Eighth-inning rally pushes 'Dogs past Falcons 6-3

Saturday, April 2

Fresno, Calif.

6:05 PM

Fresno State

19-8, 0

Air Force

13-7, 0

Air Force

Fresno State

Eighth-inning rally pushes 'Dogs past Falcons 6-3

4/2/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score

April 2, 2016

Box Score

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

FRESNO, Calif. - A two-run RBI triple to right field by Jesse Medrano in the bottom of the eighth inning proved to the deciding factor on Saturday night as Fresno State rallied from a one-run deficit for a four-run eighth inning rally to defeat Air Force 6-3 and clinch the weekend series.

In front of 1,375 fans at Pete Beiden Field and with legendary Bulldog head coach Bob Bennett, the program's all-time winningest coach, in attendance, Fresno State (19-8, 8-3 MW) was able to rally for its first win of the season when trailing after seven innings.

A night after slugging out 14 runs and 17 hits, the 'Dogs were held to seven hits on Saturday with Brody Russell and Aaron Arruda each recording a pair of hits. Russell had a single, a double and scored a run, while Arruda added two singles, two RBIs and scored a run.

Air Force (13-7, 4-3 MW) was held to six hits as designated hitter Bradley Haslam had a pair of singles and scored a run. Left fielder Tyler Jones added a single, a double and drove in a run.

With the pair of starting pitchers, Jimmy Lambert for the Bulldogs and Griffin Jax for Air Force, sporting the Mountain West's two lowest ERAs, the early going of the game saw it live up to its billing as a pitcher's dual. Neither side was able to get anything going offensively with only one hit in the first three and half innings.

The Bulldogs broke through on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the fourth when designated hitter Zach Ashford led off with the 'Dogs first hit of the night singling past the shortstop. A one-out double to left center by Russell, his eighth of the year, put a pair of runners in scoring position. A swinging third strike got away from the Falcons' catcher Travis Wilkie allowing Arruda to reach first and bring home Ashford to put the 'Dogs up 1-0.

Air Force tied the game in the top of the fifth with an unearned run after a Bulldog error and took a 3-1 lead after two more runs came across in the sixth.

The 'Dogs got one run back in the sixth on a RBI single through the left side by Arruda plated Ashford and cut the Falcons lead to one.

After a Korby Batesole strikeout led off the bottom of the seventh, the Falcons replaced Jax with right-hander Nathan Stanford. Jax finished the night tossing 6.1 innings limiting the 'Dogs to three hits, two earned runs, one walk and struck out eight. Stanford recorded the final two outs of the seventh, but ran into trouble in the eighth as the Bulldogs mounted a furious four-run comeback.

Russell jump-started the charge laying down a one-out bunt down the third baseline to get on base for the second time in the game. Arruda followed with a single down the left field line to put runners on the corners for Guibor. The junior outfielder laid down a bunt up the first baseline allowing Russell to score and knot the game at three apiece.

Medrano, who entered the at-bat hitless in the series, laced his first career triple to right field to bring home Arruda and Guibor and give the 'Dogs a two-run lead. After a pitching change for the Falcons brought in Austin McDaniel, the Bulldogs added an insurance run on a throwing error by McDaniel to take a 6-3 lead.

With Lambert's night complete after eight innings, the junior allowed only six hits, three runs, two earned, no walks and notched four strikeouts. Senior Dylan Lee came on in the ninth to pick up his second save of the year and give the 'Dogs their eight win in the last nine games.

The Bulldogs go for the sweep of the Falcons in the final game of the weekend series on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. The 'Dogs wrap up Salute to Services Weekend on Sunday as all military and veterans get into the game for free.

Notes
- The 'Dogs improved to 14-2 at home and won their fourth straight MW series.
- Fresno State improved to 16-4 when scoring first.
- Russell notched his team-leading 10th multi-hit game of the season.
- Arruda moved his on-base streak to 14 games and his hitting streak to 10 games.
- Lambert has allowed two or fewer earned runs in six of his seven starts this season.
- It was Lee's third career save.

Mountain West Saturday Scoreboard
at Nevada 3, San Diego State 2
at New Mexico 10, UNLV 5
San Jose State 8, at Cal Poly 5

"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).