Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Francisco
Bulldogs Downed by Dons, 4-3
2/3/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 3, 2007
Fresno, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team (0-2) lost a close game two to the San Francisco Dons (2-0) at Beiden Field in front of a 1,940 fans Saturday afternoon by a score of 4-3. Both teams battled with great pitching until the eighth inning. Starting Fresno State pitcher Brandon Burke (0-1) threw 7.1 innings and allowed seven hits and four runs which all came in the top of the eighth. The Don's starting pitcher was Jason Dufloth (1-0) and he threw 7.0 innings only allowing two hits. John Quine would come in at the bottom of the eighth inning earn the save but give up four hits and three runs.
Both teams struggled early offensively on the day. The Bulldogs had six hits in 33 total at bats while the Dons had eight hits on 35 at bats.
San Francisco would score its only four runs in the top of the eighth inning. With one out Jonathan Norfolk would single to right field. Mitchell Bialosky who has had a big bat in the series also singled to the left field. With two players on base Joey Railey would hit a deep ball to right field, just short of the warning track, advancing to second base while two runs would score. On a wild pitch Railey would advance to third base and Tavo Hall would advance to first. Jason Breckley would come in to relieve Burke after 7.1 innings pitched. Breckley would strike out the next batter with two outs on the inning. With a man on second and Hall stealing first Derek Poppert would single to gather two RBI's making the score 4-0. The inning would end with a strikeout.
After a pitching change for the Dons, Fresno State third baseman Tom Mendonca started the inning off right for the Bulldogs as he would hit a rocket to the pitcher with the ball rolling to center field on a single. With the next at bat Jason Hershfield doubled and Mondonca would score. Hershfield would then advance to third on a wild pitch. The Dons reliever would strikeout the next two batters. With Erik Wetzel on first base after a walk Loren Storey singled to center field tallying an RBI with Hershfield scoring and Wetzel advancing to third. Steve Susdorf would single to right field marking an RBI with Wetzel scoring and Storey being the tieing run at third. To end the inning San Francisco would strike out the next batter.
The Bulldogs would not be able to muster any more runs in the bottom of the ninth losing a close 4-3 game.
You can catch more Bulldog action tomorrow when they play San Francisco in the last game of the series at 1:05 p.m. at Beiden Field. Fresno State will then be on the road next game traveling to San Luis Obispo taking on Cal Poly at Baggett Stadium at 6:00 p.m.
