Dr. Anderson Honored, 'Dogs' Rally Stung

May 4, 2012

By Curtis Webb
webb.curtisalan@gmail.com
GoBulldogs.com

FRESNO, Calif. - On a night when the Fresno State baseball team honored the late Dr. Rodney Anderson, the `Dogs gave it all they had in a neck-and-neck battle with visiting Sacramento State on Friday at Beiden Field.  Fresno State had the go-ahead run at the plate in a pressure-packed ninth until the Hornets slammed the door to beat the Bulldogs, 9-7.

The Bulldogs showed some outstanding defense while getting out of some tough jams early on. The Hornets pulled ahead in the eighth and added some insurance in the ninth only to have to hold off Fresno State's furious comeback in the final half inning.

"We just needed that one base hit," said sophomore outfielder Aaron Judge said. "We have the capability to do it; we just have to clutch-up and do it."

Aaron Judge slammed a 1-0 pitch high over the left field scoreboard that ended up on Cedar Avenue from Sacramento State closer RJ Davis, a mammoth shot to get the rally started. It was Judge's third blast of the season and the first homer allowed by the Hornets' reliever in 20 appearances this year.

"Just trying to get on base for the guy behind me," Judge said. "We're going to do whatever we can to get on base for [the team]; that time it just went over the fence."

The Bulldogs struck for three runs in the fourth after the Hornets scored a run in the top of the inning. Senior Trent Garrison had the bases juiced, singled to left and scored sophomore Jake Alvarez and freshman Jordan Brink.  Senior designated Kenneth Wise kept the momentum going with a single to center, driving in Judge for a 3-1 lead.

Sacramento State chipped away, knotting the game with four consecutive singles in sixth.  Brink fired home to junior catcher Austin Wynns to cut down the Hornets' Hunter Adrian at the plate for the second out.  Senior reliever Gene Escat then induced a crucial groundout for the third out of the inning, preventing any further damage.

Brink's throw to the plate was not unique to this ball game. The `Dogs threw out three more runners out at home; Alvarez made a stab on a groundball ranging to his left, slinging it home in the third; and senior infielder Pat Hutcheson threw two Hornets out in the eighth and ninth innings.

The Bulldogs fell to 19-23 on the season while Sacramento State improved to 25-21.

Fresno State and Sacramento State return to the diamond on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. for the second game of the series.

"Discover Fresno State Athletics!" -- AM 940 KYNO is the flagship radio station for Bulldog Baseball.

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Dr. Anderson Honored, 'Dogs' Rally Stung

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