Fresno State Athletics
Wednesday, March 11
Fresno, CA
5:00 PM
Fresno State
9-7
7
vs
6
Pacific
8-9
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
R
H
E
Pacific
0
1
0
1
1
2
0
0
1
6
10
0
Fresno State
0
1
2
2
1
0
0
0
1
7
9
1
Photo by: Aaron Provencio
Presno's walk-off home run powers 'Dogs over Tigers
3/11/2020 9:15:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - For a second straight midweek contest, the Diamond 'Dogs won on a walk-off defeating Pacific, 7-6 on Wednesday at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
After coming back to top Seton Hall in 11 innings last Tuesday, Fresno State (9-7) did not need extra innings this time as catcher Zach Presno blasted a walk-off home run (watch) to left field in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win over the Tigers.
Pacific (8-9) tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the ninth as a single, hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases with two outs for third baseman Alex LeForestier. An infield single to the 'Dogs second baseman Andrew Kachel allowed the tying run to score, but Bulldog pitcher Oscar Carvajal was able to strike out Bryce Kirk to strand the bases loaded.
After a double play by Pacific made it appear the game was headed to extra innings, Presno delivered his team-leading eighth home run of the season.
"That was a great answer in the bottom of the ninth," said head coach Mike Batesole on the victory.
Three Bulldogs tallied two hits apiece with designated hitter Ryan Higgins hitting two doubles, driving in two RBI and scoring a run. Third baseman Zach Morgan added a single, double and scored two runs while right fielder Nate Thimjon hit his sixth home run of the season and drove in two RBI.
Carvajal earned his second win as he was the final of six pitchers for the Bulldogs. Senior right-hander Nik Cardinal made his third start and ninth appearance of the campaign tossing the first two innings.
How It Happened
Pacific jumped in front with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, but the Bulldogs quickly responded with a RBI triple by Thimjon (watch) in the bottom of the frame to knot the game at 1-1.
The 'Dogs added two runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead. A RBI double to left-center by Higgins (watch) pushed home shortstop Jeff Jamison. Three batters later, first baseman Emilio Nogales brought around Higgins with a RBI ground-rule double to center field (watch).
Another sacrifice fly by the Tigers cut the 'Dogs lead to 3-2, but two more runs in the bottom of the fourth gave Fresno State its largest lead of the game at 5-2. Thimjon sent a one-out shot to left field and Higgins kept the extra-bases going with a RBI double (watch) to right-center to again drive home Jamison.
The teams split runs in the fifth as Pacific hit a solo home run and the 'Dogs responded with a RBI single up the middle by Kachel (watch).
Holding on to a three-run lead after five innings, Pacific scored two runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back RBI hits to cut the 'Dogs lead to one run before tying the game in the top of the ninth.
Up next
Fresno State returns to the road this weekend at Oklahoma State (13-5) for a three-game series on Friday through Sunday.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostateathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
After coming back to top Seton Hall in 11 innings last Tuesday, Fresno State (9-7) did not need extra innings this time as catcher Zach Presno blasted a walk-off home run (watch) to left field in the bottom of the ninth to secure the win over the Tigers.
Pacific (8-9) tied the game at 6-6 in the top of the ninth as a single, hit by pitch and walk loaded the bases with two outs for third baseman Alex LeForestier. An infield single to the 'Dogs second baseman Andrew Kachel allowed the tying run to score, but Bulldog pitcher Oscar Carvajal was able to strike out Bryce Kirk to strand the bases loaded.
After a double play by Pacific made it appear the game was headed to extra innings, Presno delivered his team-leading eighth home run of the season.
"That was a great answer in the bottom of the ninth," said head coach Mike Batesole on the victory.
Three Bulldogs tallied two hits apiece with designated hitter Ryan Higgins hitting two doubles, driving in two RBI and scoring a run. Third baseman Zach Morgan added a single, double and scored two runs while right fielder Nate Thimjon hit his sixth home run of the season and drove in two RBI.
Carvajal earned his second win as he was the final of six pitchers for the Bulldogs. Senior right-hander Nik Cardinal made his third start and ninth appearance of the campaign tossing the first two innings.
How It Happened
Pacific jumped in front with a sacrifice fly in the top of the second, but the Bulldogs quickly responded with a RBI triple by Thimjon (watch) in the bottom of the frame to knot the game at 1-1.
The 'Dogs added two runs in the bottom of the third to take a 3-1 lead. A RBI double to left-center by Higgins (watch) pushed home shortstop Jeff Jamison. Three batters later, first baseman Emilio Nogales brought around Higgins with a RBI ground-rule double to center field (watch).
Another sacrifice fly by the Tigers cut the 'Dogs lead to 3-2, but two more runs in the bottom of the fourth gave Fresno State its largest lead of the game at 5-2. Thimjon sent a one-out shot to left field and Higgins kept the extra-bases going with a RBI double (watch) to right-center to again drive home Jamison.
The teams split runs in the fifth as Pacific hit a solo home run and the 'Dogs responded with a RBI single up the middle by Kachel (watch).
Holding on to a three-run lead after five innings, Pacific scored two runs in the sixth inning on back-to-back RBI hits to cut the 'Dogs lead to one run before tying the game in the top of the ninth.
Up next
Fresno State returns to the road this weekend at Oklahoma State (13-5) for a three-game series on Friday through Sunday.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostateathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Carvajal, Oscar (2-2)
L: GLOVER, Keaton (0-1)
Batting:
2B: HOFFMAN, Wyatt 1
3B: HAYES, Carter 1
HR: MIDDLETON JR,Charles 1
RBI: MIDDLETON JR,Charles 1 ; LeFORESTIER, Alex 1 ; GAVELLO, Thomas 3 ; HOFFMAN, Wyatt 1
SF: GAVELLO, Thomas 2
Base Running:
RUNS: McCLENAGHAN, James 1 ; MIDDLETON JR,Charles 1 ; LeFORESTIER, Alex 1 ; HAYES, Carter 2 ; GAVELLO, Thomas 1
HBP: LEA, Jeremy 1
Batting:
2B: Higgins, Ryan 2 ; Nogales, Emilio 1 ; Morgan, Zach 1
3B: Thimjon, Nate 1
HR: Presno, Zach 1 ; Thimjon, Nate 1
RBI: Higgins, Ryan 2 ; Presno, Zach 1 ; Nogales, Emilio 1 ; Kachel, Andrew 1 ; Thimjon, Nate 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Higgins, Ryan 1 ; Presno, Zach 1 ; Morgan, Zach 2 ; Thimjon, Nate 1 ; Jamison, Jeff 2
SB: Jamison, Jeff 1
HBP: Nogales, Emilio 1
PO: Nogales, Emilio 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
ph/dh
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
0
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
Pitcher
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ BaseballInfield
/ Baseball
Infield
/ Baseball
Infield
/ BaseballCatcher
/ Baseball
Infield
/ BaseballCatcher
/ BaseballOutfield
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