Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, February 18
Fresno, CA
6:05 PM
Fresno State
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Photo by: Mountain West/Clarkson Creative
Thomas shuts down Ducks as Bulldogs top Oregon, 9-1
2/18/2017 10:04:00 PM | Baseball
The Fresno State baseball team breezed to its ninth consecutive season-opening win taking down Oregon 9-1 at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium on Saturday evening.
FRESNO, Calif. - Behind a stellar pitching performance by junior southpaw Ricky Tyler Thomas and a five-run second inning, the Fresno State baseball team breezed to its ninth consecutive season-opening win taking down Oregon 9-1 at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium on Saturday evening.
In front of a crowd of 2,122 fans, the 'Dogs put together a 15-hit performance as 10 different Bulldogs recorded at least one hit and a pair hit their first home runs of the season. Senior outfielder Austin Guibor and junior first baseman Aaron Arruda each hit eighth-inning home runs as Ryan Dobson, Nick Warren and Arruda added a double each.
"We had some chances [to score] early, in the middle innings," said head coach Mike Batesole on the win. "We had some guys in scoring position, but our veteran guys were able to put in work – being able to stay back and hit doubles to the opposite field. When you have a team of guys that can do that, you're going to see some success."
A preseason All-Mountain West selection and a member of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer, Thomas picked up where he left off a season ago making quick work of the 'Dogs as he gave up a two-out single in the first inning, but proceeded to retire the next 12 batters before Oregon's shortstop Daniel Patzlaff hit a one-out solo home run to left field in the fifth inning. Thomas retired the next four Ducks as he finished his 2017 debut tossing six innings allowing two hits, one run and struck out nine batters while not surrendering a walk.
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"Ricky's fastball tonight was a good one, and a live one. When he gets that thing moving, it is going to be a real good pitch," added Batesole on the San Diego native's pitching performance.
The five-run second inning was more than enough support for Thomas as Arruda led off the inning with a double before coming home to score the first run of the season on an RBI single to center field by senior third baseman Jesse Medrano. Junior shortstop Korby Batesole then added a two-run RBI single through the left side to drive in Jake Stone and Medrano. Dobson followed with an RBI single to left field to score Jeremiah Burks and the scoring was capped with Batesole scoring on a passed ball.
Redshirt junior left-hander JJ Santa Cruz came on in relief of Thomas in the seventh inning and shut down the Ducks over the final three innings allowing two hits while striking out three to pick up his first save as a Bulldog.
The Bulldogs and Ducks resume their four-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 1:05 p.m. from Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Team Notes
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Twitter:Â @Fresno StateBSB
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Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
In front of a crowd of 2,122 fans, the 'Dogs put together a 15-hit performance as 10 different Bulldogs recorded at least one hit and a pair hit their first home runs of the season. Senior outfielder Austin Guibor and junior first baseman Aaron Arruda each hit eighth-inning home runs as Ryan Dobson, Nick Warren and Arruda added a double each.
"We had some chances [to score] early, in the middle innings," said head coach Mike Batesole on the win. "We had some guys in scoring position, but our veteran guys were able to put in work – being able to stay back and hit doubles to the opposite field. When you have a team of guys that can do that, you're going to see some success."
A preseason All-Mountain West selection and a member of the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team this summer, Thomas picked up where he left off a season ago making quick work of the 'Dogs as he gave up a two-out single in the first inning, but proceeded to retire the next 12 batters before Oregon's shortstop Daniel Patzlaff hit a one-out solo home run to left field in the fifth inning. Thomas retired the next four Ducks as he finished his 2017 debut tossing six innings allowing two hits, one run and struck out nine batters while not surrendering a walk.
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"Ricky's fastball tonight was a good one, and a live one. When he gets that thing moving, it is going to be a real good pitch," added Batesole on the San Diego native's pitching performance.
The five-run second inning was more than enough support for Thomas as Arruda led off the inning with a double before coming home to score the first run of the season on an RBI single to center field by senior third baseman Jesse Medrano. Junior shortstop Korby Batesole then added a two-run RBI single through the left side to drive in Jake Stone and Medrano. Dobson followed with an RBI single to left field to score Jeremiah Burks and the scoring was capped with Batesole scoring on a passed ball.
Redshirt junior left-hander JJ Santa Cruz came on in relief of Thomas in the seventh inning and shut down the Ducks over the final three innings allowing two hits while striking out three to pick up his first save as a Bulldog.
The Bulldogs and Ducks resume their four-game series on Sunday with a doubleheader starting at 1:05 p.m. from Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Team Notes
- It was the 'Dogs ninth consecutive win in a season opener dating back to 2009.
- It was also the ninth straight season the 'Dogs won their home opener.
- The nine runs were the most runs scored in a season opener since 2011Â when Fresno State scored 10 runs in a 10-4Â win vs. Gonzaga.
- The 'Dogs only had 15-plus hits four times in 2016.
- Fresno State scored nine or more runs 12 times in 2016.
- It was only the second win over the Ducks for Fresno State in the two teams' last eight meetings.
- Junior outfielder Jared Akins and freshman catcher Carter Bins also made their Bulldog debuts on Saturday night as Akins picked up a single in the eighth and Bins caught the ninth inning.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Thomas, Ricky Tyler (1-0)
L: Peterson, David (0-1)
S: Santa Cruz, JJ (1)
Batting:
2B: Steer, Spencer 1
HR: Patzlaff, Daniel 1
RBI: Patzlaff, Daniel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Patzlaff, Daniel 1
HBP: Kasser, Kyle 1
Batting:
2B: Dobson, Ryan 1 ; Arruda, Aaron 1 ; Warren, Nick 1
HR: Guibor, Austin 1 ; Arruda, Aaron 1
RBI: Dobson, Ryan 1 ; Guibor, Austin 2 ; Arruda, Aaron 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 1 ; Warren, Nick 1 ; Batesole, Korby 2
SH: Silva, Scott 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 1 ; Akins, Jared 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Silva, Scott 1 ; Guibor, Austin 1 ; Arruda, Aaron 2 ; Stone, Jake 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 2 ; Burks, Jeremiah 1 ; Batesole, Korby 1
HBP: Warren, Nick 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballInfield
/ Baseball
Infield
/ Baseball
Catcher
/ Baseball
Infield
/ BaseballOutfield
/ Baseball
Outfield
/ BaseballInfield
/ Baseball
LHP
/ BaseballOutfield
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ Baseball
Catcher
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