Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Buffalo
Late Rally Lifts Bulldogs
3/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 7, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - A late rally from the heart of the Bulldog line up gave Fresno State baseball the 6-3 win over the Buffalo Bulls. The `Dogs hit back-to-back home runs to gain the lead in the bottom of the eighth inning. The Bulldogs improved to 4-4 on the season.
"It was a good grind and their pitcher threw a great ball game," said head coach Mike Batesole. "We saw outstanding pitching from them and we had to wear them down. Muno getting walked and then Ahmady's single opened the door for us in the eighth inning."
Senior Holden Sprague pitched a 7.1 innings striking out five batters and allowing three runs. The righty sat down the Buffalo batters in order in the top of the fifth inning and recorded a 1.71 ERA in three starts this season.
The Bulls jumped ahead in the top of the second inning with a solo home run giving Buffalo the 1-0 lead.
Defensively the Bulldogs came up big in the top of the third inning as freshman Dusty Robinson threw to home and Trent Garrison tagged the Bull runner out.
In the top of the fourth inning the Bulls scored a run to increase their lead to 2-0. In his first start, Garrison tagged another runner out at home off a throw from Preseason All-WAC player Steve Detwiler.
The Bulls added a run with a solo home run in the sixth inning and the Bulldogs trial 3-0.
Senior Gavin Hedstrom started the sixth inning with a double to left center. Alan Ahmady doubled to right center driving Hedstrom in for the `Dogs first run and narrowing the Bulls lead 3-1.
In the bottom of the seventh inning Detwiler reached base on a throwing error and advanced to second. Sophomore center fielder Trent Soares grounded out and Detwiler advanced to third. Robinson flied out in center field and Detwiler scored as the `Dogs trailed 3-2.
Freshman Taylor Garrison relieved Sprague on the mound and threw 1.2 innings. He earned the win bringing his record to 2-0.
Ahmady, who was second in the nation in RBIs in 2008, drove in the tying run with a single to center field. Preseason All-American Tom Mendonca hit a two-run home run over the center field wall to give the Bulldogs a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the eighth. The home run is the third of the season for the third baseman and 32nd of his career.
The next at bat Detwiler launched one over the left wall increasing the Bulldogs lead 6-3.
"We had to be more patient with the pitches and later on we got a bit more patient," said Mendonca. "We were able to see the second pitcher better and we were able to go out and get some hits of him."
The Bulldogs sat down the Bull batters in order in the top of the ninth and ended the game with the 6-3 win.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs return to Beiden Field March 7-8 to host Buffalo in a two game weekend series. The `Dogs and Bulls will square off Saturday at 2:05 and Sunday at 1:05. The first 1,000 fans through the gates each day will receive a 2009 schedule magnet compliments of Bohlken A/C. All kids can run the bases after Sunday's game. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
