Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
Baseball Sweeps Louisiana Tech
4/7/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 7, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State (20-16, 8-4 WAC) swept Louisiana Tech for the second time this season in a three-game series. FS did the hard way, however, squeaking out yet another one-run game with a 6-5 victory Sunday afternoon.
Fresno State jumped out to a 2-0 lead for the second straight day getting a solo home run by sophomore Chris Patrick (Fresno, Calif.) in the third and an RBI double by freshman designated hitter Carl Lipsey (Fresno, Calif.) in the fourth.
It was Lipsey's first start since the Stanford series when he injured his ankle and shoulder on a fielding play. It was also Lipsey's (2-for-3, one run, one RBI) first start as a designated hitter. His other starts were all as second baseman.
Louisiana Tech (15-19, 2-10 WAC) who had scored five runs in the last four games against Fresno State, scored five in the fifth inning against FS starter senior Zach Minor (Walnut Creek, Calif.).
Third baseman Michael Hall and first baseman Kyle Humphreys each singled in runs in the inning off Minor to start the rally.
With the bases loaded and just one out, FS called upon freshman RHP Sean Ruthven (Alpharetta, Ga.). It was the fourth time this season Ruthven has come in a ballgame with a bases-loaded situation and second against LaTech.
Unlike the first time against LaTech, Ruthven would allow three runs in the inning as outfielder Kevin Mrshall drew a walk with the bases loaded to score the third run in the inning.
The next two runs came on a single by designated hitter Nick Cauley and a ground out by outfielder John Brandon. All three runners that scored were inherited by Ruthven and the runs were charged to Minor.
Fresno State responded in the sixth inning loading the bases themselves. Senior outfielder Jared Walker (Gardnerville, Nev) checked in and delivered a double to straight away centerfield that drove in junior first baseman Brian Pierce (Fresno, Calif.) and senior outfielder Tobey Riday-White (Berkeley, Calif.).
FS would add the third run in the inning on a squeeze play by junior outfielder Joey Myers (Fresno, Calif.) that drove in Lipsey and tie the game at 5-5.
Ruthven did his part the rest of the way shutting out LaTech. He would finish the day with 4.2 shutout innings to pick up his second win if the season.
"I thought Ruthven was ragged when he first came in, but finally mustered up and got his stuff and pitched pretty well coming down the stretch," said Coach Bennett.
Fresno State would finally win it in the ninth similar to Friday night. Patrick led off the inning with a base hit and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior second baseman Scott Beshears (Fresno, Calif.).
After LaTech intentionally walked sophomore third baseman Casey McGehee (Santa Cruz, Calif.), Patrick advanced to third on a deep fly ball by junior catcher Ben Fritz (San Jose, Calif.).
That set the stage for Riday-White, who delivered a single up the middle on a 1-0 count to give the Bulldogs their third straight win and 11th straight at home.
McGehee extended his hitting streak to 12 games, going 1-for-4, to tie Patrick for the season-high on the team.
Fresno State will be at San Jose State next for a three-game series starting Friday, April 12.
