Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UC Irvine
Heroics Continue, 'Dogs Sweep Anteaters
2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Andrew Rich
arich1221@mail.fresnostate.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno State hit three home runs in the bottom of the eighth and ended the game with a spectacular defensive play as the late inning magic continued at Beiden Field on Sunday in the Bulldogs' 7-5 win over UC Irvine.
"I think what validates the weekend is the team we played," Bulldogs head coach Mike Batesole said. "This was a team that was in Omaha (at the 2014 College World Series) last season and returned 20 outstanding players."
UC Irvine starting pitcher Evan Manarino threw six shutout innings before handing the ball over to the bullpen. And trailing 5-0 for the second straight game, Fresno State once again went to work against the Anteater bullpen.
The Bulldogs (3-0) struck for two in seventh to cut the deficit to 5-2 before the power surge arrived. Kevin Viers, the walkoff hero from Friday night, launched a two-run homer over the fence in right centerfield to make it 5-4. Kenny Corey followed that up with double and then Brody Russell hit a towering shot over the fence in left that landed in the parking lot to give Fresno State its first lead of the game at 6-5.
"I set my next plan and got what I wanted and did what I could for the team," Russell said. "It just happened to be a home run."
Russell finished the day 3-for-5 with three RBI. He finished the weekend with a .583 (7-for-12) batting average, three runs scored and five runs driven in.
Taylor Ward made it back-to-back home runs and gave the Bulldogs an insurance run when he followed up Russell's homer with one of his own that hit the top of the scoreboard.
It still wasn't over at that point, however, as the Anteaters (0-3) tried to produce some late inning fireworks of their own in the top of the ninth.
Jake Shull hit two Anteaters and gave up a single to set up a bases loaded situation for the No. 3 hitter Keston Hiura. The freshman from Valencia had already homered once in the game before stepping to the plate with a chance to do damage. He hit a line drive shot up the middle that second baseman Korby Batesole, a defensive replacement at the beginning of the inning, snagged for the out. He then stopped, wheeled and turned and fired to first to double-off the runner and compete the weekend sweep for Fresno State.
Shull, the junior closer, picked up his second victory of the weekend in relief. He finished the weekend with 3.2 scoreless innings of work.
Fresno State's 3-0 start is their best since opening the 2011 season with a 6-0 record.
The Bulldogs are back in action on Tuesday night when they host defending Big West Conference champion Cal Poly. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
