Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Cal State Fullerton
Fresno State Closes Out Season With 10-3 Loss
6/5/2006 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 5, 2006
Fresno, Calif. - Fresno State's run through the NCAA Regionals ended Sunday night as the breaks went against Fresno in a 10-3 loss. Brain Lapin hit a two-run home run in the second inning to go along with a solid start from Brandon Miller, but two errors and timely hitting from Cal State Fullerton led to the loss in the Regional championship game.
Fresno State, playing in their second game of the day, came out with Brandon Miller, who threw 1.1 innings in the first game made the start for the Bulldogs in their fourth game, matching up against Dustin Miller of Cal State Fullerton in their third game.
The mound battle between the Millers started off simply, as both teams moved through a scoreless first inning. With one out Fullerton right fielder Jared Clark kicked off the second with a single, and moved over to third after a wild pitch and a ground ball that hit Brandon Miller who recovered in time to record the out. A grounder to Erik Wetzel looked to end the inning, but the normally sure-handed shortstop couldn't get a handle on the ball, and Clark came home to score. Two more runs came around to score that inning as the Titans took a 3-0 lead.
The Bulldogs moved closer in the second, as Nick Moresi singled to start the inning, and Brian Lapin homered to left-field to bring the `Dogs within two runs. The following inning Fresno State moved all the way back as Steve Susdorf reached on an infield hit, and came around to score on consecutive singles from Kent Sakamoto, Moresi and Lapin.
Cal State Fullerton threatened in the fourth inning, putting a runner on third with one out, but Miller responded by striking out the first two batters of the inning to keep the score tied through four. Things began to become unglued for the Bulldogs in the fifth, as three singles loaded the bases for the Titans. Fresno State seems to get through with minimal damage as Danny Dorn grounded a double-play ball to second, but Loren Storey just pulled Erik Wetzel off of the bag, and instead of two outs the Bulldogs got none with the error. Two sac flies then brought in two more runs to put Cal State Fullerton ahead 6-3.
More runs came home in the sixth inning as Brandon Tripp and Justin Turner started the frame with a single and double. Blake Davis followed that hit with a long fly to center-field that Nick Moresi made a spectacular diving catch, but dropped the ball after standing up trying to throw home. Both runs scored, and the umpires ruled the play a hit, giving Davis a triple and earning the ejection of head coach Mike Batesole. Another sacrifice fly brought home a third run in the inning, and the Titans moved ahead 9-3.
Holden Sprague entered the game in relief for the Bulldogs, pitching effectively for 3.2 innings before passing the ball off to Kris Tomlinson to close out the game.
Fresno State finishes the season with a record of 45-18, their best mark since 1988 and tied for third with the most wins in a season in program history. The Bulldogs also reached the postseason for the first time since 2001, and won both the WAC regular season and tournament titles, their first outright conference title since 1991.
