Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Loyola Marymount
`Dogs Hit Three Home Runs
3/22/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2009
LOS ANGELES - The Fresno State baseball team hit three home runs in the sixth inning, but fell, 11-7, in game four against Loyola Marymount Sunday afternoon. The Bulldogs had 11 hits, seven RBIs and struck out eight Lions in the loss.
This is the first time that the Bulldogs have been swept this season and first time in over a year. The `Dogs were swept twice in 2007 against Pepperdine and Cal Poly. The Bulldogs are 10-9 after 19 games.
After three games in overcast weather the sun finally made an appearance at Page Stadium. With the sunshine came strong 30 mph winds, which were blowing the trees towards left field and the "Blue Monster" scoreboard.
Preseason All-American Alan Ahmady hit a single that bounced over the Lions third baseman to start the game. Junior Tom Mendonca reached base after being hit by a pitch and Ahmady advanced to second base. Mendonca and Ahmady advanced to third and second base on a wild pitch. Freshman Dusty Robinson singled to right field as Mendonca and Ahmady scored giving the Bulldogs the 2-0 lead.
The Lions scored four runs taking a 4-2 lead in the first inning.
Designated hitter Brennan Gowens reached first base on an error. Center fielder Gavin Hedstrom hit a double of the "Blue Monster" and Gowens scored bringing the `Dogs within one, as they trailed 4-3 in the top of the second inning.
Junior Sean Bonesteele came out of the bullpen and threw a career-high 5 2/3 innings striking out three batters. He sat down the batters in order in the bottom of the third inning.
Loyola Marymount scored one run in the bottom of the fourth inning to increase their lead to 5-3.
Right fielder Steve Detwiler walked to lead off the fifth inning. Jake Johnson grounded out advancing Detwiler to second base. Gowens hit a stand up double to left center field driving in Detwiler and the Bulldogs trailed 5-4.
In the sixth inning, Mendonca hit a solo home run to left center field to tie the game 5-5. Mendonca has eight home runs on the season and 37th of his career. The junior needs six more to become the leading home run hitter in Fresno State history.
Detwiler hit a solo home run over the "Blue Monster" and the next at bat Johnson hit a solo home run to center field giving the Bulldogs the 7-5 lead. It is the second time this season the Bulldogs have hit back-to-back home runs.
Fresno State came close to tying the record for most home runs in a single inning. The record was set in 1988 as the Bulldogs hit four home runs against Pacific. The Lions scored three runs regaining an 8-7 lead in the sixth inning.
Matt Morse came out of the Bullpen in the seventh inning and picked off a lion batter to retire the inning with no runs. The junior threw 1 2/3 innings.
LMU scored three runs giving them the 11-7 win the bottom of the eighth inning.
The Bulldogs are back in action March 27-29 as they face Lipscomb in a four-game series at Beiden Field.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs host the Lipscomb Bisons, a 2008 NCAA Tournament qualifier in a four game series March 27-29. The `Dogs and Bisons play a single game Friday at 6:05 pm, a doubleheader Saturday at 2:05 pm and a single game Sunday at 1:05 pm. It's Wells Fargo Take a Kid to a Game Weekend. All youth 8th grade and under receive FREE admission when accompanied by a paid adult all weekend long! All Junior Bulldog Kids Club members can run the bases after the game Sunday afternoon. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
