Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UC Irvine
Late inning Surge Propels 'Dogs Past UC Irvine, 7-5
2/15/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Bulldog baseball team improved their record to 2-0 thanks to a six-run explosion in the seventh inning that propelled Fresno State past UC Irvine 7-5 Saturday night at Beiden Field.
Fresno State (2-0) used seven hits to manufacture its six runs in the seventh, a frame UCI (0-2) struggled with its relief after starter Matt Esparza exited. The 'Eaters starter walked the Bulldog lead-off hitter, Kevin Viers, and then the Bulldog bats burst for seven-straight hits against three different Anteater relievers.
"That pitcher Esparza [UC Irvine] started was something special," said head coach Mike Batesole. "That's a special arm, and to get the W at the end of the day, off a starting pitcher like that, that's good."
Prior to the bottom of the seventh, Fresno State trailed 5-1, as Esparza dealt six innings of work, allowing one run (a solo home run to Austin Guibor) on two hits, two walks and eight strikeouts. Seven K's came over the first three innings.
William Munro earned the save, throwing two innings of scoreless relief work to secure the Bulldogs' win after the offense pushed the team on top. Brennon Williams (1-0) picked up the win by closing out the sixth inning. In Williams' Division I debut, he needed two pitches to induce a double play ball to close out the threat of any additional run support by the `Eater offense.
"This was two gutsy wins against a team that last played in Omaha," Batesole added. "That's a heck of a ball club with 20 returners over there that were in Omaha. To get them twice out of the gate, that speaks well for these guys."
Fresno State accounted for 10 hits on the evening from 10 different Bulldog bats. In the inning that won the game - Kenny Corey, in a pinch hit situation in his first collegiate at-bat and loaded bases in front of him, hit an RBI single scoring the first run. Ryan Dobson led the team in RBIs with two, a two-RBI single brought the game within one. Brody Russell followed with an RBI single to tie the game. Taylor Ward connected for a triple that sailed into the right center gap to bring home Russell for the 6-5 lead. Joe Prior drove home Ward on the next at-bat to bring the inning run total to six.
The Sunday finale will matchup Fresno State senior RHP Garret Mundell against the 'Eaters senior southpaw Even Mariano. Sunday is Military Appreciation Day, all veterans and active military receive free admission with I.D.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
