Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech*
Bulldogs Drop Two To Louisiana Tech
5/2/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 2, 2004
RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech recorded two hard fought come from behind victories in a doubleheader sweep of Fresno State on Sunday afternoon at J.C. Love Field.
Tech (15-31, 6-14 WAC) posted a 6-5 win in game one before rallying for a 13-12 victory in the nightcap for its first series win in Western Athletic Conference play this season.
Fresno State won Friday's series opener, 12-10, before Saturday's poor weather forced the teams to play two games on Sunday.
In the nightcap, Tech rallied from six runs down with five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to take the victory from Fresno State (20-27, 8-10 WAC).
The first five hitters in the bottom of the eighth inning collected hits as Jeff Walker and pinch-hitter Brandon Hudson picked up a pair of RBIs to cut the Fresno State lead to 12-10. An out later, Steve Soper delivered a pinch hit two RBI single to left field to tie the game at 12-12. Gary Holik then followed with a sacrifice fly to shallow left field as Jeremy Alford beat the throw with a head first dive to give Tech a 13-12 lead.
Fresno State did not go quietly as the Bulldogs loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Chris Herron induced a double play ball from Chris Patrick to end the game.
Tech head coach Wade Simoneaux used every position player and 21 of the eligible players on his roster Sunday. Four pinch-hitters came through with big hits for the Bulldogs in game two.
Fresno State took control early in the game after scoring six times in the fourth to take a 9-3 advantage. Tech would chip away before taking the lead for good in the eighth inning.
Herron (2-3) picked up the win as four Tech pitchers saw action in game two. Herron pitched two scoreless innings.
Rudy Quinonez (3-9) took the loss after allowing two runs and three hits in one inning of action. He suffered the loss in both games on Sunday.
Walker and Brandon Haygood both collected four hits in game two as the Bulldogs pounded out a season high of 21 hits.
Ritchie Robnett extended his hitting streak to 21 games for Fresno State with hits in both games.
In game one, Louisiana Tech scored an unearned run in the bottom of the ninth inning to win game one of a doubleheader over Fresno State by a 6-5 score.
Fresno State second baseman Ryan Haag could not Jeff Walker's ground ball as it bounded into the outfield to allow Brandon Haygood to score the winning from second base.
Mitch Tucker (3-4) earned the win by pitching out of a jam in the ninth inning in relief of Clayton Meyer.
Tucker came into the game with two men on in the ninth and retired the only two men he faced to keep the game tied at 5-5.
The teams went back and forth throughout the contest as they combined for 29 hits.
Meyer pitched 8 1/3 innings allowing five runs while striking out eight
Mims Boyce blasted a two-run home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Louisiana Tech a lead by a 5-4 count only to see Fresno State come back and tie the game with a run in the top of the eighth.
Boyce hit his first home run of the season with one out in the seventh that scored Haygood who reached earlier in the inning on a fielder's choice.
Fresno State led after four innings by a 4-1 score but saw Tech score two runs in the sixth and seventh inning with the help of a pair of two run home runs.
A long two run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning by Kyle Spangler trimmed the Fresno State lead to 4-3.
Tech got on the scoreboard first in the opening inning with an RBI single by Spangler
Fresno State rallied with three runs in the third inning and added another run in the fourth to take a 4-1 lead over Tech.
Boyce and Walker both collected three hits each for Tech. Spangler drove in three runs for Tech.
