Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
New Mexico State*
Fresno State Completes Perfect March With 6-3 Win
3/31/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 31, 2006
Las Cruces, N.M. - Frank LoNigro hit a solo home run and three other Bulldogs had three hits as Fresno State continued their hot streak with a 6-3 win on Friday. Kent Sakamoto, Beau Mills and Christian Vitters combined for nine hits, and Brandon Burke contributed three scoreless innings on the way to the win.
The Bulldogs opened the game with two quick runs in the first two innings. Leadoff batter Steve Susdorf walked on four straight pitches to start the game, and came around to score following singles from Kent Sakamoto and Beau Mills. Frank LoNigro added another run in the second with his third home run of the year, as the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead in the second.
New Mexico State got on the board in the bottom of the third, as a leadoff walk to Luke Hopkins was followed by three consecutive singles, as the Aggies rebounded to take a 3-2 lead. The Aggies started a late two out rally in the fifth, as Hopkins drew his second walk of the game and was followed by a single from catcher Brandon Lance, but a deep fly to center from Adam Harvey ended the threat in the fifth.
The top of the lineup produced again for the Bulldogs in the seventh, as Steve Susdorf got on base with a hit after one out. Loren Story moved Susdorf over to second with a grounder to first, and scored following a single by Kent Sakamoto. Two more singles in the inning from Mills and Christian Vitters allowed the Bulldogs to retake the lead at 4-3.
The Aggies made another run at the Bulldogs in the eighth, as Brandon Lance led off the inning with a single and Derek Maytubby drew a one-out walk. However, reliever Brandon Burke was able to get Joaquin Ortiz to ground into a 63 double play to end the inning. Fresno State extended their lead in the ninth, as Sakamoto hit his third single of the game and was brought home by a double by Beau Mills for the first run of the inning, and a single by Christian Vitters added a second run in the inning.
Brandon Miller finished the game for the Bulldogs to record his second save of the season. The series with New Mexico State continues tomorrow evening, as the teams meet up for the second game of three at Askew Stadium.
