Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Long Beach State
Baseball Powers Past No. 21 Long Beach State 10-1
2/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 26, 2002
LONG BEACH, Calif. - Fresno State (6-8) shelled out 12 hits and 10 runs as it defeated Long Beach State (6-4) 10-1. The Bulldogs defeated their third ranked opponent this season, getting solid pitching from senior RHP Zach Minor (Walnut Creek, Calif.).
Minor recorded his second victory of the season going five innings while allowing just one run and striking five with no walks.
After getting outscored 12-0 in the first inning last weekend against Washington, FS snagged an early lead against the 49ers 2-0. Sophomore third baseman Casey McGehee (Aptos, Calif.) and senior outfielder Tobey Riday-White (Berkeley, Calif.) got back-to-back hits in the inning to drive in the runs.
McGehee would finish with three RBIs on the night and two runs.
The Bulldogs built a 6-0 lead by the fourth inning before the 49ers notched their lone run of the night off a fielder's choice in their half of the fourth.
McGehee's two-run single in the third inning gave the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead. In the fourth inning sophomore shortstop Chris Patrick (Fresno, Calif.) and junior second baseman Scott Beshears (Fresno, Calif.) connected with RBI hits to push the lead to 6-0.
FS burst for four runs in the fifth inning highlighted by freshman Brandon Esparza's (Gilroy, Calif.) triple with the bases loaded. It was the first start for Esparza, who redshirted last season, as a Bulldog.
Freshman RHP Sean Ruthven (Alpharetta, Ga.) would provide all the Bulldogs needed, coming in relief in the sixth inning. Ruthven would close the game out going four scoreless innings and picking up his first save of the season in the process.
Patrick extended his team-high, 11-game hitting streak to 12, going 2-for-5 with an RBI and two runs scored on the night.
Fresno State will be at home next for a three-game set against Nebraska, starting Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
