Fresno State Athletics
Tuesday, April 16
Fresno, CA
6:05 PM
Fresno State
21-12
7
vs
6
CSU Bakersfield
15-23
1
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3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
CSU Bakersfield
0
2
0
3
0
1
0
0
0
6
9
0
Fresno State
4
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
2
7
10
4
Diamond 'Dogs defeat Roadrunners, 7-6 on Ashford's walk-off single
4/16/2019 9:40:00 PM | Baseball
The Diamond 'Dogs defeated CSU Bakersfield, 7-6 on a walk-off single by Zach Ashford on Tuesday evening at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
FRESNO, Calif. - Using a late rally, the Diamond 'Dogs scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth and got a walk-off single from senior Zach Ashford to defeat CSU Bakersfield, 7-6 on Tuesday evening at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
With the win, Fresno State (21-12) has won six of its last seven games and improves to 8-6 at home this season.
The Bulldogs used a balanced offensive approach on Tuesday with three 'Dogs finishing with a pair of hits as Ashford led the way with his walk-off RBI single (watch) along with redshirt sophomore shortstop JT Arruda staying hot with two singles, scoring a run and driving in an RBI.
Freshman left fielder Ryan Higgins, making his first career start on Tuesday, tallied his second straight two-hit performances with a pair of doubles and the 'Dogs used home runs from redshirt senior McCarthy Tatum and senior Nolan Dempsey to collect 10 hits as a team.
On the mound, junior right-hander Nik Cardinal got his first start as a 'Dog tossing two innings before giving way to five relief pitchers. The final pitcher of the night for the 'Dogs, redshirt freshman right-hander Kevin Larson, picked up his second win of the campaign throwing 1.2 innings allowing only one CSUB hit with one strikeout.
How It Happened
The 'Dogs got the scoring started against CSU Bakersfield starter David Reckers right away in the bottom of the first with four runs as the first five Bulldog batters all reached base. Ashford led off with a single up the middle, but was later thrown out attempting to steal second. Junior Carter Bins, starting for the first time all season as the designated hitter, followed with a walk and Arruda smacked a single to right-center to put runners on the corners for Tatum.
The Clovis native smashed a three-run home bomb to left field over the scoreboard (watch) to give the 'Dogs a quick 3-0 lead. Dempsey kept the 'Dogs hot start going with a solo shot to left field (watch) for a 4-0 lead.
The Roadrunners answered back in the top of the second cutting the 'Dogs lead in half with a one-out two-run single to left field by left fielder Damian Henderson.
The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the bottom half of the frame to take a 5-2 lead after two innings on a fielder's choice by Arruda scoring sophomore catcher Zach Presno who led off with a walk.
A scoreless third inning by both sides gave way to a three-run top of the fourth for CSUBÂ who tied the game at 5-5 on a three-run home run to left field by right fielder Sergio Robles.
The Roadrunners fought all the way back to take a 6-5 lead with a run in the top of the sixth scoring the go-ahead run on a suicide squeeze by shortstop Will Picketts driving in third baseman Tyler Jorgensen.
Larson kept the 'Dogs deficit at one run in the top of the eighth coming in with one out and was able to get escape a bases-loaded jam with a lineout to Emilio Nogales at first base.
After putting runners on first and second base with no outs in the bottom of the eighth, but being unable to score, the 'Dogs would not let the opportunity slip away in the ninth inning.
Higgins led off with a ground-rule double to right-center (watch) and right fielder Auston Chastain put runners at the corners for Presno after a bunt single. With Presno facing new Roadrunner pitcher Graham Kuck, the lefty let one get away allowing pinch-runner Jeff Jamison to come in and score the tying run on a passed ball (watch).
After Presno drew a walk to put a pair of runners on base for Ashford, the Clovis native wasted no time connecting on a first-pitch single back up the middle bringing home Chastain for the dramatic victory.
Notables
- Fresno State has now won its last four meetings over CSU Bakersfield to take a 15-14 lead in the all-time series.
- It is the 'Dogs 17th game this season with a double-figure hit total.
- Ashford moves his current hitting streak to 11 games and on-base streak to 13 games while Bins has stretched his on-base streak to 16 games.
- It is the 'Dogs first walk-off win of the season and first since ending last season with a 9-8 win over UNLV in the regular season finale.
Up Next
The Bulldogs head out on the road this weekend for a three-game Mountain West series at conference leader San Jose State (18-19, 12-6 MW) starting Thursday at 6 p.m.
"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 @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostateathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
With the win, Fresno State (21-12) has won six of its last seven games and improves to 8-6 at home this season.
The Bulldogs used a balanced offensive approach on Tuesday with three 'Dogs finishing with a pair of hits as Ashford led the way with his walk-off RBI single (watch) along with redshirt sophomore shortstop JT Arruda staying hot with two singles, scoring a run and driving in an RBI.
Freshman left fielder Ryan Higgins, making his first career start on Tuesday, tallied his second straight two-hit performances with a pair of doubles and the 'Dogs used home runs from redshirt senior McCarthy Tatum and senior Nolan Dempsey to collect 10 hits as a team.
On the mound, junior right-hander Nik Cardinal got his first start as a 'Dog tossing two innings before giving way to five relief pitchers. The final pitcher of the night for the 'Dogs, redshirt freshman right-hander Kevin Larson, picked up his second win of the campaign throwing 1.2 innings allowing only one CSUB hit with one strikeout.
How It Happened
The 'Dogs got the scoring started against CSU Bakersfield starter David Reckers right away in the bottom of the first with four runs as the first five Bulldog batters all reached base. Ashford led off with a single up the middle, but was later thrown out attempting to steal second. Junior Carter Bins, starting for the first time all season as the designated hitter, followed with a walk and Arruda smacked a single to right-center to put runners on the corners for Tatum.
The Clovis native smashed a three-run home bomb to left field over the scoreboard (watch) to give the 'Dogs a quick 3-0 lead. Dempsey kept the 'Dogs hot start going with a solo shot to left field (watch) for a 4-0 lead.
The Roadrunners answered back in the top of the second cutting the 'Dogs lead in half with a one-out two-run single to left field by left fielder Damian Henderson.
The Bulldogs tacked on a run in the bottom half of the frame to take a 5-2 lead after two innings on a fielder's choice by Arruda scoring sophomore catcher Zach Presno who led off with a walk.
A scoreless third inning by both sides gave way to a three-run top of the fourth for CSUBÂ who tied the game at 5-5 on a three-run home run to left field by right fielder Sergio Robles.
The Roadrunners fought all the way back to take a 6-5 lead with a run in the top of the sixth scoring the go-ahead run on a suicide squeeze by shortstop Will Picketts driving in third baseman Tyler Jorgensen.
Larson kept the 'Dogs deficit at one run in the top of the eighth coming in with one out and was able to get escape a bases-loaded jam with a lineout to Emilio Nogales at first base.
After putting runners on first and second base with no outs in the bottom of the eighth, but being unable to score, the 'Dogs would not let the opportunity slip away in the ninth inning.
Higgins led off with a ground-rule double to right-center (watch) and right fielder Auston Chastain put runners at the corners for Presno after a bunt single. With Presno facing new Roadrunner pitcher Graham Kuck, the lefty let one get away allowing pinch-runner Jeff Jamison to come in and score the tying run on a passed ball (watch).
After Presno drew a walk to put a pair of runners on base for Ashford, the Clovis native wasted no time connecting on a first-pitch single back up the middle bringing home Chastain for the dramatic victory.
Notables
- Fresno State has now won its last four meetings over CSU Bakersfield to take a 15-14 lead in the all-time series.
- It is the 'Dogs 17th game this season with a double-figure hit total.
- Ashford moves his current hitting streak to 11 games and on-base streak to 13 games while Bins has stretched his on-base streak to 16 games.
- It is the 'Dogs first walk-off win of the season and first since ending last season with a 9-8 win over UNLV in the regular season finale.
Up Next
The Bulldogs head out on the road this weekend for a three-game Mountain West series at conference leader San Jose State (18-19, 12-6 MW) starting Thursday at 6 p.m.
"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 @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostateathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Larson, Kevin (2-0)
L: Cordova, N (0-3)
Batting:
HR: Robles, S 1
RBI: Henderson, D 2 ; Robles, S 3 ; Picketts, W 1
SH: Jorgensen, T 1 ; Oliver, J 1 ; Robles, S 1 ; Picketts, W 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Koch, R 1 ; Rowley, J 1 ; Jorgensen, T 2 ; Henderson, D 1 ; Robles, S 1
HBP: Jorgensen, T 1
Batting:
2B: Higgins, Ryan 2
HR: Tatum, McCarthy 1 ; Dempsey, Nolan 1
RBI: Ashford, Zach 1 ; Arruda, JT 1 ; Tatum, McCarthy 3 ; Dempsey, Nolan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bins, Carter 1 ; Arruda, JT 1 ; Tatum, McCarthy 1 ; Dempsey, Nolan 1 ; Jamison, Jeff 1 ; Chastain, Auston 1 ; Presno, Zach 1
CS: Ashford, Zach 1
HBP: Tatum, McCarthy 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
5
R
0
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
ph/dh
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
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Infield/RHP
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