Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Portland
`Dogs Shutout Pilots
3/9/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 9, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team opened the 31st annual Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic with a win over Portland. For the second game in a row the Bulldogs offense exploded scoring seven runs on 12 hits.
"We did a good job, we were patient. We worked down and through and hit the ball hard through the infield, which is what this team is going to be all about," said head coach Mike Batesole.
This is the first shutout of the season and the `Dogs improve to 6-4. The Bulldogs picked up their fourth win in a row.
Freshman Josh Poytress got his first career start on the mound. The left-hander started the game by sitting down the Pilot batters in order. He struck out four batters in five shutout innings and earned the win. Poytress improves to a 1-0 record with a 0.00 ERA.
"That's what we brought him here for. I liked the way he pounded the zone," said Batesole. "He controlled the running game well. We needed him to throw strikes and he got us through five innings."
Preseason All-American Tom Mendonca got the offense started in the first inning. With runners on second and first Mendonca hit a single to center field and Danny Muno crossed home plate giving the `Dogs the 1-0 lead.
Mendonca leads the team in RBIs with 11 this year.
Muno stole his fifth base of the season. The sophomore is now 5-for-6 on stolen bases for the year and leads the team.
Senior Gavin Hedstrom scored the second run of the night off a wild pitch. The Bulldogs had runners on second and third base when Steve Detwiler hit a single through the left side and Ahmady scored extending the `Dogs lead 3-0.
Zac Bischoff relieved Poytress in the fifth inning. The junior transfer from San Mateo Junior College struck out three Pilots in three innings.
Muno scored in the bottom of the seventh inning off a wild pitch increasing the lead to 4-0.
The bottom of the eighth inning the Bulldogs added three more runs. With runners on first and second base, Isacc Vivas hit a double down the left field line driving in Danny Grubb and Dusty Robinson.
Grubb went 2-for-2 on the night and Robinson went 3-for-4.
Ahmady singled to right center and Vivas crossed the plate as the Bulldogs beat Portland 7-0.
The Bulldogs face Cal State Bakersfield tomorrow at 6:05 p.m.
Buffalo earned a win over CSUB in the afternoon game. The Bulls tied the game in the bottom of the ninth and went on to win 7-6 in 11 innings. Buffalo faces Portland tomorrow at 2 p.m.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs host the Pepsi Johnny Quik Classic at Beiden Field March 9-14. The `Dogs host CSU Bakersfield Tuesday night at 6 pm. Stop by selected Johnny Quik locations for complimentary tickets to the Pepsi Johnny Quik Classic. All tickets are buy-one-get-one FREE. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
