Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
`Dogs End Series with La Tech
4/19/2009 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 19, 2009
RUSTON, La. - The Fresno State baseball team had a record setting weekend in Ruston, La. Several Bulldogs set records or made their way into the baseball record books. Tom Mendonca set a new home run record with 45 career home runs after hitting two over the weekend. Alan Ahmady and Danny Muno also broke into the history books after the Bulldogs lost both games in the doubleheader 14-12 and 14-6.
Ahmady and Muno both moved into the all-time walk list. Ahmady has 105 career walks in seventh place and Muno has 96 career walks and is in ninth place. Ahmady and Mendonca also moved up the all-time RBI list. Mendonca is tied in fourth place with 157 career RBIs and Ahmady is in eighth with 149 career RBIs.
The Bulldogs are 2-6 in WAC and 18-20 overall. The Bulldogs scored 18 runs on 12 hits Sunday in the doubleheader. The `Dogs knocked four home runs out of the park, one of which was a grand slam from Jake Johnson.
Game 1: Louisiana Tech 14, Fresno State 12
Louisiana Tech scored first in the first inning taking a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs rallied in the second inning with four runs on four hits and two home runs to take the lead.
Fresno State career home run leader Mendonca hit a solo home run to left field that landed in the second balcony of the apartments that lie just behind J.C. Love Field. Mendonca has 45 career home runs and 16 on the season.
The next at bat freshman Kenny Wise hit a solo home run to left field giving the Bulldogs the 2-1 lead. It is the second home run of the weekend for the freshman designated hitter. It is also the third time this season that Bulldogs have hit back-to-back home runs.
Right fielder Brennan Gowens singled to center field to continue the early rally. Second baseman Gavin Hedstrom walked moving Gowens to second base. Gowens advanced to third base on a wild pitch. Senior Danny Grubb reached base on fielder's choice as Gowens scored and Hedstrom was thrown out at second base and the Bulldogs lead 3-1.
Muno doubled off left center field wall allowing Grubb to cross home plate and the `Dogs lead 4-1.
Grubb caught a runner stealing to retire the bottom of the second inning. Grubb has caught six runners stealing this year.
Right-hander Derek Benny made his sixth start against the La Tech Bulldogs. The freshman sat the batters down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the fourth inning. Benny struck out five batters in 6 1/3 innings.
La Tech scored three runs in the third inning tying the game at four runs apiece.
Muno walked into the record books in the fifth inning with his 92nd walk of his career. Muno ties Kent Sakamoto and Steve Bates in 10th place on the career walk list.
Isacc Vivas walked moving Muno to second base. Ahmady reached first base on a fielder's choice advancing Muno to third base and Vivas was thrown out at second base. Wise walked to load the bases. Dusty Robinson walked advancing all the runners and Muno scored the go ahead run.
Gowens walked advancing all the runners as Ahmady walks in another run. The next at bat Hedstrom got hit by a pitch advancing all the Bulldogs and Wise scored giving the Bulldogs the 7-4 lead.
Grubb continued the rally with a single over the shortstop driving in two runs giving the `Dogs the 9-4 lead.
Louisiana Tech answered with a two-run home run to cut Fresno State's lead to 9-6. La Tech hit another two-run home run in the sixth inning bringing them within in one run of the Bulldogs.
Sophomore Jake Johnson pinch hit for Wise. Johnson reached on a fielding error. Johnson advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Robinson singled to right field moving Johnson to third base. Gowens walked to load the bases. Muno walked advancing the runners as Johnson to scored giving the `Dogs the 10-8 lead.
Louisiana Tech hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning to take an 11-10 lead. In the eighth inning, Ahmady walked. Johnson hit a two-run home run to regain the lead for the Bulldogs, 12-11.
La Tech with a two-run home run of its own taking back the lead 13-12. They added another run to win game 3, 14-12.
Game 2: Louisiana Tech 14, Fresno State 6
Sophomore Danny Muno opened the second game of Sunday's doubleheader reaching base after getting hit by a pitch. Center fielder Brennan Gowens reached first base on a fielding error moving Muno to second base. Junior Alan Ahmady walked to load the bases. Tom Mendonca walked advancing the runners and Muno scored the first run. Catcher Jake Johnson hit a grand slam to right center field and the Bulldogs jump ahead 5-0 in the first inning.
Louisiana Tech scored one run trailing the Bulldogs 5-1 after one inning.
Senior Holden Sprague retired the second inning sitting down the La Tech batters in order.
La Tech hit a two-run home run in the third inning trailing Fresno State 5-3. In the fifth inning, Louisiana Tech scored four runs taking a 7-5 lead.
Sprague struck out seven batters in six innings in his ninth start of the year. Louisiana Tech added four runs in the sixth inning leading 11-5. Tech added another three runs in the seventh inning extending their lead to 14-5.
The Bulldogs retired the eighth inning with their 30th double play in 2009.
In the ninth inning, Ahmady walked. Ryan Allgrove singled up the middle moving Ahmady to second base. Pinch hitter Jordan Ribera reached after getting hit by a pitch to load the bases. Steve Detwiler hit a sacrifice fly to right field as Ahmady scored and Allgrove advanced to third base, but La Tech earned the 14-6 victory.
The Bulldogs stay on the road next weekend they head to San Jose for a four-game series against San Jose State. The first game is Friday, April 24 at 6 p.m.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs continue their road trip as they travel to San Jose State for a four game WAC series April 24-26. The Bulldogs return to Beiden Field Friday, May 1 as they host WAC rival Nevada. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
