Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i
`Dogs Continue Drive for Five
5/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
MESA, Ariz. - The Fresno State baseball team survived its second elimination game Saturday with a win over Hawai'i 14-5. With the win the Bulldogs force a second game against the Rainbows on Sunday to decide the 2010 WAC Tournament Champion. Fresno State is 3-1 in the Tournament and 38-24 overall.
Since 2008, the `Dogs have fought with their backs against the wall in 13 elimination games and have come out on top winning 12 of them. The Bulldogs boast a 19-2 record in WAC Tournament games since the tournament format returned in 2006.
Junior Danny Muno made Fresno State history again in his career after becoming the first Bulldog to hit for the cycle. Muno went 4-for-6 with a single, double, triple and home run all by the fifth inning.
The Bulldogs tallied 14 runs on 19 hits. Also having a good night at the plate was outfielder Bobby Coyle (4-for-5 with four RBIs), Jordan Ribera (2-for-4), Brennan Gowens (3-for-5) and Trent Garrison (2-for-4).
Hawai'i struck first and scored four runs to begin the game and took a 4-0 lead in to the bottom half of the inning.
Danny Muno led off the inning with a double for the Bulldogs and stole third base to put a runner in scoring position. Dusty Robinson walked to put runners on the corners. Brennan Gowens cleared the bases with a double up the middle to put the Bulldogs on the board trailing Hawai'i 4-2.
Hawai'i added a run in the second inning increasing their lead 5-2.
The Bulldogs led off the second inning with back-to-back singles to put two runners on base. Freshman Justin Charles connected for an RBI single to center field as the `Dogs trail 5-3.
Muno recorded his second hit of the night, a triple down the right field line and allowed the tying runs to cross home plate. Bobby Coyle drove in the go ahead run giving the Bulldogs the 6-5 lead with a single to left.
First baseman Jordan Ribera kept the rally alive with an RBI single to center field increasing the Bulldogs lead 7-5. Gowens drove in his third run of the night and gave Fresno State the lead 8-5 after reaching on a fielder's choice.
In the third inning, Muno hit a home run extending the `Dogs lead 9-5. Muno has two home runs on the day and is a single shy of the cycle. Coyle hit a double driving in his second run of the night as the Bulldogs take a 10-5 lead to the fourth inning.
Matt Morse earned the start in the elimination game. The senior pitched a six and third innings and held the Rainbows scoreless for four of those innings. Morse struck out three batters and improved to a record of 4-5 on the mound.
Danny Muno hit a single in the fifth inning and received a standing ovation from Bulldog fans when he reached first base safely. With the single, Muno becomes the first Bulldog to hit for the cycle.
Muno scored off a single to center field from Coyle extending Fresno State's lead 11-5. Coyle has three runs batted against Hawai'i. Gowens drove in another run with an RBI triple and the `Dogs lead 12-5.
The Bulldogs defense helped starter Morse out in the sixth inning with a 9-3 double play. Fresno State has fielded 65 double plays this season and is among the nation's best in turning two.
Cody Kendall entered the game in the seventh inning and took over on the mound. The sophomore threw two and two-thirds of scoreless baseball as the Bulldogs cruised to their third win of the tournament.
Coyle added an insurance run in the seventh inning with a solo home run to right field and the `Dogs lead 13-5.
The final run of the game came in the eighth inning after pinch hitter Clay Cederquist hit a single up the middle.
Fresno State won the game by a final score of 14-5 and faces Hawai'i Sunday, May 30 at noon to decide the winner of the 2010 WAC Tournament and the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
"We Are Your Team"--The Bulldogs face Hawai'i Sunday, May 30 at noon to decide the winner of the WAC Tournament. Listen live on KMJ 580 or watch on WACsports.com.
