Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, March 19
USAFA, CO
12:00 PM
Fresno State
11-7, 4-2
15
at
7
Air Force
9-11, 1-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Fresno State
4
1
0
0
0
4
1
4
1
15
18
3
Air Force
3
0
0
0
0
1
2
1
0
7
11
1
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
'Dogs explode for 15 runs in series-clinching win at Air Force
3/19/2017 5:53:00 PM | Baseball
Senior third baseman Jesse Medrano hit his first two career home runs as the Fresno State baseball team combined to hit five home runs for the first time since 2011 in the Bulldogs 15-7 win at Air Force.
USAFA, Colo. - For a second consecutive afternoon, the Fresno State baseball team was able to use the Colorado Springs elevation to its advantage pounding out a season-high in both hits and runs to defeat Air Force 15-7 to win their second Mountain West series of the season on Sunday at Falcon Field.
"We scored a lot of runs today, but our relief pitchers are what won the game for us today. They were steady and anytime you can get four zero-run innings in this ballpark, you are making some big pitches," said head coach Mike Batesole after the 'Dogs win.
Scoring its most runs since May 21, 2015, Fresno State (11-7, 4-2 MW) had its fifth double-digit run performance of the season as five different Bulldogs had multi-hit games and four 'Dogs combined to hit five home runs. The five home runs are the most in a single game since March 18, 2011 when the 'Dogs slugged five long balls in a 16-1 win over Washington State.
Leading the offensive power numbers was senior third baseman Jesse Medrano who hit his first two career home runs and drove in a career-best five RBIs.
"It is a great feeling hitting two home runs," said Medrano after his strong offensive game. "We have a ton of tough guys on this team and a lot of who we are and our backgrounds, we have something to prove when we come on the field and we put it together it is a great feeling," added Medrano on the 'Dogs ability to continue to fight all weekend.
Senior second baseman Scott Silva went 4-for-5 from the dish matching his career-high for hits as he added his second home run of the season along with a double, scored two runs drove in three RBIs. Junior outfielder Jared Akins continued to smack the ball around the yard with his eighth multi-hit game of the season coming within a triple shy of the cycle as he picked up his team-leading 10th double of the season and hit his first career home run as a Bulldog in the eighth inning.
Juniors Aaron Arruda and Korby Batesole each added three-hit performance as Arruda picked up his second triple of the season and Batesole hit his second career home run and scored a pair of runs. Senior outfielder Austin Guibor added two hits, including his third triple of the season, scored a career-high four runs and drove in a run.
Air Force (9-11, 1-8 MW) had their third straight double-digit hitting performance combining for 11 hits to finish the three-game series with 41. First baseman Nic Ready went 3-for-5 coming within a triple of the cycle finishing with a double, home run and two RBIs. A day after all nine starting position players had at least one hit, the Falcons had eight players with at least one hit on Sunday.
Scoring for the first time in three games, Silva wasted little time getting the 'Dogs on the board with a one-out home run to right field in the top of the first. Akins and Arruda followed with singles to center field to put a pair on base for Medrano with two outs. The senior third baseman proceeded to hit his first career home run with a towering three-run shot to right field to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.
With a four-run lead given to Bulldog starter Davis Moore, the Falcons were able to get the freshman right-hander for three runs in the bottom of the frame getting RBI singles by Tyler Zabojnik, Ready and Ashton Easley to cut the 'Dogs lead to 4-3.
The Bulldogs were able to capitalize on an Air Force error in the second inning to take a 5-3 advantage as Falcon second baseman Shaun Mize booted a ball allowing Guibor to score from third base as Akins was able to reach base for the second time in the game.
After three-and-a-half innings with no scoring, the longest scoreless stretch of the series, the 'Dogs continued to build their lead in the sixth with four runs as Guibor got the scoring started with his first hit of the series smacking an RBI double to right center to bring in Batesole from first base.
Silva followed with a single to center and a walk to Akins prompted the Falcons to make a pitching change as Air Force brought in right-hander Jeff Gerlica.  Arruda greeted the new hurler with a sacrifice fly to left field platting Guibor and senior outfielder Jake Stone followed with his first hit of the series with a double to right center to drive in Silva. The four-run frame was capped by a RBI sac bunt by Medrano that drove in Akins from third base.
With the 'Dogs leading 9-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the teams traded single runs to make it 10-4 in favor of the 'Dogs before Air Force added two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 10-6.
Fresno State responded with its third four-run inning of the game scoring all four runs in the eighth with two outs as Batesole sent a first-pitch to right center for a solo shot. Guibor followed with a triple to left center as Silva followed with an RBI double to nearly the same part of the field. Akins continued the two-out hitting cranking a two-run shot down the left field line to give the 'Dogs a 14-6 lead.
A solo home run by Groesbek in the bottom of the inning was answered by Medrano led off the ninth with a long ball to right field to wrap up the high-scoring affair.
The 'Dogs return home to host Pepperdine on Wednesday for International Night when they will complete their March 7 suspended contest at 4:05 p.m. before playing their regularly-scheduled contest 30 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended contest.
Notes
- The 15 runs scored are the most scored by a Bulldog team since May 21, 2015 that came in a 15-7 win over San Diego State.
- The 18 hits are the most since that game as well when the 'Dogs slugged out 19 hits against the Aztecs.
- The 'Dogs hit .331 as a team in the series totaling 39 hits, 18 for extra-bases, scored 30 runs, and had a slugging percentage of .627.
"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:Â
Twitter: @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthleticsÂ
"We scored a lot of runs today, but our relief pitchers are what won the game for us today. They were steady and anytime you can get four zero-run innings in this ballpark, you are making some big pitches," said head coach Mike Batesole after the 'Dogs win.
Scoring its most runs since May 21, 2015, Fresno State (11-7, 4-2 MW) had its fifth double-digit run performance of the season as five different Bulldogs had multi-hit games and four 'Dogs combined to hit five home runs. The five home runs are the most in a single game since March 18, 2011 when the 'Dogs slugged five long balls in a 16-1 win over Washington State.
Leading the offensive power numbers was senior third baseman Jesse Medrano who hit his first two career home runs and drove in a career-best five RBIs.
"It is a great feeling hitting two home runs," said Medrano after his strong offensive game. "We have a ton of tough guys on this team and a lot of who we are and our backgrounds, we have something to prove when we come on the field and we put it together it is a great feeling," added Medrano on the 'Dogs ability to continue to fight all weekend.
Senior second baseman Scott Silva went 4-for-5 from the dish matching his career-high for hits as he added his second home run of the season along with a double, scored two runs drove in three RBIs. Junior outfielder Jared Akins continued to smack the ball around the yard with his eighth multi-hit game of the season coming within a triple shy of the cycle as he picked up his team-leading 10th double of the season and hit his first career home run as a Bulldog in the eighth inning.
Juniors Aaron Arruda and Korby Batesole each added three-hit performance as Arruda picked up his second triple of the season and Batesole hit his second career home run and scored a pair of runs. Senior outfielder Austin Guibor added two hits, including his third triple of the season, scored a career-high four runs and drove in a run.
Air Force (9-11, 1-8 MW) had their third straight double-digit hitting performance combining for 11 hits to finish the three-game series with 41. First baseman Nic Ready went 3-for-5 coming within a triple of the cycle finishing with a double, home run and two RBIs. A day after all nine starting position players had at least one hit, the Falcons had eight players with at least one hit on Sunday.
Scoring for the first time in three games, Silva wasted little time getting the 'Dogs on the board with a one-out home run to right field in the top of the first. Akins and Arruda followed with singles to center field to put a pair on base for Medrano with two outs. The senior third baseman proceeded to hit his first career home run with a towering three-run shot to right field to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.
With a four-run lead given to Bulldog starter Davis Moore, the Falcons were able to get the freshman right-hander for three runs in the bottom of the frame getting RBI singles by Tyler Zabojnik, Ready and Ashton Easley to cut the 'Dogs lead to 4-3.
The Bulldogs were able to capitalize on an Air Force error in the second inning to take a 5-3 advantage as Falcon second baseman Shaun Mize booted a ball allowing Guibor to score from third base as Akins was able to reach base for the second time in the game.
After three-and-a-half innings with no scoring, the longest scoreless stretch of the series, the 'Dogs continued to build their lead in the sixth with four runs as Guibor got the scoring started with his first hit of the series smacking an RBI double to right center to bring in Batesole from first base.
Silva followed with a single to center and a walk to Akins prompted the Falcons to make a pitching change as Air Force brought in right-hander Jeff Gerlica.  Arruda greeted the new hurler with a sacrifice fly to left field platting Guibor and senior outfielder Jake Stone followed with his first hit of the series with a double to right center to drive in Silva. The four-run frame was capped by a RBI sac bunt by Medrano that drove in Akins from third base.
With the 'Dogs leading 9-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth, the teams traded single runs to make it 10-4 in favor of the 'Dogs before Air Force added two runs in the bottom of the seventh to cut the lead to 10-6.
Fresno State responded with its third four-run inning of the game scoring all four runs in the eighth with two outs as Batesole sent a first-pitch to right center for a solo shot. Guibor followed with a triple to left center as Silva followed with an RBI double to nearly the same part of the field. Akins continued the two-out hitting cranking a two-run shot down the left field line to give the 'Dogs a 14-6 lead.
A solo home run by Groesbek in the bottom of the inning was answered by Medrano led off the ninth with a long ball to right field to wrap up the high-scoring affair.
The 'Dogs return home to host Pepperdine on Wednesday for International Night when they will complete their March 7 suspended contest at 4:05 p.m. before playing their regularly-scheduled contest 30 minutes after the conclusion of the suspended contest.
Notes
- The 15 runs scored are the most scored by a Bulldog team since May 21, 2015 that came in a 15-7 win over San Diego State.
- The 18 hits are the most since that game as well when the 'Dogs slugged out 19 hits against the Aztecs.
- The 'Dogs hit .331 as a team in the series totaling 39 hits, 18 for extra-bases, scored 30 runs, and had a slugging percentage of .627.
"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:Â
Twitter: @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthleticsÂ
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Topoozian, Dominic (1-0)
L: HARGREAVES, Matt (1-2)
Batting:
2B: Guibor, Austin 1 ; Silva, Scott 1 ; Akins, Jared 1 ; Stone, Jake 1
3B: Guibor, Austin 1 ; Arruda, Aaron 1
HR: Silva, Scott 1 ; Akins, Jared 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 2 ; Batesole, Korby 1
RBI: Guibor, Austin 1 ; Silva, Scott 2 ; Akins, Jared 3 ; Arruda, Aaron 1 ; Stone, Jake 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 5 ; Batesole, Korby 1
SH: Medrano, Jesse 2
SF: Arruda, Aaron 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Guibor, Austin 4 ; Silva, Scott 3 ; Akins, Jared 3 ; Arruda, Aaron 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 2 ; Batesole, Korby 2
HBP: Guibor, Austin 1 ; Silva, Scott 1 ; Ashford, Zach 1
Batting:
2B: READY, Nic 1 ; WISS, Drew 1
3B: READY, Nic 1
HR: GROESBECK, Adam 1
RBI: GROESBECK, Adam 1 ; ZABOJNIK, Tyler 1 ; READY, Nic 2 ; EASLEY, Ashton 2
Base Running:
RUNS: GROESBECK, Adam 2 ; MIZE, Shaun 1 ; HASLAM, Bradley 1 ; ZABOJNIK, Tyler 1 ; JONES, Tyler 1 ; READY, Nic 1
SB: EASLEY, Ashton 1
HBP: JONES, Tyler 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
3
H
4
RBI
2
AB
5
R
3
H
3
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
3
RBI
1
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
OF
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/ Baseball
Outfield
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Infield
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RHP
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Outfield
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