Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Indiana St
Fresno State Romps Its Way Into PJQ Championship Game
3/10/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 10, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - No. 19 Fresno State defeated Indiana State Friday night 13-5 and advanced to the championship game of the 22nd Annual Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. The Bulldogs, who will play Creighton for the tournament crown, improved to 18-5 with the victory. The Sycamore's record dropped to 7-5-1 for the season.
Fresno State scored a pair of runs in the first inning to jump out to an early 2-0 lead. After the Bulldogs scored three in the third to push the lead to 5-0, Indiana State responded with three of its own to pull within two at 5-3. However, the Bulldogs plated five runs in the fourth to put the game out of reach. Indiana State added two runs in the seventh and Fresno State scored a pair in the eighth and one in the ninth to round out the scoring.
Fresno State rapped out 11 hits on offense, five of which went for extra bases. Brandon Gemoll (So., San Jose, Calif.) led the offense by going 2-for-3 with a career-high tying four RBIs. It was his team-leading 13th multi-hit game of the season. Tom Creighton (So., Weldon, Calif.) tied a classic record by walking four times. Creighton, who scored four runs, has reached base by either hit, walk or hit by pitch in 21 of the 22 games he has played in this season. Anthony Acevedo (Sr., Bakersfield, Calif.) added his fifth home run of the season, a three-run blast in the fourth and Nick Garcia (Jr., Lakewood, Calif.) added a pair of hits and extended his hitting streak to six games.
J.J. Durmanich (Jr., Golden Valley, Calif.) made his first start as a Bulldog and allowed three runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out two in 3.2 innings of work. Zach Minor (So., Walnut Creek, Calif.) relieved Durmanich in the fourth and tossed 2.2 innings to earn the victory. Minor (1-0) allowed a pair of runs on two hits and struck three Sycamores. Ben Fritz (Fr., San Jose, Calif.) struck out three over the final 2.2 innings to wrap up the contest.
"We did a pretty good job with our offense tonight," Fresno State head coach Bob Bennett said. "Fritz came in and did a good job. This was just a team effort. Creighton continues to do his job and get on base."
Fresno State will make its 18th appearance in the title game Saturday night and will be aiming for its 11th tournament crown. Creighton, who won the tournament title in 1991, defeated the Bulldogs 12-3 on Wednesday night and holds a 2-1 edge in the all-time series. All three matchups have been in the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Tournament.
"I am glad to get to see them again," Bennett said. "We had one bad inning against the other day. They are playing really well right now. We will have to play well to beat them."
Tom Graham (Sr., Modesto, Calif.) is scheduled to take the mound for the Bulldogs. Graham is 3-2 with a 4.86 ERA. Creighton will counter with left-hander Dan Gooris (3-0, 2.33 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Beiden Field (a complete list of Saturday's championship round is listed below).
Saturday's PJQ Schedule
10 a.m. Seventh-place game - Temple (0-8-2) vs. Gonzaga (7-7)
1 p.m. Fifth-place game - Southern Illinois (8-5) vs. UNC-Asheville (3-8)
4 p.m. Third-place game - Indiana State (7-5-1) vs. Bowling Green (2-5-1)
7 p.m. Championship game - Fresno State (18-5) vs. Creighton (15-1)
