Fresno State Athletics
Sunday, April 30
Fresno, CA
1:05 PM
Fresno State
22-21, 0
16
vs
8
San Jose State
15-26-1, 0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
San Jose State
0
0
0
2
0
2
0
4
0
8
5
2
Fresno State
5
0
4
1
0
4
2
0
X
16
19
1
Photo by: Keith Kountz
'Dogs pound Spartans for a 16-8 win on an historic day for Bulldog baseball
4/30/2017 6:30:00 PM | Baseball
On an historic afternoon for Fresno State Baseball at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium on Sunday, the Bulldogs' offense exploded for 16 runs and 19 hits as the 'Dogs won the series finale over San Jose State 16-8 to win the series over the Spartans.
FRESNO, Calif. - On an historic afternoon for Fresno State Baseball at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium on Sunday, the Bulldogs' offense exploded for 16 runs and 19 hits as the 'Dogs won the series finale over San Jose State 16-8 to win the series over the Spartans.
The afternoon started out with a pre-game ceremony for Diamond 'Dog legend Fibber Hirayama as his #3 jersey became the 11th retired jersey in Fresno State baseball history. A Bulldog athletics legend who played both baseball and football at Fresno State in the early 1950's, the Exeter native went on to play professional baseball in Japan and was overjoyed by receiving this honor.
"I look at these people I have here today and they are the ones that deserve to be standing here today where I am at," said Hirayama. "They are good friends and just wonderful people and all the people in Fresno, Exeter and everywhere I played ball were just so wonderful to me and I thank them for that. I want to thank my family for being here and I want to honor these people right here beside me, because they are the ones who should be standing here."
An already special day gotten even better as the Bulldogs win gave head coach Mike Batesole his 500th career win at Fresno State as he joins Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett in the 500-win club at Fresno State as the Bulldog baseball program becomes only the fifth Division I program with three head coaches with 500-plus wins at their school.
"It means I'm surrounded by a lot of people – a lot of good people – that's the only way you can have success," said Batesole on reaching today's milestone. "That goes for anything you do in life. Surround yourself with good people. Make sure you have an inner circle of people you can trust and people with some wisdom; make sure you're leaning on the right people – that's what we have around here. This isn't just a baseball team. This is a program where there are lots of people in just about every area that you'd need help with and they can't wait to help you. That's the only way you can do things like that and throw out numbers like that."
In the midst of all the excitement, Fresno State (22-21, 11-10 MW) was able to pick a crucial series win over the Spartans as the 'Dogs offense was on fire for a second straight Sunday series finale. A week after scoring 27 runs and collecting 25 hits at Nevada, the Bulldogs offense recorded its second-most runs and hits of the season as six 'Dogs had multi-hit games. Senior second baseman Scott Silva tied his career-high with four hits, drove in two RBIs and scored a run.
Senior outfielder Austin Guibor had his fifth game of the season with three or more hits lacing three RBI singles, and scored two runs. Junior outfielder Jared Akins added three hits, including his team-leading 17th double of the season, drove in two RBIs and scored a run. Senior third baseman Jesse Medrano added three hits and smacked his fourth home run of the season, including his first at home, scored a career-best four runs and drove in two RBIs.
The 'Dogs jumped right on the Spartans in the bottom of the first with a five-run frame to match its season-high for runs in a first inning. Akins got the scoring started with a two-run RBI double to right-center driving in senior outfielder Jake Stone and junior first baseman Aaron Arruda. Silva followed with an RBI single to left-center platting Akins to give the 'Dogs a 3-0 lead.
Junior shortstop Korby Batesole drove in the fourth run with a single to left field scoring Silva and the scoring wrapped up with an RBI single to third base by catcher Carter Bins as the 'Dogs sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame.
The Bulldogs added four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 9-0 lead as Medrano led off with a double to right-center and after advancing to third on a wild pitch, a triple to center field by Batesole, his third of the season, extended the 'Dogs lead to 6-0. Guibor delivered a one-out single through the right side to plate Batesole and two batters later Arruda brought in Guibor with a single up the middle. The final run of the frame scored on a fielder's choice by Silva that brought in Stone who reached base on a bunt single.
San Jose State (15-26-1, 8-14-1 MW) got on the scoreboard in the fourth with a pair of runs as the Spartans opened the frame with back-to-back hit by pitches by Bulldog starting pitcher Rickey Ramirez. Both runs would come around to score on a sacrifice fly by third baseman David Campbell and a RBI triple to right-center by catcher Johnny Mendoza.
The 'Dogs took a 10-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single back up the middle by Guibor, but the Spartans continued to hang around getting two runs in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 10-4 and were able to load the bases for new Bulldog hurler Fred Schlichtholz who came in to strike out right fielder Chris Williams.
A four-run bottom of the sixth put any comeback attempt by San Jose State to bed as Guibor picked up his third RBI single of the game and Arruda smashed his 11th home run of the season with a three-run shot to right field as the 'Dogs took a 14-4 lead.
The scoring wrapped for the Bulldogs in the seventh with a two-run home run to left field by Medrano, but the Spartans continued to battle with a four-run top of the eighth to make the final score 16-8.
Ramirez tossed 3.2 innings allowing only one hit, but a pair of earned runs and struck out two before giving way to freshman right-hander Ryan Jensen who picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. Adam Medrano, Schlichtholz, Davis Moore, Isaiah Davis and JJ Santa Cruz also saw action as the 'Dogs hit a program-record eight batters.
Fresno State returns to action on the road Wednesday with an afternoon contest at UC Riverside (16-23) at 3 p.m. before traveling to UNLV (17-30, 7-14 MW) next weekend for a three-game series in Las Vegas.
Quotable
Head Coach Mike Batesole
On Fibber Hirayama's era of baseball players being around the program…
 "I love it when Fibber Hirayama and that era of guys are around our program. They aren't just great baseball players, but they're great people. To have them around our program and in our clubhouse is priceless. I'm old school, and there's not too many of us left, so to have these kids see some of these old school values and to see that they work is just priceless."
Â
On today's game and the team's performance…
"There was a nice mixture of some long ball; we got to see some opposite-field doubles, that's my thing. We stole a couple of bases, got an important bunt down, had well-rounded at bats, deep at-bats, good two-strike at-bats, clutch two-out hits – a little bit of everything today. When you can get your offense clicking like that, things are going to continue going great offensively."
Â
On Bulldog pitchers hitting a school-record eight batters today…
 "From day one, you could write a book about the things that have happened this year. There have been some of the weirdest things from the very beginning, such as the home run that wasn't a home run, and there are probably about 15 other weird things that have happened this year. But, we will take the win. When all things add up, a win's a win."
"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
The afternoon started out with a pre-game ceremony for Diamond 'Dog legend Fibber Hirayama as his #3 jersey became the 11th retired jersey in Fresno State baseball history. A Bulldog athletics legend who played both baseball and football at Fresno State in the early 1950's, the Exeter native went on to play professional baseball in Japan and was overjoyed by receiving this honor.
"I look at these people I have here today and they are the ones that deserve to be standing here today where I am at," said Hirayama. "They are good friends and just wonderful people and all the people in Fresno, Exeter and everywhere I played ball were just so wonderful to me and I thank them for that. I want to thank my family for being here and I want to honor these people right here beside me, because they are the ones who should be standing here."
An already special day gotten even better as the Bulldogs win gave head coach Mike Batesole his 500th career win at Fresno State as he joins Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett in the 500-win club at Fresno State as the Bulldog baseball program becomes only the fifth Division I program with three head coaches with 500-plus wins at their school.
"It means I'm surrounded by a lot of people – a lot of good people – that's the only way you can have success," said Batesole on reaching today's milestone. "That goes for anything you do in life. Surround yourself with good people. Make sure you have an inner circle of people you can trust and people with some wisdom; make sure you're leaning on the right people – that's what we have around here. This isn't just a baseball team. This is a program where there are lots of people in just about every area that you'd need help with and they can't wait to help you. That's the only way you can do things like that and throw out numbers like that."
In the midst of all the excitement, Fresno State (22-21, 11-10 MW) was able to pick a crucial series win over the Spartans as the 'Dogs offense was on fire for a second straight Sunday series finale. A week after scoring 27 runs and collecting 25 hits at Nevada, the Bulldogs offense recorded its second-most runs and hits of the season as six 'Dogs had multi-hit games. Senior second baseman Scott Silva tied his career-high with four hits, drove in two RBIs and scored a run.
Senior outfielder Austin Guibor had his fifth game of the season with three or more hits lacing three RBI singles, and scored two runs. Junior outfielder Jared Akins added three hits, including his team-leading 17th double of the season, drove in two RBIs and scored a run. Senior third baseman Jesse Medrano added three hits and smacked his fourth home run of the season, including his first at home, scored a career-best four runs and drove in two RBIs.
The 'Dogs jumped right on the Spartans in the bottom of the first with a five-run frame to match its season-high for runs in a first inning. Akins got the scoring started with a two-run RBI double to right-center driving in senior outfielder Jake Stone and junior first baseman Aaron Arruda. Silva followed with an RBI single to left-center platting Akins to give the 'Dogs a 3-0 lead.
Junior shortstop Korby Batesole drove in the fourth run with a single to left field scoring Silva and the scoring wrapped up with an RBI single to third base by catcher Carter Bins as the 'Dogs sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame.
The Bulldogs added four runs in the bottom of the third to take a 9-0 lead as Medrano led off with a double to right-center and after advancing to third on a wild pitch, a triple to center field by Batesole, his third of the season, extended the 'Dogs lead to 6-0. Guibor delivered a one-out single through the right side to plate Batesole and two batters later Arruda brought in Guibor with a single up the middle. The final run of the frame scored on a fielder's choice by Silva that brought in Stone who reached base on a bunt single.
San Jose State (15-26-1, 8-14-1 MW) got on the scoreboard in the fourth with a pair of runs as the Spartans opened the frame with back-to-back hit by pitches by Bulldog starting pitcher Rickey Ramirez. Both runs would come around to score on a sacrifice fly by third baseman David Campbell and a RBI triple to right-center by catcher Johnny Mendoza.
The 'Dogs took a 10-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single back up the middle by Guibor, but the Spartans continued to hang around getting two runs in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 10-4 and were able to load the bases for new Bulldog hurler Fred Schlichtholz who came in to strike out right fielder Chris Williams.
A four-run bottom of the sixth put any comeback attempt by San Jose State to bed as Guibor picked up his third RBI single of the game and Arruda smashed his 11th home run of the season with a three-run shot to right field as the 'Dogs took a 14-4 lead.
The scoring wrapped for the Bulldogs in the seventh with a two-run home run to left field by Medrano, but the Spartans continued to battle with a four-run top of the eighth to make the final score 16-8.
Ramirez tossed 3.2 innings allowing only one hit, but a pair of earned runs and struck out two before giving way to freshman right-hander Ryan Jensen who picked up the win to improve to 3-0 on the season. Adam Medrano, Schlichtholz, Davis Moore, Isaiah Davis and JJ Santa Cruz also saw action as the 'Dogs hit a program-record eight batters.
Fresno State returns to action on the road Wednesday with an afternoon contest at UC Riverside (16-23) at 3 p.m. before traveling to UNLV (17-30, 7-14 MW) next weekend for a three-game series in Las Vegas.
Quotable
Head Coach Mike Batesole
On Fibber Hirayama's era of baseball players being around the program…
 "I love it when Fibber Hirayama and that era of guys are around our program. They aren't just great baseball players, but they're great people. To have them around our program and in our clubhouse is priceless. I'm old school, and there's not too many of us left, so to have these kids see some of these old school values and to see that they work is just priceless."
Â
On today's game and the team's performance…
"There was a nice mixture of some long ball; we got to see some opposite-field doubles, that's my thing. We stole a couple of bases, got an important bunt down, had well-rounded at bats, deep at-bats, good two-strike at-bats, clutch two-out hits – a little bit of everything today. When you can get your offense clicking like that, things are going to continue going great offensively."
Â
On Bulldog pitchers hitting a school-record eight batters today…
 "From day one, you could write a book about the things that have happened this year. There have been some of the weirdest things from the very beginning, such as the home run that wasn't a home run, and there are probably about 15 other weird things that have happened this year. But, we will take the win. When all things add up, a win's a win."
"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: Jensen, Ryan (3-0)
L: BALFOUR, Joseph (0-3)
Batting:
2B: DAVIDSON, Anders 1
3B: MENDOZA, Johnny 1
HR: WILLIAMS, Chris 1 ; TIMMONS, Shane 1
RBI: WILLIAMS, Chris 2 ; TIMMONS, Shane 1 ; CAMPBELL, David 1 ; MENDOZA, Johnny 1 ; TIDWELL, Hunter 1 ; OLIVET, Corey 1
SF: CAMPBELL, David 1 ; OLIVET, Corey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: WILLIAMS, Chris 2 ; TIMMONS, Shane 2 ; BREEN, Michael 1 ; DAVIDSON, Anders 1 ; MENDOZA, Johnny 1 ; OLIVET, Corey 1
SB: DAVIDSON, Anders 1
HBP: STRAHM, Kellen 1 ; WILLIAMS, Chris 2 ; TIMMONS, Shane 1 ; BREEN, Michael 1 ; DAVIDSON, Anders 1 ; TIDWELL, Hunter 1 ; OLIVET, Corey 1
Batting:
2B: Akins, Jared 1 ; Silva, Scott 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 2
3B: Batesole, Korby 1
HR: Arruda, Aaron 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 1
RBI: Guibor, Austin 3 ; Arruda, Aaron 4 ; Akins, Jared 2 ; Silva, Scott 2 ; Medrano, Jesse 2 ; Batesole, Korby 2 ; Bins, Carter 1
SH: Batesole, Korby 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Guibor, Austin 2 ; Stone, Jake 2 ; Arruda, Aaron 2 ; Akins, Jared 1 ; Silva, Scott 1 ; Ashford, Zach 1 ; Medrano, Jesse 4 ; Batesole, Korby 1 ; Bins, Carter 2
SB: Medrano, Jesse 1 ; Batesole, Korby 1
HBP: Medrano, Jesse 1 ; Goldstein, Torin 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
6
R
1
H
4
RBI
2
cf/rf
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
3
AB
6
R
1
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
4
H
3
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
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Infield
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Catcher
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RHP
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RHP
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RHP
/ BaseballInfield
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RHP
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Pitcher
/ Baseball
LHP
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Pitcher
/ BaseballInfield
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Outfield
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