Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawaii<br>(Coach Bennett's Final Game)
Bennett's Farewell Ends With Sweep of Hawai'i
5/26/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 26, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Legendary coach Bob Bennett concluded his 34-year career Sunday afternoon as Fresno State (32-27, 19-11 WAC) defeated Hawai'i (16-40, 5-25 WAC) 6-5. Before the game numerous alumni, Dugout Club members and fans honored Bennett, who retires with a 1,302-759-4 record all-time.
Along with the people that spoke before the games to honor Bennett, his number 26 was retired and a Ford truck was presented to him by former Fresno State teammate Truman Clevenger and former Bulldog great Mark Gardner on behalf of all the alumni.
"This was a special day, but I think what got me the most was when my sons, [Brad and Todd], talked," said Bennett. "The pick-up truck was a total surprise. It was special because the two guys that presented it to me are special to me."
In honor of Bennett's number being retired, a logo was placed on the leftcenter field wall with number 26 in the middle.
Seven Bulldog seniors were also honored before the game as Casey Creamer (Madera, Calif.), Jared Walker (Gardnerville, Nev.), Francisco Nieves (Oakland, Calif.), Tobey Riday-White (Berkeley, Calif.), Bob Runyon (Atwater, Calif.), Zach Minor (Walnut Creek, Calif.) and Brad Harper (Madera, Calif.) put on the Fresno State uniform for the last time.
The tandem of RHP Minor and catcher Harper went out with a win as Minor went 8.2 innings to pick up his 21st all-time victory at Fresno State. Harper caught his 215th game of his career.
"This is a good group of guys that I played with," said Harper. "Today and this whole season has been special with it being Coach Bennett's last. Now I can call myself an alumni and be able to share that special bond they have."
"This game was big for me. I feel honored to be able to start in Coach Bennett's final game," said Minor. "I've been here for four years, but he's been here for 34 years."
The Bulldogs came out determined to make Bennett's game a memorable one, jumping out to a 5-1 lead through five innings.
Junior first baseman Brian Pierce (Fresno, Calif.) belted his ninth home run of the season in the third inning to drive in two runs.
In the fifth inning sophomore shortstop Chris Patrick (Fresno, Calif.) drove in two more run with a single that brought home junior outfielder Joey Myers and Harper.
The Rainbows made it interesting in the ninth, however, as oufielder Brent Cook smashed a three-run homer off Minor with two outs to pull within one at 6-5.
Freshman RHP Chad Edwards (Gosford, Australia) came in an recorded his third save of the season striking out desiganted hitter Scooter Martines to end the game.
With the win the Bulldogs finish third in the WAC and a 20-13 record at Beiden Field. This season the Bulldogs had a string of 15 straight wins at home, which was the longest streak since 1988 when they won 27.
Sophomore Casey McGehee (Santa Cruz, Calif.), who had a 31-game hitting streak this season, snapped his on-base streak at 42, going 0-for-4 on the day. His 31-game hitting streak is second best all-time in Fresno State history and longest in the WAC this season.
