Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Alumni Game
Bulldog Baseball Squad Rallies To Defeat Alumni 7-6
1/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Jan. 20, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. -
The 2001 Bulldogs defeated the Alumni team 7-6 this afternoon at Pete Beiden Field. After dropping the last three games of the annual series to the Alumni team the Bulldogs rallied in the ninth inning to secure their 19th win in the series.
Junior left handed pitcher Beau Hintz (Stockton, Calif.) started the game for the 2001 squad by striking out the lead off batter former Bulldog Shawn Gilbert. After loading the bases with two outs Anthony Acevedo stepped to the plate and drilled a single to score Eddie Zosky and Jason Wood. Giving the Alumni squad an early 2-0 in the first inning.
The Bulldogs tried to rally early when lead off batter Tom Creighton (Jr., Weldon, Calif.) hit a single off former Bulldog Mark Gardner. Creighton advanced to third when Gardner threw a wild pick-off toss to first base. Shortstop Josh Labandeira (Sr., Porterville, Calif.) hit a sacrifice fly deep into leftfield scoring Creighton from third base. At the end of the first inning the Alumni squad had a 2-1 lead over the 2001 Bulldogs.
In the second inning, the Fresno State Alumni added to their lead when Shawn Gilbert, hit a home run to score Ben Reynoso. After facing Gardner in the first the Bulldogs had to face Bobby Jones in the second inning. After two innings the Alumni had an early 4-1 lead.
Again in the fourth inning Shawn Gilbert hit a single to score Ben Reynoso. Adding to the Alumni 5-1 lead after four innings.
In the fifth inning, Brandon Gemoll (Sr., San Jose, Calif.) hit a double off Jeff Weaver. One batter later Nick Garcia (Sr., Lakewood, Calif.) belted a single to score Gemoll from second. This was the beginning of the Bulldogs rally down 5-2 after five innings.
The rally continued in the seventh inning when Christian Hallaian (Fr., Fresno, Calif.) pelted a three run home run to score Matt Creighton (Jr., Weldon, Calif.) and Casey McGehee (Fr., Aptos, Calif.). Hallaian's home run tied the game at 5-5, but the Alumni Squad had one more trick up their sleeve.
After the lead off batter flied out to left field Matt Curtis stepped up to the plate for the Alumni and drilled a home run to give the Alumni a 6-5 lead. The Bulldogs responded when Matt Creighton hit a sacrifice fly deep into left field to score Scott Beshears (So., Fresno, Calif.) knotting the score at 6-6.
Francisco Nieves (Fr., Fresno, Calif.) entered the game in the ninth inning for the Bulldogs and faced only four batters before ending the inning without a scratch. Hallaian hit a lead off single to give the Bulldogs the opportunity to score the winning run. Jared Walker (Jr., Gardenerville, Nev.) stepped to the plate with one out and the winning run on second. Walker belted a high sacrifice fly deep into centerfield giving Hallaian the opportunity to score from second base. Hallaian's run gave the Bulldogs 7-6 win over the Alumni squad.
