Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Pepperdine
Fresno State Wins First Game of 2000
2/4/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 4, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State scored early and often against Pepperdine Friday night en route to a 14-2 victory at Pete Beiden Field. The Bulldogs pounded out four extra-base hits - all doubles - and 14 singles in the rout.
The Bulldogs (1-2) jumped on Pepperdine starter Daniel Haren for four runs in the first inning and chased him in the fourth with four more. Fresno State scored its four runs in the first on four hits and was aided by a pair of errors by Wave infielders Tony Garcia and Damon Katz. The Bulldogs added three more runs in the fifth on four consecutive safeties to lead off the inning (three doubles followed by a single) and three in the eighth to complete their scoring.
"I think the tone was set by two different groups tonight," Fresno State head coach Bob Bennett said. "On offense, we settled down after giving up the run in the first by scoring four of our own. The rally set the tone for the game."
Tom Graham (Sr., Modesto, Calif.) was solid in his second start of 2000, limiting the Waves to one run on three hits in six innings pitched. Graham walked two and struck out four in improving to 1-1 on the season. He retired 15 of the final 18 hitters he faced. Nick Moran (So., Elk Grove, Calif.) relieved Graham in the seventh and tossed two scoreless innings and struck out three Pepperdine hitters. Hans Smith (Sr., Central Point, Ore.) allowed one run in his first appearance of the season.
"Tom was up in the first, but he went back out in the second and kept his pitches down and minimized the number of pitches he threw," Bennett said. "I was pleased with Moran. He had a very good fastball tonight and he is getting better each day."
All nine Fresno State starters had at least one hit and one run scored on the night and eight of the nine had at least one RBI. Brandon Gemoll (So., San Jose, Calif.) paced the Bulldog offense with a career-high four hits and two RBIs. In his past games, Gemoll is 6-for-9. Mike Bowlin (Sr., San Jose, Calif.) was 3-for-5 with a pair of runs scored and two RBIs. Tom Creighton (So., Weldon, Calif.), Nick Garcia (Jr., Lakewood, Calif.) and Brad Harper (So., Madera, Calif) each added two safeties each for the Bulldogs.
Haren (0-2) struggled in his second start of the season, allowing eight runs - four earned - on 10 hits in 3.2 innings of work. A trio of Wave relievers allowed six runs and eight hits in the final 4.1 innings.
The three-game series continues Saturday afternoon at Beiden Field. Right-hander Shawn Hannah (Sr., Clovis, Calif.) will oppose Pepperdine junior right-hander Jay Adams. Both pitchers bring 0-1 records into the contest. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
