Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i
Bulldogs Win WAC Opener
4/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 10, 2010
HONOLULU - For the second year in a row, the Fresno State baseball team opened Western Athletic Conference with a win after beating University of Hawai'i, 8-6.
The Bulldogs have won their last five games and are 18-12 on the season.
The offense came out swinging in Honolulu Friday night recording eight runs on 11 hits. Sophomore Dusty Robinson hit his fifth home run of the season to give the Bulldogs a six run lead. He went 2-for-2 with two RBIs.
Coming into tonight's game Hawai'i ace Josh Slaats had allowed only four earned runs. The Bulldogs doubled that number to eight after scoring four unearned runs and a total of five runs in the first five innings. Slaats had a 1.03 ERA before the game and the Bulldogs recorded five hits against him.
For the Bulldogs, sophomore Josh Poytress dominated on the mound and had a career night at Les Murakami stadium. He set a new career best in strikeouts with eight and had the longest outing of his career at Fresno State. Poytress held the Rainbows to one run and is 4-2 in 2010.
Junior Danny Muno led off the ball game with a walk. He has 141 career walks and is four walks away from becoming the all-time leader at Fresno State.
Robinson reached base after getting walked in the top of the second inning. Catcher Trent Garrison reached base on an error and Robinson moved to second base on the missed play by Hawai'i. Third baseman Garrett Weber kept his hitting streak alive with an RBI single to left field giving the Bulldogs the lead, 1-0. The junior has recorded a hit in the last seven games.
Senior Steve Detwiler hit a sacrifice bunt down the first base line moving the runners to second and third base. Freshman Justin Charles grounded out allowing the runners to advanced and Garrison scored and the `Dogs lead, 2-0.
Poytress earned his ninth start of the season and was perfect through the first three innings. He sat down nine consecutive batters. In the first three innings, the sophomore didn't allow any hits or walks. The lefty struck out a career-high eight batters in his best performance of the year.
Hawai'i got on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning cutting the Bulldogs lead, 2-1.
In the fifth inning, junior Jordan Ribera hit a single over the first baseman to right field. Robinson walked moving Ribera to second base. Garrison loaded the bases after getting hit by a pitch. Weber grounded out, but allowed Ribera to cross home plate and the Bulldogs lead, 3-1.
Detwiler doubled down the left field line driving in Robinson extending the Bulldogs lead, 4-1.
Charles singled through the left side bringing Detwiler home and the `Dogs lead, 5-1.
Fresno State got out of a bases loaded jam unscathed and kept their four run lead heading into the seventh inning.
Coyle hit a double off the right center field wall and advanced to third base on a ground out at first base. Robinson hit a home run over the right field wall giving the Bulldogs two more runs and they take their biggest lead of the game, 7-1.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Poytress struck out the side. It is the first time in his career he has struck out three consecutive batters. Poytress' outing was a career-high seven and a third innings, six of which were scoreless.
In the ninth inning, Coyle hit a single through the right side and Trent Soares came in to pinch run. Robinson reached base after getting hit by a pitch. Weber walked to load the bases. Detwiler singled to left field bringing in Soares extending the Bulldogs lead, 8-1.
Hawai'i scored five runs in the bottom of the ninth inning. Cody Kendall earned his second save of the season. The Bulldogs hold on to win, 8-6.
"We Are Your Team" - The `Dogs will continue their series against Hawaii on April 10 with a doubleheader starting at 4:05 pacific time. The Bulldogs head home to Beiden field on Tuesday, April 13 to challenge the CSU Bakersfield Roadrunners at 6:05 p.m. Fresno State will continue their home stand on Friday, April 16 against Louisiana Tech. Tickets available now at the Bulldog Ticket Office or by calling 278-DOGS.
