Fresno State Athletics
Thursday, May 23
Reno, NV
6:30 PM
Fresno State
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Photo by: NCAA Photos
Diamond 'Dogs hold on for a 4-3 win over Nevada to open the MW Tournament
5/23/2019 10:50:00 PM | Baseball
The top-seeded Diamond 'Dogs held on for a 4-3 win over fourth-seeded Nevada on Thursday in Reno at the Mountain West Championship.
RENO, Nev. - The top-seeded Diamond 'Dogs opened the Mountain West Championship on Thursday evening with a hard-fought 4-3 win over fourth-seeded Nevada at Don Weir Field at Peccole Park.
Getting a sensational start from 2019 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Ryan Jensen, the junior right-hander matched his career high of 8.0 innings limiting Nevada to three hits, one run, two walks and stuck out 10 on his way to his 11th win of the season.
Fresno State (36-14-1), who won its first game in the MW Tournament for the first time since 2015, scored all four of its runs in the fourth inning and tallied a total of eight hits in the game. All-MW First-Team selection Zach Ashford lead the way with three hits for his team-leading 24th multi-hit game of the season.
Sophomore right fielder Nate Thimjon came through with a clutch two-run single in the fourth inning while junior catcher Carter Bins and senior second baseman Nolan Dempsey each added doubles.
Sophomore southpaw Jaime Arias came on in relief of Jensen to work the ninth inning converting his 12th save of the season, but did allow two earned runs while walking three and struck out two.
How It Happened
With the Bulldogs playing as the home team despite playing at Nevada's home field, Nevada (29-25) got the scoring started in the top of the first with a two-out solo home run by designated hitter Kaleb Foster to give the Wolf Pack a early 1-0 lead.
With Jensen posting five of his 10 strikeouts through the first four innings (watch) to keep the 'Dogs only down by one run, the Bulldogs scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning, including three off Nevada starting pitcher Ryan Anderson, to take a three-run lead.
With leadoff walks to JT Arruda and McCarthy Tatum, Dempsey singled to center field (watch) to load the bases for the 'Dogs with no outs. Pinch-hitter Emilio Nogales drew a walk off relief pitcher Grant Ford to tie the game at 1-1 and Thimjon came through with the key hit in the game with a single through the right side (watch) bringing home both Tatum and Dempsey for a 3-1 lead.
Nogales moved to third on Thimjon's single and came in to score the eventual game-winning run on a wild pitch by Ford (watch).
Nevada threatened to close the gap in the top of the sixth loading the bases with two outs, but a strikeout by Jensen stranded three Wolf Pack runners on base to keep the 'Dogs in front by three runs (watch).
The Wolf Pack were able to get two runs across in the bottom of the ninth against Arias as Nevada took advantage of three walks scoring one run on an RBI groundout and a second on a wild pitch. With the tying run at first, Arias was able to strike out catcher Marco Valenzuela to hold on for the win.
Quotes
Head Coach Mike Batesole
On tonight's win over Nevada.....
"Jensen was great all the way for eight innings and Jaime got it done at the end."
Junior pitcher Ryan Jensen
On tonight's performance....
"Just trying to execute the pitches called, trust my defense and throw strikes. Simple game plan."
Notables
- The Bulldogs have won five games in a row, 10 of their last 11, 17 of their last 20 and 21 of their last 25 games overall.
- Fresno State is now 3-3 in Mountain West Tournament history against Nevada adding to wins in 2014 and 2017.
- The 'Dogs have now won 11 straight road games and move to 23-6 in road/neutral site games this season.
- Tony Gwynn Co-Player of the Year McCarthy Tatum saw his hitting streak end at 19 games while Arruda pushed his on-base streak to 21 games.
- Jensen moves to 11 wins on the season to become the first Bulldog hurler since Greg Gonzalez in 2011 to reach 11 wins in a season.
- Ashford now has 235 career hits and is only one hit shy of moving into a tie for 10th in program history in hits with Philip Romero (236 from 1989-92).
- Arias moves into a tie for second in saves in a single season with 12 matching Charlie Robertson in 2011. His 13 career saves push him into a three-way tie for fourth with Tim Borst (2013-16) and Bob Jacobsen (1959-61).
Up next
The Bulldogs stay in the winner's bracket and move on to face No. 3 seed UNLV on Friday at 6:30 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
Getting a sensational start from 2019 Mountain West Pitcher of the Year Ryan Jensen, the junior right-hander matched his career high of 8.0 innings limiting Nevada to three hits, one run, two walks and stuck out 10 on his way to his 11th win of the season.
Fresno State (36-14-1), who won its first game in the MW Tournament for the first time since 2015, scored all four of its runs in the fourth inning and tallied a total of eight hits in the game. All-MW First-Team selection Zach Ashford lead the way with three hits for his team-leading 24th multi-hit game of the season.
Sophomore right fielder Nate Thimjon came through with a clutch two-run single in the fourth inning while junior catcher Carter Bins and senior second baseman Nolan Dempsey each added doubles.
Sophomore southpaw Jaime Arias came on in relief of Jensen to work the ninth inning converting his 12th save of the season, but did allow two earned runs while walking three and struck out two.
How It Happened
With the Bulldogs playing as the home team despite playing at Nevada's home field, Nevada (29-25) got the scoring started in the top of the first with a two-out solo home run by designated hitter Kaleb Foster to give the Wolf Pack a early 1-0 lead.
With Jensen posting five of his 10 strikeouts through the first four innings (watch) to keep the 'Dogs only down by one run, the Bulldogs scored all four of their runs in the fourth inning, including three off Nevada starting pitcher Ryan Anderson, to take a three-run lead.
With leadoff walks to JT Arruda and McCarthy Tatum, Dempsey singled to center field (watch) to load the bases for the 'Dogs with no outs. Pinch-hitter Emilio Nogales drew a walk off relief pitcher Grant Ford to tie the game at 1-1 and Thimjon came through with the key hit in the game with a single through the right side (watch) bringing home both Tatum and Dempsey for a 3-1 lead.
Nogales moved to third on Thimjon's single and came in to score the eventual game-winning run on a wild pitch by Ford (watch).
Nevada threatened to close the gap in the top of the sixth loading the bases with two outs, but a strikeout by Jensen stranded three Wolf Pack runners on base to keep the 'Dogs in front by three runs (watch).
The Wolf Pack were able to get two runs across in the bottom of the ninth against Arias as Nevada took advantage of three walks scoring one run on an RBI groundout and a second on a wild pitch. With the tying run at first, Arias was able to strike out catcher Marco Valenzuela to hold on for the win.
Quotes
Head Coach Mike Batesole
On tonight's win over Nevada.....
"Jensen was great all the way for eight innings and Jaime got it done at the end."
Junior pitcher Ryan Jensen
On tonight's performance....
"Just trying to execute the pitches called, trust my defense and throw strikes. Simple game plan."
Notables
- The Bulldogs have won five games in a row, 10 of their last 11, 17 of their last 20 and 21 of their last 25 games overall.
- Fresno State is now 3-3 in Mountain West Tournament history against Nevada adding to wins in 2014 and 2017.
- The 'Dogs have now won 11 straight road games and move to 23-6 in road/neutral site games this season.
- Tony Gwynn Co-Player of the Year McCarthy Tatum saw his hitting streak end at 19 games while Arruda pushed his on-base streak to 21 games.
- Jensen moves to 11 wins on the season to become the first Bulldog hurler since Greg Gonzalez in 2011 to reach 11 wins in a season.
- Ashford now has 235 career hits and is only one hit shy of moving into a tie for 10th in program history in hits with Philip Romero (236 from 1989-92).
- Arias moves into a tie for second in saves in a single season with 12 matching Charlie Robertson in 2011. His 13 career saves push him into a three-way tie for fourth with Tim Borst (2013-16) and Bob Jacobsen (1959-61).
Up next
The Bulldogs stay in the winner's bracket and move on to face No. 3 seed UNLV on Friday at 6:30 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: Jensen, Ryan (11-1)
L: ANDERSON, Ryan (4-5)
S: Arias, Jaime (12)
Batting:
2B: FOSTER, Kaleb 1
HR: FOSTER, Kaleb 1
RBI: FOSTER, Kaleb 1 ; ALLARD, Conor 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FOSTER, Kaleb 2 ; BOSETTI, Tyler 1
HBP: BOSETTI, Tyler 1
Batting:
2B: Bins, Carter 1 ; Dempsey, Nolan 1
RBI: Nogales, Emilio 1 ; Thimjon, Nate 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Arruda, JT 1 ; Tatum, McCarthy 1 ; Dempsey, Nolan 1 ; Nogales, Emilio 1
Game Leaders
AB
4
R
0
H
3
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
4
R
0
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
Pitcher
/ Baseball
Outfield
/ BaseballCatcher
/ BaseballInfield
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ Baseball
Infield
/ Baseball
Infield/RHP
/ BaseballOutfield
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