Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, April 29
Fresno, CA
6:05 PM
Fresno State
21-21, 0
8
vs
3
San Jose State
15-25-1, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
San Jose State
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
2
3
3
2
Fresno State
4
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
X
8
13
1
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Thomas tosses seven no-hit innings in 'Dogs 8-3 win over SJSU
4/29/2017 9:45:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - Behind seven no-hit innings from junior southpaw Ricky Tyler Thomas, the Fresno State baseball team evened up its series against San Jose State on Saturday evening with a 8-3 win over the Spartans at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Thomas, a first-team All-MW selection in 2016 and USA Baseball's Dick Case Award winner, was absolutely spectacular on Saturday tossing seven innings with eight strikeouts without allowing a hit. The San Diego native did issue five walks and hit a batter while allowing one run, but did post his fifth game with eight or more strikeouts this season as he improved his overall record to 4-3.
Fresno State (21-21, 10-10 MW) finished with 13 hits in the contest as five different 'Dogs had a pair of base knocks and the Bulldogs matched a season-best with five doubles. Senior outfielder Austin Guibor had a single, double and drove in a pair of RBIs, while senior Ryan Dobson had a pair of singles.
Senior second baseman Scott Silva had a pair of hits, including his 13th double of the season, and added two RBIs and two runs scored. Zach Ashford and Jesse Medrano each had a pair of hits and each scored one run.
Scoring first for the 24th time this season and improving to 16-8 in such contests, the 'Dogs pushed across four runs in the top of the first on four hits as a one-out walk to senior outfielder Jake Stone was followed by a single back up the middle by junior first baseman Aaron Arruda. Junior outfielder Jared Akins kept the offense going with his team-leading 16th double of the season spraying a ball to right-center that found its way over the fence on a bounce for a ground-rule double driving in Stone and moving Arruda to third.
Silva made it four straight hits with one of the 'Dogs five doubles with a shot down the left field line to bring in Arruda and Akins and put the 'Dogs up 3-0. Silva came around to score on a wild pitch to give the  Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 7-0 with a three-run bottom of the fourth plating a run on a one-out RBI double down the left field line by catcher Carter Bins that brought in Ashford. Guibor followed with a double to right-center to drive in Bins and Medrano making it 7-0.
With Thomas putting on a dominant effort through the first six innings, back-to-to walks to start the top of the seventh to second baseman Michael Breen and first baseman Shane Timmons were followed by a hit by pitch to right fielder Chris Williams that loaded the bases. Thomas got designated hitter Johnny Mendoza to bounce into a fielder's choice to plate Breen, but a pop up to shortstop and a strikeout left two Timmons and Williams in scoring position for Spartans.
An RBI double down the left field line by Ashford in the bottom half of the frame drove in Silva to extend the 'Dogs lead to 8-1.
The Spartans added a pair of runs, one unearned, in the ninth inning off reliever Mark Reece to make the final score 8-3.
The Bulldogs go for the series win over the Spartans on Sunday afternoon as it will be a very special day at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium as we honor Bulldog legend Fibber Hirayama with a pre-game jersey retirement ceremony starting at 12:50 p.m.
Also on Sunday, head coach Mike Batesole has an opportunity to win his 500th game at Fresno State as he will join Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett in the 500-win club as the 'Dogs will become only the fifth program in Division I history with three head coaches with 500-plus wins at their school.
Quotable
Head coach Mike Batesole
On the 'Dogs performance tonight and tomorrow's pregame ceremony to honor Bulldog legend Fibber Hirayama…
"What a great day. We needed Ricky Tyler Thomas to pitch well. Our defense has been exceptional for a few weeks now. We've been swinging the bats well and we've gotten some big hits in the clutch. It'd be nice to show Fibber Hirayama a good time tomorrow -- come out and score some runs and play really well for him.
Â
I'm glad they moved the game back a couple of minutes. Hopefully everybody will be in the stadium to give Fibber his well-deserving due. What a class act. Guys like Fibber Hirayama and Jack Hannah, who will be at tomorrow's game singing, need to be around our program more often. It's beautiful to see those guys, from that era, in our ballpark and intermingling with our players. It's just perfect."
"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:Â @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Thomas, a first-team All-MW selection in 2016 and USA Baseball's Dick Case Award winner, was absolutely spectacular on Saturday tossing seven innings with eight strikeouts without allowing a hit. The San Diego native did issue five walks and hit a batter while allowing one run, but did post his fifth game with eight or more strikeouts this season as he improved his overall record to 4-3.
Fresno State (21-21, 10-10 MW) finished with 13 hits in the contest as five different 'Dogs had a pair of base knocks and the Bulldogs matched a season-best with five doubles. Senior outfielder Austin Guibor had a single, double and drove in a pair of RBIs, while senior Ryan Dobson had a pair of singles.
Senior second baseman Scott Silva had a pair of hits, including his 13th double of the season, and added two RBIs and two runs scored. Zach Ashford and Jesse Medrano each had a pair of hits and each scored one run.
Scoring first for the 24th time this season and improving to 16-8 in such contests, the 'Dogs pushed across four runs in the top of the first on four hits as a one-out walk to senior outfielder Jake Stone was followed by a single back up the middle by junior first baseman Aaron Arruda. Junior outfielder Jared Akins kept the offense going with his team-leading 16th double of the season spraying a ball to right-center that found its way over the fence on a bounce for a ground-rule double driving in Stone and moving Arruda to third.
Silva made it four straight hits with one of the 'Dogs five doubles with a shot down the left field line to bring in Arruda and Akins and put the 'Dogs up 3-0. Silva came around to score on a wild pitch to give the  Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.
The Bulldogs extended their lead to 7-0 with a three-run bottom of the fourth plating a run on a one-out RBI double down the left field line by catcher Carter Bins that brought in Ashford. Guibor followed with a double to right-center to drive in Bins and Medrano making it 7-0.
With Thomas putting on a dominant effort through the first six innings, back-to-to walks to start the top of the seventh to second baseman Michael Breen and first baseman Shane Timmons were followed by a hit by pitch to right fielder Chris Williams that loaded the bases. Thomas got designated hitter Johnny Mendoza to bounce into a fielder's choice to plate Breen, but a pop up to shortstop and a strikeout left two Timmons and Williams in scoring position for Spartans.
An RBI double down the left field line by Ashford in the bottom half of the frame drove in Silva to extend the 'Dogs lead to 8-1.
The Spartans added a pair of runs, one unearned, in the ninth inning off reliever Mark Reece to make the final score 8-3.
The Bulldogs go for the series win over the Spartans on Sunday afternoon as it will be a very special day at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium as we honor Bulldog legend Fibber Hirayama with a pre-game jersey retirement ceremony starting at 12:50 p.m.
Also on Sunday, head coach Mike Batesole has an opportunity to win his 500th game at Fresno State as he will join Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett in the 500-win club as the 'Dogs will become only the fifth program in Division I history with three head coaches with 500-plus wins at their school.
Quotable
Head coach Mike Batesole
On the 'Dogs performance tonight and tomorrow's pregame ceremony to honor Bulldog legend Fibber Hirayama…
"What a great day. We needed Ricky Tyler Thomas to pitch well. Our defense has been exceptional for a few weeks now. We've been swinging the bats well and we've gotten some big hits in the clutch. It'd be nice to show Fibber Hirayama a good time tomorrow -- come out and score some runs and play really well for him.
Â
I'm glad they moved the game back a couple of minutes. Hopefully everybody will be in the stadium to give Fibber his well-deserving due. What a class act. Guys like Fibber Hirayama and Jack Hannah, who will be at tomorrow's game singing, need to be around our program more often. It's beautiful to see those guys, from that era, in our ballpark and intermingling with our players. It's just perfect."
"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:Â @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Thomas, Ricky Tyler (4-3)
L: SWIECH, Jake (1-4)
Batting:
2B: TIMMONS, Shane 1 ; WILLIAMS, Chris 1
RBI: WILLIAMS, Chris 1 ; MENDOZA, Johnny 1
Base Running:
RUNS: BREEN, Michael 1 ; TIMMONS, Shane 1 ; WILLIAMS, Chris 1
HBP: WILLIAMS, Chris 1
Batting:
2B: Guibor, Austin 1 ; Akins, Jared 1 ; Silva, Scott 1 ; Ashford, Zach 1 ; Bins, Carter 1
RBI: Guibor, Austin 2 ; Akins, Jared 1 ; Silva, Scott 2 ; Ashford, Zach 1 ; Bins, Carter 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Stone, Jake 1 ; Arruda, Aaron 1 ; Akins, Jared 1 ; Silva, Scott 2 ; Ashford, Zach 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 1 ; Bins, Carter 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
cf/rf
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
ph/cf
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
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Infield
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Outfield
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Pitcher
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