The Bulldogs dropped to 11-3 overall and 2-1 in the WAC, while the Owls improved to 7-8 and 1-2. Fresno State saw its 11-game winning streak end and it was its first loss since Jan. 29, a 7-1 decision against then-No. 1 Stanford.
Rice scored a pair of runs in the first inning, a run the second and two more in the third to jump out to a 5-0 lead. The Owls added two more runs in the sixth and a single tally in the eighth to complete their scoring.
Rice right-hander Kenny Baugh made sure the Bulldogs would not rally for the fourth consecutive game. Baugh (3-0) shut out Fresno State on six singles, did not walk a batter and struck out three in a 121-pitch masterpiece. It was his first career shutout and his 14th consecutive winning decision.
Bulldog left-hander Beau Hintz (So., Stockton, Calif.), who was trying for his third consecutive complete game, allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits in his two-plus innings of work. Hintz saw his record fall to 2-1 for the season. Four Bulldog relievers combined to allow four runs on eight hits over the game's final six innings.
Although the Fresno State offense was held in check, shortstop Josh Labandeira (Jr., Porterville, Calif.) was able to extend his hitting streak to 12 games. Labandeira was 1-for-4. Nick Garcia (Jr., Lakewood, Calif.) added a pair of hits for the Bulldogs.
"We were able to win 2-of-3 games this weekend in good fashion," Fresno State head coach Bob Bennett said. "We hit well until today and our pitching staff did a good job until today's game. Occasionally, any team will have breakdowns. These guys aren't perfect. We just didn't hold on to it on the mound. If we could have done that, then we would have had a chance to come back because we have a good offensive ballclub.""
The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 29, when they host California in the beginning of a season-long 13-game homestand. Fresno State will send either left-hander Mike Hernandez (Fr., Fresno, Calif.) or right-hander Ben Fritz (Fr., San Jose, Calif.) to the hill. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Pete Beiden Field.
