Early run support lifts Lambert & 'Dogs past Nevada

Saturday, April 16

Fresno, Calif.

6:05 PM

Fresno State

23-13, 0

Nevada

15-17, 0

Nevada

Fresno State

Early run support lifts Lambert & 'Dogs past Nevada

4/16/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 16, 2016

Box Score

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

FRESNO, Calif. - Using three first-inning runs and four additional runs in the third inning, Fresno State built an early seven-run lead on its way to a 8-3 win over Nevada on Saturday evening at Pete Beiden Field.

Fresno State (23-13, 11-6 MW) starting pitcher Jimmy Lambert tossed seven strong innings on the mound and stayed perfect on the season moving to 7-0 as the 'Dogs supplied the junior right-hander with early run support and 12 hits in the game to seal the series win over Nevada (15-17, 6-6 MW).

The 'Dogs had four players with two hits apiece with senior outfielder Brody Russell continuing to swing a hot bat with his fourth multi-hit game in his past five games going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Aaron Arruda added two hits, including a ground-rule double, three RBIs and a run scored.

Freshman designated hitter Zach Ashford picked up fourth multi-hit game of the season with a pair of singles and scored a run, while sophomore shortstop Korby Batesole added two hits and a RBI.

Nevada had five players with two hits apiece, but was held without an extra-base hit as all 11 of the Wolf Pack hits went for singles. It was the 10th time this season the 'Dogs have held their opponent without an extra-base hit.

The Bulldogs jumped on the scoreboard first taking an early 3-0 lead right off the bat as junior outfielder Austin Guibor drew a leadoff walk and Russell followed with a one-out double down the left field line to put a pair of runners in scoring position for Arruda. The Clovis native hit a sacrifice fly to right field to bring in Guibor as the 'Dogs scored for the first time for the 25th time this season taking a 1-0 lead.

Junior outfielder Jake Stone followed with a single right back to the pitcher to plate Russell and junior second baseman Scott Silva added a single to score Stone to go up 3-0.

Fresno State continued to stockpile the runs in the third scoring four more runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead over the Wolf Pack. Arruda drove in Guibor and Ashford on a ground-rule double for the first two runs and Stone followed with a sacrifice fly to left field to score Russell. Batesole closed out the scoring with a two-out single down the left field line to drive in Arruda.

After Nevada ended Lambert's shutout bid with a pair of runs in the fourth, the 'Dogs added a run in the sixth on a sacrifice fly by Guibor to take an 8-2 lead.

With Lambert exiting the game after throwing 107 pitches, allowing two earned runs and no walks, after seven innings, Nevada started to rally in the eighth scoring a run off senior reliever Brennon Williams to make it 8-3 before Williams left with runners on second and third and one out.

Sophomore Rickey Ramirez came on and was able to escape the jam getting Bryce Greager to fly out to Arruda at first base in foul territory and struck out Jordan Pearce looking. Ramirez came back on to work a three-up, three-down ninth inning and seal the win.

The Bulldogs go for the sweep of the Wolf Pack on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. at Pete Beiden Field. The 'Dogs will start freshman right-hander Edgar Gonzalez (2-1, 3.50), while Nevada will counter with junior left-hander Trenton Brooks (2-4, 5.57).

Notes
- The 'Dogs are now 10-1 against Nevada at home since joining the Mountain West in 2013 and have won all four of its series against the Wolf Pack at Pete Beiden Field.
- Lambert's seven wins are the most in a single season since Thomas Harlan and Justin Haley won seven apiece in 2012.
- Lambert issued no walks for the fifth time this season and now has 49 strikeouts on the season to five walks for a 9.8 strikeout-to-walk-ratio. He entered the weekend 16th in the nation in that category.
- The Bulldogs three sacrifice flies tied a season-high after the 'Dogs also had three on Feb. 27 in a 11-0 win over Youngstown State.
- Guibor, Silva and Nick Warren all extended their on-base streaks to eight games.

Mountain West Saturday Scoreboard
at UNLV 7, Air Force 2
New Mexico 6, at San Jose State 2
#14 Texas Tech 10, San Diego State 0

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