Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nevada
Baseball Outslugs Nevada for 9-8 Win
5/18/2003 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 18, 2003
Reno, Nev. - The University of Nevada(30-23, 17-9 WAC) fell behind early to Fresno State(28-27, 13-14 WAC) and could not catch the Bulldogs, falling 9-8 on Sunday afternoon at Peccole Park in Reno before a Senior Day crowd of 2,227 which is also the largest crowd ever to see a baseball game at Peccole Park. With the win FS takes the weekend Western Athletic Conference series 2-1 and the two teams split the season series 3-3.
With Nevada leading 4-3 heading into the top of the fourth, the Bulldogs scored five runs on four hits in the top of the fourth to go in front 8-4. Designated hitter Kent Sakamoto started the inning with a walk and moved to third base on center fielder Joey Myers double. Right fielder Chase Moore struck out for the first out of the inning but second baseman Ryan Haag's double scored two runs. Left fielder Scott Beshears followed with a double and with two out first baseman Brian Pierce belted his third home run of the weekend to score the final two runs of the inning as FS led 8-4.
Three hits in the bottom of the fourth scored a pair of runs for the Pack and closed the gap to 8-6. Center fielder Robert Marcial and second baseman Ryan Strain singled after the first out was recorded. Catcher Brett Hayes doubled in one run and third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff's sacrifice fly plated the other run of the inning.
Each team got solo home runs by Beshears in the sixth and Kouzmanoff in the seventh making the score 9-7. In the eighth Nevada closed within a single run. Marcial collected his fourth hit of the game and Strain's walk moved him into scoring position. Hayes' single scored Marcial from second and reliever Bryan Wolfenbarger was called out of the FS bullpen. Wolfenbarger retired the next two batters to preserve the one-run Bulldog advantage.
In the ninth the Pack got a one-out single from right fielder Jacob Butler and a two-out walk from designated hitter Tony Cappuccilli but Marcial's ground ball to short was tossed to second to end the game.
FS scored two in the top of the first off Pack starter Eddie Bonine. Catcher Brandon Marcelli's two-out double scored third baseman Casey McGehee who walked and Pierce who reached on a single. The Pack got a run back in the bottom of the first when Hayes singled and moved to third base on the play when FS right fielder Chase Moore let the ball get by him. Kouzmanoff delivered an RBI single to score the Wolf Pack's first run. In the second Nevada tied the game at 2-2 when shortstop Taylor Pullins doubled and scored on Marcial's first hit of the game.
The Bulldogs went back in front scoring an unearned run in the third. McGehee walked and eventually scored on Marcelli's sacrifice fly. A two-run bottom of the third for Nevada gave the Pack its only lead of the game. Hayes was hit by pitch, moved to second base on a wild pitch and scored on first baseman Erick Streelman's RBI single. Left fielder Chris Gimenez' single moved Streelman to third and where he scored on Butler's ground ball as the Pack led 4-3 after three innings but FS five-run fourth proved to be the difference in the game as the Bulldogs prevailed 9-8.
Senior Eddie Bonine(4-6) took the loss allowing eight runs, seven earned in 3.2 innings of action. FS starter Cody Smith(8-4) pitched 7.1 innings surrendering eight runs, seven earned to record his eighth win of the year.
Marcial(4-for-5,2R,RBI) had the first four-hit game of his career to lead the Pack offense. Hayes(3-for-4,2R,2RBI) and Butler(3-for-5,RBI) had three hits apiece. Kouzmanoff(2-for-4,R,3RBI), and Gimenez(2-for-5) ended the game with two hits each. Kouzmanoff extended his hit streak to 15 games with a single in the first inning and also led the Wolf Pack with three-RBI in the game. His WAC leading 16th home run of the season came in the seventh which is the fifth best single season total by a Nevada player.
Beshears(3-for-5,2R,RBI) and Pierce(3-for-5,2R,2RBI) had three hits apiece for the Bulldogs. Marcelli(2-for-4,3RBI), Sakamoto(2-for-3,R) and Myers(2-for-4,R) had two hits each. Marcelli tied for game high honors with three-RBI.
Nevada travels to Ruston, La. to play a three-game series at Louisiana Tech next weekend while FS hosts USC on Tuesday.
