Bulldogs drop series finale at New Mexico 7-4

Sunday, April 10

Albuquerque, N.M.

11:00 PM

Fresno State

21-12, 0

New Mexico

23-9, 0

Fresno State

New Mexico

Bulldogs drop series finale at New Mexico 7-4

4/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 10, 2016

Box Score

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

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Despite a two-run lead after five-and-a-half innings, a five-run sixth inning for New Mexico was the deciding factor on Sunday as the Bulldogs dropped the series finale 7-4 to the Lobos at Santa Ana Star Field.

Fresno State (21-12, 9-6 MW) outhit New Mexico (23-9, 12-3 MW) 10-9 on the afternoon to finish the weekend series with 32 hits as a team. Leading the charge on Sunday was sophomore catcher Nick Warren who had a career-high three hits, including his first extra-base knock of the year with a double in the eighth inning.

Senior outfielder Brody Russell posted his team-leading 13th multi-hit game of the year with a pair of hits, including his 11th double this season. Sophomore first baseman Aaron Arruda smacked his team-high seventh home run in the sixth inning.

The Lobos were limited to only one extra-base hit on the day, a double by Luis Gonzalez. The center fielder along with first baseman Jack Zoellner both had a pair of hits and shortstop Dalton Bowers knocked in a pair of runs.

New Mexico struck first in the bottom of the third after a leadoff walk and single for the Lobos both moved up a base on a sacrifice bunt by Jared Holley. With a pair of runners in scoring position and one out, a wild pitch brought home the game's first run to put New Mexico up 1-0.

The Bulldogs quickly answered back with a pair of two-out runs in the fourth inning. Guibor laced a single up the middle and Tatum followed with a ground-rule double to left center to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Warren. The sophomore catcher came through with a single to right field to bring home the pair on base for his fourth and fifth RBIs of the season.

The 'Dogs increased their lead to 3-1 in the sixth with a leadoff home run to left center by Arruda for his team-leading seventh long ball of the season.

With starting pitcher Edgar Gonzalez cruising through the first five innings, limiting the Lobos to only two hits and four baserunners, the Lobos offense started to kick in gear in the sixth with a leadoff double by Gonzalez. Three straight singles scored three runs and knocked the freshman hurler from the game with New Mexico holding a 4-3 lead.

With Tim Borst coming in to relieve Gonzalez, the senior was able to retire the first two Lobos, but a two-out single up by the middle by Bowers scored two more runs to put the home team up 6-3.

New Mexico added a run in the seventh on a one-out single by Zoellner, but Borst was able to get out of a bases-loaded jam with a 4-6-3 double play to keep the deficit at four.

The Bulldogs continued to cut into the Lobos deficit in the top of the eighth triming it to 7-4 after Warren hit a two-out double to left center and was driven home on a single to right center by Jeremiah Burks.

Unfortunately, that was as close as the 'Dogs would get as they were retired in order in the ninth to drop their 10th game of the season by three or less runs.

Fresno State returns home to play seven of its next eight games in Fresno hosting Pacific (10-17) on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. before hosting Nevada (15-14, 6-4 MW) for Decades Weekend next Friday through Sunday at Pete Beiden Field.

Notes
- The 'Dogs dropped to 4-18 against New Mexico since joining the MW in 2013 and are now only 1-11 in Albuquerque.
- The 'Dogs extended their streak of sacrifice bunts to 15 games and now have 45 for the season.
- It was Warren's second multi-hit game of the season and third career double.
- It was Tatum's second double of the season.

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