Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Loyola Marymount
'Dogs Win Second Straight Game Over LMU, 5-3
2/17/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 17, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team (4-6) recorded their first back-to-back wins of the season against Loyola Marymount (3-6-1) at Beiden Field Saturday afternoon in front of 1,770 fans.
Justin Wilson (1-1, 1.50) earned the start on the mound for the Bulldogs throwing five innings allowing two runs on seven hits.
"The defense was great and we hit the ball really well today," said Wilson. "I had a lot of confidence in my teammates to get the job done."
Daniel Macias (0-1, 3.27) threw seven innings for the Lions and gave up five runs on nine hits.
Loyola Marymount jumped on the board 1-0 in the top of the first inning. With runners on the corners the Rams scored their first run on an error by the Bulldogs. Two outs were recorded shortly after on a line out and a ground out.
With a hot bat coming into today's contest, batting with a .310 average, Todd Sandell hit a double to left field with one out. In the next at bat Steve Susdorf hit a triple to left field scoring Sandell. Fresno State scored its next run on a sacrifice fly to center field from Brian Lapin. The last out of the inning was recorded on a ground out. Bulldogs lead Loyola Marymount 2-1.
The Lions tied the game up at 2-2 in the top of the fifth when Sean Dovel tripled to right field and scored on the next play when Eric Farris singled through the right side. LMU ended the inning in a double play.
In the bottom of the fifth inning Fresno State added two runs. One run advanced home when Danny Grubb scored all the way from second on an Erik Wetzel single to left field. Wetzel advanced to second on the throw. In the next at bat once again Sandell singled and advanced to second on the throw scoring Wetzel with the last run of the inning.
As LMU loaded the bases the Lions looked to make a comeback with the Bulldogs digging a whole in the top of the sixth inning. With one out and the Bulldogs fourth pitcher entering the game Jacob Hower walked the next batter making the score 4-3. Hower would get the Bulldogs out of the sixth inning as the Lions grounded into a double play.
With two Bulldogs on base at second and third Fresno State scored one more run in the bottom of the sixth inning when Grubb singled on a bunt down the line.
Grubb went 3-for-4 with three singles and one RBI.
"This was a huge win to get our team rolling in the right direction," said Grubb. "When you beat a team solidly the day before it is difficult to get another win like we did today."
Head coach Mike Batesoles' team moves to 4-6 on the season grabbing two back-to-back wins from last night's and today's meeting with Loyola Marymount.
"It's important for us to keep moving forward," said Batesole. "Our pitchers made some calm and cool throws when we needed to and to be a good team you need to also have a well balanced offense and we executed that today."
You can catch the Bulldogs tomorrow in the last game of the series against Loyola Marymount at Beiden Field at 1:05 p.m.
