Fresno State Baseball Takes Home WAC Tournament Championship

May 27, 2007

RENO, Nev. - In battle for the WAC Championship Tournament the Fresno State (36-27) Bulldogs capped off a 17-4 victory against the Nevada (35-26) Wolf Pack Sunday afternoon at Peccole Park. This WAC Tournament Championship is the first back-to-back for Fresno State in Bulldog history.

The last team to win back-to-back WAC Championship Tournaments was Rice in 1998 and 1999. There was no WAC Tournament Champion from 2000-05. Rice also won the Tournament in 1997.

Brian Lapin had a well rested night going 3-for-4 with three home runs and seven RBI. Senior Brandon Miller earned the start on the mound throwing five innings allowing two runs on six hits. He also struck out three.

The fans were expecting a big beginning bang and that they received in the first five minutes of the game with a close play at home plate. Erik Wetzel started the first inning off with a single up the middle and tried to advance home to score the first run for the Bulldogs when Loren Storey doubled to right center but was thrown out on the play. With Storey on third Brian Lapin would hit his third home run of the tournament to get the Bulldogs on the board at 2-0.

Nevada scored one run in the bottom of the first inning with runners on the corners and an error on the Bulldogs at 2-1.

In the top of the second inning Fresno State scored one run with three consecutive hits and another on a ground out from Todd Sandell at 4-1. In the next at bat Lapin would hit his fourth home run of the tournament bringing a total of three to the plate at 7-1. Nevada scored one run in the bottom of the second on two hits and one error at 7-2.

To make it 8-2 Sandell grabbed a single to center field but was thrown out at second trying to stretch the play scoring Mendonca from third.

Fresno State put two more runs on the board in the top of the fourth inning when Lapin knocked out his ninth home run of the season.

The Bulldogs added six insurance runs in the top of the seventh through five hits at 16-2. The last run for the Bulldogs scored in the top of the eighth inning at 17-2.

Lapin tied the most home runs in a game in the WAC Tournament with three held by Mario Monico from Hawaii dating back to 1985. He also tied the most home runs in a series with five held by Robert Fick from Cal State Northridge in 1996 and Mario Monico from Hawaii in 1985. Lapin had a total of 14 RBI in the tournament series. He was one shy of tying the record at 15 held by Robert Fick.

On the day Alan Ahmady went 3-for-5 with three singles and two RBI. Tommy Mendonca went 3-for-4 with two singles, one double, one RBI and Danny Grubb went 2-for-3 with two singles and one walk. The Bulldogs had 17 runs which was the most scored this season in a single game. Fresno State also had 18 hits two shy of most hits in a game this season.

Now heading into the NCAA regional the Bulldogs will wait to view bracket information and an entire 64-team field announced on Monday, May 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET on ESPN (Road to Omaha show).

2007 WAC Baseball All-Tournament Team
C-Landon Hernandez, Hawai'i1B-Ryan Angel, San Jose State2B-David Ciarlo, NevadaSS-Kyle Bellows, San Jose State3B-Jason Rodriguez, NevadaOF-Brian Lapin, Fresno StateOF-Loren Storey, Fresno StateOF-Kevin Macdonald, Hawai'iDH-Shaun Kort, NevadaSP-Clayton Allison, Fresno StateRP-Matt Renfree, Nevada
Most Valuable PlayerBrian Lapin, OF, Fresno State

Fresno State Baseball Takes Home WAC Tournament Championship

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Players Mentioned

Alan Ahmady

Clayton Allison

Danny Grubb

Brian Lapin

Brian Lapin

Brandon Miller

Todd Sandell

Loren Storey

Erik Wetzel

Fresno State Athletics

Fresno State Baseball Takes Home WAC Tournament Championship

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Next Event

Players Mentioned

Alan Ahmady

Clayton Allison

Danny Grubb

Brian Lapin

Brian Lapin

Brandon Miller

Todd Sandell

Loren Storey

Erik Wetzel

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