Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i
`Dogs Face Spartans in Elimination Game Saturday
5/29/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 29, 2010
MESA, Ariz. - The Fresno State baseball team saw their second loss in Western Athletic Conference Tournament games since 2006. Hawai'i won the game Friday night 11-3 and the Bulldogs face San Jose State in an elimination game Saturday, May 29 at 4:00 p.m.
The `Dogs are 36-24 this season and boast an 18-7 road record in 2010. The Bulldogs need to win three more games to earn their fifth consecutive WAC Tournament title and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs recorded 10 hits Friday night in their first loss of the 2010 tournament. Pitchers Josh Poytress and Gene Escat combined for five strikeouts on the night.
Junior Danny Muno led off the game with a single for the first hit of the night for the Bulldogs.
Hawai'i scored first taking an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After allowing one run, the Bulldogs retired the first inning leaving the bases loaded full of Rainbows.
The Rainbows add to their lead with a two-run home run in the second inning. The Bulldogs trail 3-0 after two innings. Hawai'i extended their lead 4-0 with a solo home run to left field in the third inning.
Justin Charles hit recorded the second hit of the night with a single to third base in the third inning.
In the third inning, a 6-4-3 double play helped the Bulldogs retire the inning. Fresno State has turned 62 double plays this season, which is tied for eighth in the nation.
Outfielder Dusty Robinson opened the fourth inning with a single to left field. Designated hitter Bobby Coyle followed with a single up the middle for the fourth hit of the night.
In the fourth inning, Hawai'i scored an insurance run on a sacrifice fly increasing their lead 5-0. The Rainbows added four runs in the fifth inning taking a 9-0 lead.
Coyle got his second hit of the night with a double to left center field. First baseman Jordan Ribera came up to the plate and launched a two-run homer putting the `Dogs on the board trailing 9-2. Ribera leads the nation in long balls with 27 this season and is five off the single-season.
The Rainbows scored one run in the sixth inning extending their lead 10-2. The Bulldogs tagged a runner out at home keeping Hawai'i from adding another run.
Muno and Ribera combined for a 4-3 double play in the seventh inning for the 63rd double play of the year.
The Rainbows added another run in the eighth inning and took an 11-2 lead into the ninth inning.
In the ninth inning, pinch hitter Clay Cederquist hit an RBI single through the right side as the Bulldogs trail 11-3.
Hawai'i won the game 11-3 sending the Bulldogs into an elimination game on Saturday.
"We Are Your Team"- The Bulldogs face San Jose State in an elimination game in the WAC Tournament on Saturday, May 29 at 4:00 p.m. Listen live to the game on KMJ 580 or watch live streaming on WACsports.com.
