Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, May 27
Albuquerque, NM
12:00 PM
Fresno State
34-24
11
at
5
University of New Mexico
30-27-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Fresno State
0
3
2
0
2
2
0
2
0
11
18
0
New Mexico
0
0
0
3
1
1
0
0
0
5
9
0
Photo by: Mountain West/Clarkson Creative
Akins powers 'Dogs to an 11-5 defeat over New Mexico & a spot in the MW Tournament Championship game
5/27/2017 4:30:00 PM | Baseball
With its back against the wall, the Fresno State baseball team staved off elimination for a second straight game on Saturday afternoon at the Mountain West Tournament defeating top-seed and host New Mexico 11-5 at Santa Ana Star Field.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - With its back against the wall, the Fresno State baseball team staved off elimination for a second straight game on Saturday afternoon at the Mountain West Tournament defeating top-seed and host New Mexico 11-5 at Santa Ana Star Field.
With the win, the 'Dogs advance to their first Mountain West Tournament championship game later on Saturday afternoon where they will take on second-seed San Diego State (40-18) needing to defeat the Aztecs twice to capture the conference tournament championship crown.
For a third straight afternoon, Fresno State (34-24) had a scorching hot offense tallying 18 hits, including seven for extra-bases, as the 'Dogs hammered three home runs.
Junior outfielder Jared Akins had a standout contest going a perfect 5-for-5 from the plate with a double and two home runs, scored five runs and drove in three RBIs. Sophomore designated hitter Zach Ashford had a career-high four hits, including his eighth double of the season, matched his career-high with three RBIs and scored a run. Four other 'Dogs had a pair of hits as junior shortstop Korby Batesole smacked his fifth home run of the season.
The 'Dogs scored first for the 38th time this season and the third straight time in the tournament scoring three runs in the top of the second as Ashford doubled down the left field line to drive in Akins for the game's first run. Batesole followed with a longball to right field pushing the Bulldogs lead to 3-0.
Hitting multiple home runs for the 14th time in the last 16 games, Akins hit a two-out solo home run to deep center field in the top of the third and after freshman catcher Carter Bins hit his eighth double of the season, Ashford drove in his second RBI of the afternoon with a single through the left side to score Bins.
After Bulldog starting pitcher Ricky Tyler Thomas held the Lobos without a hit through the first three innings, the Lobo offense came to life in the bottom of the fourth inning as designated hitter Danny Collier scored New Mexico's first run with a single to score center fielder Jared Mang as shortstop Hayden Schilling followed with a single to right field to score first baseman Matt Villalobos and Collier and cut the 'Dogs lead to 5-3.
A two-out two-run double by senior outfielder Jake Stone to left-center in the top of the fifth extended the Bulldogs lead to 7-3 before the Lobos answered back in the bottom of the frame scoring a run on a balk by Thomas.
Scoring multiple runs in a frame for the fourth time in the game, the 'Dogs added a pair of runs in the top of the sixth as Akins smacked his second home run of the game and fourth in the last two games with a solo shot to right field. Ashford followed with his third RBI of the game with single to right field scoring Bins to give the 'Dogs a 9-4 advantage over the Lobos.
The Lobos continued to pound away at the lead in the bottom of the frame scoring a run on a double to left field by Schilling, but two more run by the 'Dogs in the eighth on a double by Akins and single back up the middle by Batesole completed the scoring as the 'Dogs advanced with a 11-5 win.
Thomas was outstanding on the mound pitching a season-best eight innings allowing seven hits, five earned runs, issued three walks and struck out six as the junior southpaw won his eighth game of the season. Senior right-hander Mark Reece worked a scoreless ninth in his 18th appearance on the season.
"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
With the win, the 'Dogs advance to their first Mountain West Tournament championship game later on Saturday afternoon where they will take on second-seed San Diego State (40-18) needing to defeat the Aztecs twice to capture the conference tournament championship crown.
For a third straight afternoon, Fresno State (34-24) had a scorching hot offense tallying 18 hits, including seven for extra-bases, as the 'Dogs hammered three home runs.
Junior outfielder Jared Akins had a standout contest going a perfect 5-for-5 from the plate with a double and two home runs, scored five runs and drove in three RBIs. Sophomore designated hitter Zach Ashford had a career-high four hits, including his eighth double of the season, matched his career-high with three RBIs and scored a run. Four other 'Dogs had a pair of hits as junior shortstop Korby Batesole smacked his fifth home run of the season.
The 'Dogs scored first for the 38th time this season and the third straight time in the tournament scoring three runs in the top of the second as Ashford doubled down the left field line to drive in Akins for the game's first run. Batesole followed with a longball to right field pushing the Bulldogs lead to 3-0.
Hitting multiple home runs for the 14th time in the last 16 games, Akins hit a two-out solo home run to deep center field in the top of the third and after freshman catcher Carter Bins hit his eighth double of the season, Ashford drove in his second RBI of the afternoon with a single through the left side to score Bins.
After Bulldog starting pitcher Ricky Tyler Thomas held the Lobos without a hit through the first three innings, the Lobo offense came to life in the bottom of the fourth inning as designated hitter Danny Collier scored New Mexico's first run with a single to score center fielder Jared Mang as shortstop Hayden Schilling followed with a single to right field to score first baseman Matt Villalobos and Collier and cut the 'Dogs lead to 5-3.
A two-out two-run double by senior outfielder Jake Stone to left-center in the top of the fifth extended the Bulldogs lead to 7-3 before the Lobos answered back in the bottom of the frame scoring a run on a balk by Thomas.
Scoring multiple runs in a frame for the fourth time in the game, the 'Dogs added a pair of runs in the top of the sixth as Akins smacked his second home run of the game and fourth in the last two games with a solo shot to right field. Ashford followed with his third RBI of the game with single to right field scoring Bins to give the 'Dogs a 9-4 advantage over the Lobos.
The Lobos continued to pound away at the lead in the bottom of the frame scoring a run on a double to left field by Schilling, but two more run by the 'Dogs in the eighth on a double by Akins and single back up the middle by Batesole completed the scoring as the 'Dogs advanced with a 11-5 win.
Thomas was outstanding on the mound pitching a season-best eight innings allowing seven hits, five earned runs, issued three walks and struck out six as the junior southpaw won his eighth game of the season. Senior right-hander Mark Reece worked a scoreless ninth in his 18th appearance on the season.
"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 (8-4)
L: SCHNEIDER, C (4-2)
Batting:
2B: Medrano, Jesse 1 ; Akins, Jared 1 ; Bins, Carter 1 ; Ashford, Zach 1
HR: Akins, Jared 2 ; Batesole, Korby 1
RBI: Stone, Jake 2 ; Akins, Jared 3 ; Ashford, Zach 3 ; Batesole, Korby 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Medrano, Jesse 1 ; Akins, Jared 5 ; Bins, Carter 3 ; Ashford, Zach 1 ; Batesole, Korby 1
SB: Bins, Carter 1
HBP: Guibor, Austin 1
Batting:
2B: SCHILLING, H 1
3B: CAPANNA, Bea 1
RBI: COLLIER, Dan 1 ; SCHILLING, H 3
Base Running:
RUNS: CAPANNA, Bea 1 ; MANG, Jared 1 ; VILLALOBOS, 1 ; COLLIER, Dan 2
CS: WATARI, Just 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
5
H
5
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
4
RBI
3
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
2
AB
6
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
OF
/ BaseballOutfield
/ Baseball
Infield
/ Baseball
Catcher
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ BaseballOutfield
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ BaseballBSB Los Angeles Regional Preview
Thursday, May 29
BSB MW Championship Final Recap
Sunday, May 25
BSB MW Championship Game 1 Recap
Friday, May 23
VB Read Across America Week
Saturday, March 08