Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Binghamton
Fresno State Wins Marathon Game In Twelve Over Binghamton
3/16/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 16, 2006
Fresno, Calif. - With two runners on base, Christian Vitters hit a walk-off single to right field to give the Bulldogs a 7-6 win over Binghamton in the bottom of the twelfth inning. That run capped off a four-run comeback for the Bulldogs, beginning in the eighth inning when the `Dogs were down 6-3.
The Bulldogs started out the game ahead, as starter Justin Wilson started off strong, making three of his five strikeouts in the first two innings, and Fresno State jumped ahead 2-0 in the bottom of the second when Frank LoNigro slammed his first collegiate home run over the scoreboard in left center with a runner on.
Binghamton responded in the top of the third, as Wilson walked the leadoff batter, followed by three singles to bring in two runs to tie the game. The Bearcats then moved ahead in the fifth inning, despite the Bulldogs turning their first of four double plays to start the inning. With two outs, Brendon Hitchcock hit his second single of the game, followed by singles from Jeff Monaco and Pat Haughie, and an error from Christian Vitters allowed a second run to score bringing the tally to 4-2.
Fresno State brought the lead back to one with a run in the sixth, but Binghamton moved further ahead with two runs in the eighth after Ryan James hit an RBI single for the first run, and another run scored when Aaron Davis made a heads up play on the bases, scoring from second on a 5-3 groundout when the first base umpire delayed his call on the play for an extended time, running around third while the defense waited for the call, in what would be a theme of the night.
Down to their final six outs, the Bulldogs started out quickly in the eighth, as Ozzie Lewis singled to start the inning, and Kent Sakamoto was plunked to put two runners on. Beau Mills reached on an error, loading the bases with no outs, and two deep groundouts brought in two more runs as the Bulldogs cut the lead to one.
Jason Breckley put down the Bearcats in order in the ninth, and Fresno State made the most of their chance, extending the game with a double from Steve Susdorf, who scored on an RBI single from Sakamoto.
In extra innings, both teams had chances but were shut down by great plays in an attempt to continue the game. A one-out walk by Binghamton in the tenth was quickly stopped as Sakamoto snared a liner at first base and tagged the bag for a double play. A shot for the Bulldogs to win the game in the 11th inning was stopped when right fielder Jeff Monaco gunned down Erik Wetzel trying to score from second on a single by Steve Susdorf. Finally in the top of the twelfth, the Bulldogs got some measure of revenge for the seventh inning run by Aaron Davis when the team converted a strike out- throw out double play, catching Pat Haughie walking to second following a late called strike on a full count pitch from Tanner Scheppers.
Making the most of their karma, the Bulldogs make quick work of the night in the bottom half. Kent Sakamoto started the inning with a leadoff walk, and Chase Moore poked a ball over first base to put runners on the corners, setting up a chance for Vitters, who provided the heroics with a single to score Sakamoto and end the game.
In other Pepsi/Johnny Quik action, Washington State beat Lafayette 10-2 behind Jared Prince, who was 3-for-4 with a home run, and Gonzaga made use of the 10-run rule in a 12-2 win over Bucknell. The Bison were not shut out on the day, winning the 10 a.m. contest with a strong pitching performance from local pitcher Jacob Moss, who gave up two runs in 7.0 innings in a 9-5 win.
