Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Jose State*
Bulldogs Take Opener In San Jose 5-3
4/21/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 21, 2006
San Jose, Calif. - Capitalizing on Spartan mistakes and getting help from some unexpected places, Fresno State returned to their winning ways in the WAC Friday night with a 5-3 victory over San Jose State. Sophomore Ryan Overland was 2-for-3 with a double in only his second start of the year, and Loren Storey hit his first collegiate home run on the way to the win.
The Bulldogs continued their habit of getting on the board early with a quick start Friday night. Showcasing a different lineup, Nick Moresi got the action started with a bunt single in the first inning to get on base, and after moving over two bases on a passed ball and a ground out behind the play, Moresi scored on a Beau Mills single to put the Bulldogs on the board 1-0.
Fresno State added a second run in the second inning, as designated hitter Steve Susdorf led off the inning with a double down the left field line, the first of two hits on the night for the sophomore. Brian Lapin advanced Susdorf to third with a sacrifice bunt, and then Ryan Overland got his first RBI of the night with a sacrifice fly, bringing the tally to 2-0.
San Jose State had left five runners stranded through two innings against starter Doug Fister, but continued to pound out hits and put them together for runs. After brining one run across in the third inning, Chris Balatico started the fourth inning with a single, and after Nick Epedendio doubled down the line, a third consecutive hit from Donato Giovanatto evened the score at three, and a sacrifice fly from John Shaffer gave the Spartans the lead.
Fresno State got a little help in the fifth inning, as Loren Story hit a ball to dead center with one out that continued to carry and drifted over the wall at Municipal Stadium, tying the game at three with the first home run in his career. With Doug Fister fighting through a fifth inning despite surrendering his 12th hit, the Bulldogs came back to put the hard-luck starter in line for the win, as Kent Sakamoto reached on an error by third baseman Raul Campos, and after stealing second, scored on an RBI single from Lapin to move ahead 4-3.
San Jose State had their final chance in the game as the Spartans got two runners on with one out after a walk and a single by Justin Santich-Hughes and Ryan Angel. Reliever Brandon Burke entered the game at that point, and retired the next two batters to keep the lead for the Bulldogs as well as keeping Fister in line for the win.
The Bulldogs added a late insurance run in the ninth, as Overland doubled to lead off the inning. Jared Halpert entered the game to pinch run for Overland, and after moving over on a wild pitch, Halpert scored on a sacrifice fly from Erik Wetzel, sliding under a throw from Giovanatto in right field that was just up the third base line.
Brandon Burke finished off what was a commanding relief appearance in the ninth, ending the game having pitched 3.2 innings of scoreless relief, earning the save by giving up just one hit. Game two is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, featuring two of the top left-handers in the WAC, as Fresno State junior Eddie Romero takes the hill against San Jose State's Branden Dewing.
