Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
TCU
No. 22 Baseball Rallies To Defeat TCU
5/5/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 5, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - Max Drake's (Sr., Richmond, Calif.) two-out, pinch-hit triple to center field scored Tony Guzman (Jr., Clovis, Calif.) with the winning run in the eighth inning to give Fresno State a thrilling 7-6 come-from-behind victory against TCU on Friday night at Pete Beiden Field. The Bulldogs rallied for three runs in the inning and posted their 16th come-from-behind win of the season. The 'Dogs won their third consecutive game and improved to 36-15 overall and 16-10 in the WAC. The Horned Frogs saw their record drop to 20-30 overall and 11-14 in conference play.
Mike Bowlin (Sr., San Jose, Calif.) started the eighth-inning rally by clubbing his second home run of the season to lead off the frame. Josh Labandeira (Jr., Porterville, Calif.) followed with a single to right field against TCU reliever Stan Newton. Labandeira then stole second base and advanced to third on catcher Brad Rogers' throwing error. Guzman followed with a walk and Tom Creighton (So., Weldon, Calif.) scored Labandeira and advanced Guzman to second with a sacrifice fly to right. Drake then drilled Shaun Wooley's 3-2 offering over Marshall Wilson's head for his first career triple.
"It was great to see Bowlin hit the home run to lead off the eighth," Fresno State Bob Bennett said. "Drake's triple was a huge hit for both himself and the team. The team was just as happy for Max as they were about the win."
TCU jumped on Bulldog starting pitcher Tom Graham (Sr., Modesto, Calif.) for a pair of runs in the first to jump to an early lead for the second consecutive game. The Bulldogs responded with a run in the bottom of the inning, but the Horned Frogs extended the lead to 3-1 with a tally in the third. Fresno State knotted the game at three with single runs in the fourth and fifth. The game remained tied at after both squads scored in the sixth, but TCU plated two runs in the seventh to extend the margin to 6-4.
Graham allowed three runs (two earned) on three hits and struck out two in 2.1 innings of work. Beau Hintz (So., Stockton, Calif.) relieved Graham in the third and allowed three runs (one earned) and struck out four in 4.2 solid innings pitched. Nick Moran (So., Elk Grove, Calif.) relieved Hintz in the eighth after he walked Jason Price to lead off the inning. Moran retired the only three hitters he faced to pick up the victory. His record improved to 2-2 for the season. Hans Smith (Sr., Central, Point, Ore.) shut out the Horned Frogs in the ninth to record his eighth save of the season and the 16th of his four-year career. Smith moved into a first-place tie with 1991 NCAA Player of the Year and current New York Met Bobby Jones on the Fresno State all-time saves list.
"The relief pitching was good tonight," Bennett said. "Hintz got a little tired in the seventh and eighth and started to lose some concentration. Moran came in and did what we wanted him to do."
Labandeira paced the Bulldogs' 12-hit attack by going 3-for-4 with a double, a run scored and one RBI. Bowlin was 2-for-3 with a double, the eighth-inning homer and two runs scored. Guzman added a pair of hits and scored two runs.
"We overcame multiple mistakes tonight," Bennett said. "We also gave them some runs because of those mistakes. In spite of all that, we were tough enough to battle back and win the ballgame."
Newton picked up the loss in relief for TCU. He allowed a pair of runs on a hit and a walk in a third of an inning. His record dropped to 1-4 for the season. Shawn Thompson started for the Horned Frogs and left the game with the lead in the eighth. Thompson allowed five runs (three earned) on 10 hits and struck out three in seven-plus innings of action.
"Tomorrow's game is huge," Bennett said. "If we get that game, then I think we'll be in pretty good shape heading into the final weekend of the year."
Fresno State will be looking for its sixth series sweep of the season on Sunday afternoon. Right-hander Zach Minor (So., Walnut Creek, Calif.) is scheduled to start on the mound for the Bulldogs. Minor will bring a 2-0 record and 2.97 ERA into the contest. TCU will counter with right-hander David Tombrella (2-3, 3.59 ERA). It will be the final regular season home game of the year for the 'Dogs and eight seniors will be honored before the game. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Beiden Field.
