Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Loyola Marymount
Baseball Concludes LMU Series Sunday
3/20/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 20, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team play strong defense and had good pitching on the mound and took Loyola Marymount into extra innings in both games of Saturday's doubleheader. The Lions won both games, 4-3, and 5-2, respectively. The `Dogs are 9-10 on the year.
The Bulldogs defense was key in the first game preventing the Lions scoring extra runs. The `Dogs were 3-for-4 in throwing runners out at home. Sophomore Dusty Robinson threw two runners out, while senior Steve Detwiler threw one runner.
The Bulldogs turned two double plays on the day and have a total of 27 on the season.
Junior Danny Muno hit .500 in the doubleheader hitting 4-for-8 with an RBI and two runs.
Game One
The defense came through right out of the gate in the first game of the doubleheader. The Lions had two outs and a runner on first base. LMU hit a double down the left field line and Robinson fielded the ball in to cut off man Garrett Weber. Weber then gunned the ball home allowing catcher Trent Garrison to tag the runner out keeping the game scoreless.
Loyola Marymount scored first in the third inning taking a 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the fourth inning. Robinson reached base after getting walked. LMU miss fielded a sacrifice bunt from Brennan Gowens allowing him to reach on an error and advancing Robinson to second base. Weber laid down a sacrifice bunt moving the runners. Garrison followed with the third-consecutive sacrifice bunt bringing home Robinson and the `Dogs tie the game, 1-1.
Roberston earned his third start and made his fifth appearance of the year. The sophomore sat down the Loyola Marymount batters 1-2-3 in the fifth inning.
The right-hander threw a career-high six and third innings striking out two batters.
Fresno State took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Designated hitter Bobby Coyle hit a double to right field. First baseman Jordan Ribera brought him home with an RBI single up the middle giving the Dogs the lead, 2-1.
The `Dogs preserved their lead in the top of the sixth inning by tagging out back-to-back runners at home plate. First Detwiler throw a runner out from right field for the second out of the inning. The next play Robinson threw a runner out from left field to retire the side.
The Lions took the lead, 3-2, in the seventh inning after scoring two runs.
Sophomore Tom Harlan took over on the mound in the sixth inning. The lefty threw a career-high three and a third innings of relief. He struck out two LMU batters.
A Lion batter hit a high ball back at Harlan and he grabbed it out of the air and got the batter out at first to retire the side. Harlan also sat down the batters in order in the top of the ninth inning.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Weber led off with a single to right center field. Garrison hit a sacrifice bunt moving the tying run to second base. Pinch hitter Kenny Wise reached base after getting hit by a pitch. Muno hit an RBI single to right field tying it up, 3-3.
The Bulldogs headed into extra innings for the third time this year.
LMU hit a solo home run over the left field wall in the 10th inning to win, 4-3.
Game Two
The second game of the doubleheader turned into a pitcher's duel. The `Dogs held the LMU bats at bay keeping them scoreless through the first six innings.
Fresno State scored first in the second game of the doubleheader. In the first inning, Muno singled up the middle. Daniel Moultrie bunted down the right field line moving Muno to second base. Robinson hit a sacrifice fly allowing Muno to score giving the `Dogs the lead, 1-0.
Muno led off the third inning with a single up the middle and stole second base. Moultrie hit another sacrifice bunt to move Muno to third base. Muno scored on a balk by the LMU pitcher extending the `Dogs lead, 2-0.
Derek Benny made his fifth start of the year in the nightcap of the doubleheader against Loyola Marymount. The sophomore threw six scoreless innings and recorded his fourth complete game. He struck out three batters.
The Lions scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning to tie the game, 2-2.
In the top of the eighth inning, LMU scored three runs to win, 5-2.
"We Are Your Team" - The Fresno State baseball team wraps up the series against the Loyola Marymount Lions on Sunday, March 21st at noon before heading to Cal Poly to face the Mustangs on March 23rd. For tickets and information, visit the Bulldog Ticket Office or call 278-DOGS.
