Arias dominates Creighton to complete sweep

Sunday, February 21

Fresno, Calif.

1:05 PM

Fresno State

3-0

Creighton

0-3

Creighton

Fresno State

Austing Guibor notched his first of the season and scored two runs in the 'Dogs 7-3 win on Sunday.

Arias dominates Creighton to complete sweep

2/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

Feb. 21, 2016

By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team defeated Creighton 7-3 on Sunday at Pete Beiden Field to complete a three-game sweep of the Bluejays to open the 2016 season.

The second consecutive season the Bulldogs have opened the year with a three-game sweep, Fresno State (3-0) pushed across seven runs, scoring in five different innings, to stay perfect on the season. The 'Dogs only collected five hits in the game, but used timely miscues from Creighton to score runs.

The 'Dogs starting pitcher Anthony Arias put on a stellar performance tossing six shutout innings allowing only one hit and striking out seven, one off his career best. After the Bluejays leadoff hitter Daniel Woodrow singled to left field to start the game, Arias did not allow another Creighton (0-3) batter to record a hit.

Nicky Lopez followed Woodrow reaching base on a fielder's choice. Second baseman Ryan Fitzgerald was hit by a pitch and Reagan Fowler dr ew a walk to load the bases for Harrison Crawford. Arias got the senior third baseman to bounce into a 4-6-3 double play to get out of the jam.

For the first time this season, the Bulldogs scored in the first inning as leadoff hitter Austin Guibor drew a walk to start the game. He moved to second on a fielder's choice and a throwing error by the Bluejays allowed him to take third. Jake Stone followed with another fielder's choice allowing Guibor to score his first run of the season.

The 'Dogs added a run in the second on a RBI groundout by Joe Prior plated Kevin Viers from third base. The Bulldogs grabbed ahold of the momentum in the third inning scoring three runs in the frame for their largest scoring inning of the season. Brody Russell hit a one-out single and a walk to Stone put a pair of runners on base for Aaron Arruda. The sophomore designated hitter connected on the first pitch of the at-bat driving the ball down the left field line for the Bulldogs first home run of the season, and the second of his career, to take a 5-0 lead.

Guibor increased the 'Dogs lead to 6-0 in the fifth inning with his second run of the game on a wild pitch. Arias continued to make life difficult for the Bluejays retiring 15 of the final 17 batters he faced, including sending down nine in a row at one point. Exiting the game after six innings, Arias only faced three batters over the minimum on the day.

Creighton welcomed Bulldog reliever Mark Reece, seeing his first action of the action of the season, with a pair of runs in the seventh to make it a four-run contest . The Bluejays got a one-out RBI triple to center field from Brett Murray to bring around Crawford from first and Murray came home to score on a single by Keith Oren.

Fresno State tacked on a run in the seventh on a two-out sacrifice bunt by Russell plated Prior to make it 7-2. Senior relief pitcher Brennon Williams came on for the 'Dogs in the final two innings, limiting Creighton to one run and two hits to lock up the sweep for the 'Dogs.

The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday when they host their first midweek game of the season welcoming the Oakland (Mich.) Grizzles (1-2) to Pete Beiden Field. First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m. and it will be Faculty and Staff Night as all Fresno State faculty and staff get into the game for free.

Mountain West Sunday Scoreboard
Air Force 9, Davidson 4 (Davidson, N.C.)
Nevada 10, Northwestern 6 (Mesa, Ariz.)
New Mexico 18, at Hawaii 0
#14 Oregon 4, at San Diego State 3
UC Irvine 11, at San Jose State 0
at #23 Texas 7, UNLV 0

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