Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, February 26
Fresno, CA
2:05 PM
Fresno State
3-4
5
vs
4
UC Riverside
4-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
UC Riverside
0
0
0
0
2
0
0
0
2
4
8
2
Fresno State
0
0
1
0
0
3
1
0
X
5
12
1
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
Diamond 'Dogs win series finale over UC Riverside 5-4 in bizarre fashion
2/26/2017 6:34:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - In one of the more bizarre finishes you may see to a baseball game, an apparent game-tying three-run home run for UC Riverside in the top of the ninth inning was reversed after Yeager Taylor ran past teammate Cade Peters causing Taylor to be called out and only two runs were awarded to the Highlanders as Fresno State held on for a 5-4 win over UCR in the series finale at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
"We needed a win some way, some how," said a relieved head coach Mike Batesole after the game. "Sometimes, you do not care how you get it."
A win was certainly much needed relief for a Bulldog squad who had dropped four in a row, including the first two games of the series against UCR out of the Big West. The 'Dogs had their third double-digit hitting performance of the season putting together 12 hits as they outhit the Highlanders in all three games of the series. Leading the charge was junior left fielder Jared Akins who went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Junior first baseman Aaron Arruda and senior third baseman Jesse Medrano each had a pair of hits, while Zach Ashford and Korby Batesole added one double apiece.
The 'Dogs got a solid start from junior JJ Santa Cruz who made his Bulldog starting debut in only his third appearance of the season. The Fresno native threw five innings allowing five hits, two earned runs and struck out three while allowing no walks.
Fresno State (3-4) jumped on the board first in the bottom of third inning on a two-out single by Arruda drove home Jeremiah Burks from second base. The Highlanders responded with a pair of runs off Santa Cruz in the fifth inning as Peters led off with a double down the right field line and Taylor followed with a single to left field. Cody Sporrer followed with a triple to the left center gap driving in the pair as UCR took a 2-1 lead.
After being retired in order in the bottom of the fifth, the 'Dogs put up three runs in the sixth to take a 4-2 advantage as Ashford, who entered the game in the fourth inning, hit his first double of the season down the left field line driving in Akins and Medrano. Batesole followed with a two-out double down the left field line platting Ashford. Arruda added a crucial insurance run in the seventh with his first career triple to right field and came home to score after a throwing error by the UCR second baseman made the score 5-2.
"Those were two outstanding at-bats from Ashford and Arruda that helped us get back in the game. You have to give them credit for being able to stay disciplined at the plate," added Batesole.
An uneventful eighth inning gave way to a crazy ninth inning as UCR's Connor Cannon led off with a single followed by Peters being hit by a pitch set up the wild finish. After Taylor was called for the inning's second out, Sporrer grounded out to shortstop as the 'Dogs held on for the win.
Freshman Adam Medrano picked up his first career win after working a scoreless sixth inning and gave way to senior Dominic Topoozian who tossed the final three innings notching three strikeouts for his first career save.
The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. when they host Pacific (4-2) at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium. It will be Faculty and Staff Night as all faculty and staff get into the game for free.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram: FresnoStateAthletics
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat: FSAthletics
"We needed a win some way, some how," said a relieved head coach Mike Batesole after the game. "Sometimes, you do not care how you get it."
A win was certainly much needed relief for a Bulldog squad who had dropped four in a row, including the first two games of the series against UCR out of the Big West. The 'Dogs had their third double-digit hitting performance of the season putting together 12 hits as they outhit the Highlanders in all three games of the series. Leading the charge was junior left fielder Jared Akins who went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Junior first baseman Aaron Arruda and senior third baseman Jesse Medrano each had a pair of hits, while Zach Ashford and Korby Batesole added one double apiece.
The 'Dogs got a solid start from junior JJ Santa Cruz who made his Bulldog starting debut in only his third appearance of the season. The Fresno native threw five innings allowing five hits, two earned runs and struck out three while allowing no walks.
Fresno State (3-4) jumped on the board first in the bottom of third inning on a two-out single by Arruda drove home Jeremiah Burks from second base. The Highlanders responded with a pair of runs off Santa Cruz in the fifth inning as Peters led off with a double down the right field line and Taylor followed with a single to left field. Cody Sporrer followed with a triple to the left center gap driving in the pair as UCR took a 2-1 lead.
After being retired in order in the bottom of the fifth, the 'Dogs put up three runs in the sixth to take a 4-2 advantage as Ashford, who entered the game in the fourth inning, hit his first double of the season down the left field line driving in Akins and Medrano. Batesole followed with a two-out double down the left field line platting Ashford. Arruda added a crucial insurance run in the seventh with his first career triple to right field and came home to score after a throwing error by the UCR second baseman made the score 5-2.
"Those were two outstanding at-bats from Ashford and Arruda that helped us get back in the game. You have to give them credit for being able to stay disciplined at the plate," added Batesole.
An uneventful eighth inning gave way to a crazy ninth inning as UCR's Connor Cannon led off with a single followed by Peters being hit by a pitch set up the wild finish. After Taylor was called for the inning's second out, Sporrer grounded out to shortstop as the 'Dogs held on for the win.
Freshman Adam Medrano picked up his first career win after working a scoreless sixth inning and gave way to senior Dominic Topoozian who tossed the final three innings notching three strikeouts for his first career save.
The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. when they host Pacific (4-2) at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium. It will be Faculty and Staff Night as all faculty and staff get into the game for free.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram: FresnoStateAthletics
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat: FSAthletics
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Medrano, Adam (1-0)
L: Landazuri, Angel (0-1)
S: Topoozian, Dominic (1)
Batting:
2B: Peters, Cade 1
3B: Sporrer, Cody 1
RBI: Taylor, Yeager 2 ; Sporrer, Cody 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Cannon, Connor 1 ; Peters, Cade 2 ; Taylor, Yeager 1
HBP: Peters, Cade 1
Batting:
2B: Akins, Jared 1 ; Ashford, Zach 1 ; Batesole, Korby 1
3B: Arruda, Aaron 1
RBI: Arruda, Aaron 1 ; Ashford, Zach 2 ; Batesole, Korby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Burks, Jeremiah 1 ; Arruda, Aaron 1 ; Akins, Jared 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 1 ; Ashford, Zach 1
SB: Akins, Jared 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
3
RBI
0
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballInfield
/ Baseball
Outfield
/ Baseball
Infield
/ BaseballInfield
/ Baseball
RHP
/ BaseballInfield
/ Baseball
LHP
/ Baseball
Pitcher
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