Diamond 'Dogs fall to Spartans in game three, 7-5

Sunday, March 24

Fresno, CA

1:05 PM

Fresno State

10-7, 2-4

San Jose State

14-9, 8-4

San Jose State

Fresno State

Photo by: Kiel Maddox

Diamond 'Dogs fall to Spartans in game three, 7-5

3/24/2019 8:49:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Savannah Stoeckle / Communications Student Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team dropped the final game of a three-game Mountain West home series to San Jose State, 7-5, on Sunday afternoon at Bob Bennett Stadium.

The Diamond 'Dogs put up a fight through nine innings but a home run from the Spartan's Kellen Strahm in the top of the ninth inning sparked an offensive charge for the visiting team that would ultimately be too much for the Bulldogs to overcome.

Sophomore left fielder Nate Thimjon has continued to find his groove at the plate this week as he launched his second home run in four games on Sunday. His first of the season was at Pacific on Tuesday.

How it happened
Junior Davis Moore was tabbed as Sunday's starting pitcher. After a rocky start in the first inning, walking the lead-off batter and eventually giving up a base hit to score the lead off Spartan, Moore settled in for five innings of work.

San Jose State tacked on two runs in the top of the third off of four hits to take a 3-0 lead before the Fresno State offense could show itself.

The Bulldog bats got to work in the fourth, quickly erasing the Spartan lead. Senior second baseman Nolan Dempsey drew a five-pitch walk, made it around to second on a wild pitch and got to third on a Bulldog ground out. Dempsey's speed around the bases gave him the green light to score from third on a wild pitch to cut the Spartan lead to two.

With clear bases, Thimjon stepped up to the plate and worked a full count before blasting a solo home run to left field to bring in another Bulldog run.

Freshman right fielder EJ Andrews Jr. drew a walk and scored from first on a single from senior center fielder Zach Ashford to even the score at three apiece heading into the fifth.

Moore gave up a hit, but picked up a pair of strikeouts to leave the Spartan stranded and the score even.

It wasn't long after that until the Diamond 'Dogs would take the lead. San Jose State brought in Zach Wallace to take over on the mound. Redshirt sophomore shortstop JT Arruda led off with a walk and senior third baseman McCarthy Tatum doubled to the left-center gap to have two on base for sophomore designated hitter Emilio Nogales at the dish. Nogales grounded out, but the run scored and the Bulldogs took a 4-3 lead.

San Jose State tied the game in the top of the seventh inning as redshirt freshman Kevin Larson came in and gave up three base hits that would score a run. Senior Ryan Sullivan was brought in to finish things out in the seventh. Another Spartan base hit would load the bases, but Sullivan was tough and got the final two outs to get out of the bases-loaded jam.

The eighth inning brought hope for the Diamond 'Dogs as freshman pinch hitter Ryan Higgins stepped up with a lead-off double just inches fair down the right field line. Freshman Jeff Jamison stood on second to run for Higgins and quickly advanced to third as the Spartan pitcher attempted to pick him off at second, but overthrew on the pick.

San Jose State decided to intentionally walk sophomore first baseman Zach Presno with hopes of a double play, but Thimjon came in clutch at the plate with a sacrifice bunt that would score Jamison to give the 'Dogs a one-run lead heading into the ninth.

Sophomore Jaime Arias came in for the close, but Strahm homered in the leadoff spot to tie the game at five. With two outs and one runner on, Arias gave up a double that would score the go-ahead run for the Spartans. San Jose State would add run another before Arias could pick up a strikeout to get out of the inning, but the three runs scored in the ninth were too much for the Bulldogs to overcome in their final opportunity.

Quotables
Mike Batesole, Fresno State head coach
Moving forward…
"We have a lot of time and we have a lot of things to clean up. It is still early. We are a quarter of the way done with three quarters left to go. There is a lot to be settled."

On San Jose State…
"There is a reason why they are in first place. They are old and they are good, and they are going to take advantage of small things that maybe don't show up in the box score. But what does show up in the box score is their 15 hits."

Up Next
The Bulldogs will hit the road staying in California for a four-game stint up and down the state. The Diamond 'Dogs will face CSU Bakersfield on Wednesday, March 27 before heading down to San Diego State for a Mountain West series against the Aztecs (March 29-31).

The Bulldogs will close out their California road trip with No. 3 Stanford on Tuesday, April 2.

"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.

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