Fresno State Athletics
Taylor Ward Lifts 'Dogs to 2-1 Win
2/28/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State junior Taylor Ward did not know it at the time, but his first inning two-run home run would be the difference in a 2-1 Bulldog victory against UNLV Saturday night at Pete Beiden Field. The win clinches the series for Fresno State and improves its record to 5-5 overall and 2-3 in Mountain West play.
In the sole inning Fresno State crossed the plate, sophomore Austin Guibor drew a leadoff walk to start Saturday night's game. Sophomore Jake Stone then went down on strikes before Ward turned on a 1-2 offering on the next at-bat, sending the pitch over the left field porch to give the Bulldogs an early 2-0 lead.
Fresno State would preserve its lead behind southpaw Dylan Lee (1-1) in what was his best performance yet as a Bulldog. In the junior transfer's third career Division I start, he pitched a masterful 6.1 innings, surrendering three hits and one earned run. Lee struck out five and walked one.
Redshirt sophomore Mark Reece provided middle relief, taking over for Lee in the seventh. Then the Bulldogs' closer Jake Shull took over in the eighth. The hard-throwing righty earned his first save of the season by closing the final 2.0 innings, allowing zero hits, striking out two and walking one.
UNLV starter D.J. Meyers limited Fresno State to Ward's one hit. He fanned six and walked five.
Fresno State will go for the series sweep on Sunday behind projected game three starter senior RHP Garrett Mundell (0-0, 5.23 ERA). The Rebels are anticipated to start RHP Kenny Oakley (0-0, 3.86 ERA). First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
