Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Sacramento State
Bulldogs Win Third Straight WAC Title
5/17/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 17, 2008
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team won its third consecutive WAC baseball championship after splitting a doubleheader on Saturday at Sacramento State. After losing game 1 4-0, the Bulldogs came back and defeated the Hornets 6-4 in the second game.
"It can't get much better than this," Fresno State pitcher Justin Wilson said. "It is what you work for all year long. We reached one of our goals. It's a good thing."
This is the first time the Bulldogs have won three straight conference championships since 1984. Fresno State will go into next week's WAC tournament as the No. 1 seed.
"We've kept everything team oriented since we started winning WAC championships three years ago," Fresno State senior Steve Susdorf said.
Fresno State is now 32-27 and 20-11 in WAC while Sacramento State dropped to 23-31 and 14-16 in conference.
Jake Hower earned his second win of the season after pitching innings six through eight and allowing only one hit and walking only one batter in the game two victory.
Brandon Burke earned his sixth save of the season and moved into a tie for first place with Hans Smith, who played at Fresno State from 1997-2000, for most career saves with 17. Burke allowed no hits in the ninth inning.
Alan Ahmady and Danny Muno each had three hits in the two games.
"We are very proud that each of our three recruiting classes have won a WAC championship and this group in particular with all eight seniors graduating in nine semesters or less," Fresno State coach Mike Batesole said. "That is what college baseball is all about."
Game 1
The Fresno State baseball team lost 4-0 to the Hornets in the first game of a double header. Sacramento State scored two runs in the third, one in the fourth and one in the sixth. The Bulldogs had six hits led by Ryan Overlands two.
Clayton Allison took the loss as he went the distance, striking out seven and scattering 10 hits.
Game 2
The Bulldogs trailed 4-1 going into the eighth inning but they then scored five runs in the in the eighth to take the 6-4 lead.
With one out, the Bulldogs reached base thanks to four straight singles from Muno, Gavin Hedstrom, Erik Wetzel and Susdorf.
Wetzel's single platted Muno while Susdorf's single scored Hedstrom and Wetzel.
Ahmady then doubled to right field and Steve Detwiler followed with a two-RBI double to left field, giving the Bulldogs the 6-4 lead.
Holden Sprague started the game and pitched five innings. Muno, Hedstrom and Ahmady all had two hits. Susdorf and Detwiler each had two RBIs.
Susdorf is now six RBIs away from becoming the schools All-Time RBI leader.
"Join the State - Fresno State"The series concludes on Sunday with a 1 p.m. first pitch. The game can be heard live on 580 KMJ.
