Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nevada
Bulldog Baseball Drops Heartbreaker in Extras, 9-8
2/20/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
RENO, Nev. - Nevada senior Austin Byler connected for a walk-off solo home run in the 10th inning to cap a come-from-behind victory to defeat the Fresno State baseball team 9-8 Friday night at Peccole Park. The Bulldogs scored seven runs in the fifth inning, gaining a 7-1 advantage, but could not hold on to open conference play against the Wolf Pack.
After the Bulldogs picked up just two hits against Wolf Pack starter Michael Fain through the first four innings, Kevin Viers led off the fifth with a single that would start a run of seven-straight Bulldogs that would reach base and eventually score. Viers singled twice in the inning, while Taylor Ward registered a three-RBI double in part of a seven-run, five-hit inning. Fresno State would go on to score once more in the game, one run in the eighth.
Nevada chipped away at the lead over the latter innings - scoring one in the fifth, three in the sixth and three more in the eighth - to tie the game.
Reliever Mark Reece, in the former Wolf Pack pitcher's return to Nevada, retired the side in the seventh, but surrendered two singles to lead off the eighth. Bulldog closer Jake Shull inherited the runners and immediately induced pop ups to the first two batters he faced. Trenton Brooks then took a full count pitch over the right field fence on the next at-bat to tie the game, 8-8.
Fresno State outhit Nevada 12-to-7 with Viers, Joe Prior and Taylor Tempel all registering two hits apiece to lead the team.
Wolf Pack closer Adam Whitt (1-0) was credited with the win, while Shull (2-1) took the loss.
The series continues on Saturday at 1 p.m.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
