Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Francisco
Bulldogs Drop Finale with San Francisco
3/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 11, 2012
By Jennifer Jones
jjones@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State (7-9) could not answer a late rally by San Francisco Sunday afternoon, as the Bulldogs dropped the series finale 6-1 at Pete Beiden Field. The teams split the series 2-2 this year, but Fresno State leads the all-time series 76-17.
Senior Patrick Hutcheson led all 'Dogs with eight hits during the series including two doubles and two runs. He finished the day with two hits and scored the 'Dogs run.
Senior Kenneth Wise also had a great outing against the Dons finishing with five hits, five RBI and two runs. The 6-2 designated hitter also crushed two home runs in the series and finished with a .786 slugging percentage over the weekend.
Great pitching and defensive plays from both sides kept the score stalemated at 0-0 until the sixth inning.
Nick Balog doubled to left center in the top of the sixth but the Bulldogs defense sat down the next two batters. San Francisco sent in pinch hitter Jourdan Weiks and he singled through the left side, scoring Balog and giving the Dons the 1-0 lead. Bulldogs' starter Thomas Harlan got Bob Cruikshank to ground out to third and the 'Dogs offense went to work.
Hutcheson ran out a bunt between Dons' starter Christian Cecilio and the second baseman to lead off the inning. With one out on the board, Balog fielded a shot from junior Trent Garrison at first and overthrew Adam Clear at second, allowing both runners to safely advance. The error was one of three for the Dons in the contest and Fresno State took advantage.
With two outs, Wise singled down the right field line and Hutcheson hustled around to score the game-tying run.
That proved to be the end of Cecilio's day. He gave up one run off six hits in 5.2 innings. Reliever Haden Hinkle got the next batter to fly out to first, ending the 'Dogs rally.
Back-to-back singles in the top of the seventh would end Harlan's day on the mound. Senior Taylor Garrison came in relief, but a single through the right side from the first batter he faced would bring in the gamewining run.
Harlan (2-3) received the loss after going 6.1 innings, striking out three and allowing two runs.
Because Hinkle came in with a tied game, he received the win.
The Bulldogs hit the road next in a rematch against UC Santa Barbara, March 13 at 3 p.m. Fresno State fell to the Gauchos (7-1) at home last month. It will be the team's second meeting since 2005.
Fresno State returns home March 16-18 against CSU Bakersfield. Fans can purchase season and single-game tickets online or by calling the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-3647.
"We Are Your Team!" Check out the action on game day from AM 940 KYNO, the flagship station for Bulldog baseball. Follow us on Facebook (fresnostateathletics) and Twitter (@FSAthletics).
