Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Back on Track
2/16/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 16, 2007
Fresno, Calif. - The Fresno State Bulldogs (3-6) defeated Loyola Marymount (3-5-1) Friday night at Beiden Field by a score of 15-4.
Brandon Burke (0-1, 4.38) earned the start and the win for the Bulldogs throwing five innings and allowing one run on four hits. Eric Otterson relieved Burke and threw one-third of an inning allowing two runs. Also highlighting the pitching core is Tanner Scheppers, Holden Sprague and Sean Bonesteele who all added an inning or more of solid pitching.
Brad Meyers (1-1. 2.77) grabbed the start for the Lions throwing six-and two-third innings allowing seven runs on seven hits.
Fresno State started the game off on a good note scoring one run in the first inning. In the second at bat Erik Wetzel singled on a hard hit ball to the short stop and advanced to second on the throwing error. The Bulldogs recorded the next two outs on a ground out and a strikeout.
The Bulldogs poured three more runs in the third inning. With his third start of the year freshman David Hernandez singled to right field. Recording his second at bat of the night speedster Loren Storey singled on a bunt down the third base line. In the next at bat Steve Susdorf hit a three run homer his second of the season to make the score 4-0.
"We had a lot of guys having good at bats tonight," said Susdorf. "We had a good scouting report and good reads on him."
Loyola Marymount scored its first run in the fourth inning when Angelo Songco hit a deep ball to left field on a sacrifice fly. The Bulldogs led at the end of the fourth inning 4-1.
The Bulldogs added another run to their lead in the bottom of the fifth when Steve Susdorf singled through the right side gap scoring Storey from third.
In the top of the sixth inning the Lions loaded the bases with a couple of walks and a hit by pinch. Loyola Marymount scored one run on another walk. The next run and the second out were recorded on a routine ground play to first base. LMU ended the inning on a ground out.
LMU scored in the seventh inning with a runner on first and third as Eric Farris hit into a double play. The inning ended on a fly out to left field.
In the bottom of the seventh inning the flood gates opened for the Bulldogs as they scored seven runs with two outs recorded. In that inning Fresno State converted seven runs on six hits and one error. Fresno State scored three more runs in the eighth to score its last runs of the night.
Head coach Mike Batesole was happy with his team's performance as the final score read 15-4.
"This is a good time to put something together," said Batesole. "It was good to finish the game out as we took a lot of good at bats. The players are starting to break out and get a feel for the ball."
Ozzie Lewis had a break out night for the Bulldogs going 3-for-5 with one triple and two singles. He also added two RBI's.
"We really got some things going tonight," said right fielder Ozzie Lewis. "I give a lot of credit to our coaching staff as they helped us prepare and put in a lot of hours of work to help us succeed. We needed a night like this."
The Bulldogs will play again tomorrow at Beiden Field for the second game of the series at 1:05 p.m.
