Diamond 'Dogs lose tight 3-2 battle against Oklahoma

Tuesday, March 15

Fresno, Calif.

6:05 PM

Fresno State

11-6

Oklahoma

7-9-1

Oklahoma

Fresno State

Austin Guibor has had at least one hit in a team-high 13 games this season.

Diamond 'Dogs lose tight 3-2 battle against Oklahoma

3/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

March 15, 2016

Box Score

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

FRESNO, Calif. - Despite taking an early one-run lead and getting a season-high six strikeouts from starting pitcher Edgar Gonzalez, the Bulldogs dropped a close 3-2 battle against Big 12 foe Oklahoma at Pete Beiden Field on Tuesday evening.

"We pitched well enough to win again and had fantastic defense in not only the routine plays, but (Ryan) Dobson made a fantastic play at second base and (Brody) Russell made a couple of nice plays in center field," said head coach Mike Batesole after the game. "That has been what we are doing is pitching and playing defense to give ourselves a chance to win. We are going to get back after it on Friday and keep pitching and playing defense."

Fresno State (11-6) was limited to only three hits in the game as Austin Guibor, Kevin Viers and Nick Warren all had singles. Oklahoma (7-9-1) had seven hits as right fielder Alex Wise led the way going 2-4 with a RBI single and Steele Walker had a solo home run.

The Bulldogs started the scoring right away in the bottom of the first inning as second baseman Ryan Dobson got hit by a pitch, stole second base, and came around to score on a pair of passed balls. The Sooners tied the game at one in the top of the second with a solo home run to right field from Walker. That was the first home run Gonzalez has allowed as a Bulldog.

The 'Dogs responded in the third inning with Dobson again igniting the charge getting on base off a fielder's choice. With two outs in the inning, he stole second base and came around to score after Jake Stone hit a chopper to shortstop and the toss to first base got away from OU's Austin O'Brien allowing Dobson to score his second run of the game.

Oklahoma tied the game in the fourth on a single to center field by O'Brien and pushed across the eventual game-winning run in the fifth inning off a two-out single up the middle by Wise.

On the mound, Gonzalez made his team-high fifth start of the season tossing the first four innings limiting the Sooners to four hits, two earned runs and six strikeouts. He gave way to Anthony Arias for the first two outs of the fifth, but the sophomore left-hander left runners on the corners before being relieved by Rickey Ramirez. Ramirez allowed Wise's single, but the run was charged to Arias to give him his second loss of the season. Tim Borst and Dylan Lee also made appearances on the mound with Borst working two innings and Lee came on in the ninth to get a pair of strikeouts.

Kyle Tyler got the start for Oklahoma matching Gonzalez going four innings allowing only one hit and gave way to Ryan Madden who picked up the win working three innings in relief. JB Olson pitched the final two innings for the Sooners to pick up his second save.

The 'Dogs return to action on Friday hosting their first Mountain West series at Pete Beiden Field welcoming UNLV (7-8, 2-1 MW) to town for a three-game series. Game one is Friday at 6:05 p.m.

Notes
- Austin Guibor has had at least one hit in 13 of the 'Dogs 17 games this season to lead the team.
- The home run by Oklahoma in the second inning was just the fifth home run allowed by the 'Dogs all season.
- Dobson's two stolen bases give the junior his first career multi-steal game.
- Dobson's two runs give him 13 for the season to rank second on the club behind Guibor's 16.

Mountain West Tuesday Night Scoreboard
Ohio State 8, at UNLV 7
at #23 Cal State Fullerton 8, San Diego State 1
San Francisco 6, at San Jose State 3
at Saint Mary's 6, Nevada 1
New Mexico 10, at Grand Canyon 6

"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio. Stay connected with the Bulldogs on Facebook (Fresno State Athletics), Instagram (FresnoStateAthletics), Twitter (@FresnoStateBSB) and Snapchat (FSAthletics).