Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Jose State*
Bulldogs Take Down San Jose State, 5-2
4/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 11, 2004
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Fresno State Bulldogs played perfect small ball on Sunday afternoon, as they went on to defeat the San Jose State University Spartans by a score of 5-2. Four of the five Bulldog runs were set up by a stolen base.
For the first time in the series, the Bulldogs (16-22, 4-5) were first to score. Catcher Brandon Marcelli singled, and almost had an RBI, but Spartan left-fielder Ryan Angel threw out Kyle Wilson at the plate. Marcelli stole second to put himself into scoring position for Kent Sakamoto who doubled him in.
Spartan starter Branden Dewing allowed four hits in his six and two-thirds innings of work. He gave up nine hits, and struck out four hitters. Dewing only issued one walk but was saddled with the loss, his sixth of the season, as he is 1-6 on the year. Jose Amaya threw a third of an inning, giving up a run on two hits. Randy Waite made his fourth appearance of the year, as he threw two innings, striking out three. Waite walked two, but did not give up any hits.
The Spartans retaliated with a run of their own in the bottom of the sixth inning. Brandon Fromm drove in his twenty-third RBI of the season, scoring Ryan Angel. Angel had a hit in the bottom of the seventh inning to extend his hitting streak to ten games.
Every time the Spartans put pressure on Fresno State, the Bulldogs responded. In the top of the seventh inning, the Bulldogs added two runs on four hits. Marcelli stole his second base of the game, again getting into scoring position to be driven in, this time by third baseman Christian Vitters. Vitters and left fielder Chase Moore, who singled, were standing on first and second respectively when head coach Mike Batesole called a double steal. Vitters was thrown out at third, but Moore was in safely at second. Ryan Haag, the WAC leader with 54 hits, was hitless until the seventh when he drove in Chase Moore for the fourth Fresno State run.
The Spartans answered, tallying their only other run in the bottom of the seventh inning. Pinch-hitter Tyler Fernandes reached on a fielders choice, and scored when Ryan Angel drilled his RBI single up the middle. However the Bulldogs got out of the inning, by inducing the Spartans to hit into an inning ending double play. San Jose State hit into four twin-killings on the afternoon.
Once again the Bulldogs answered the Spartan rally. Fresno State posted their fifth and final run in the top of the eighth inning, giving them a 5-2 lead. Matt Garza preserved the win for Brandon Miller, who improved to 3-3. Garza notched his fifth save of the year, and second of the series. Miller tossed six innings of three-hit baseball, giving up only one of the two SJSU runs. Miller walked and struck out five. Garza worked the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings. He gave up three hits, and one run.
