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Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, February 27
Fresno, CA
3:05 P.M. PT
Fresno State
2-0
9
vs
6
CSU Bakersfield
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9
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CSU Bakersfield
0
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11
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Fresno State
0
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7
1
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1
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X
9
10
2
Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Diamond 'Dogs hold on for 9-6 win over CSUB
2/27/2021 9:45:00 PM | Baseball
The Diamond 'Dogs go for the sweep of CSU Bakersfield on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
FRESNO, Calif. - A late ninth-inning rally was fended off by the Diamond 'Dogs on Saturday afternoon as Fresno State improved to 2-0 on the season with a 9-6 win over CSU Bakersfield at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Fresno State (2-0) jumped out to a 9-0 lead after six innings, but six runs by CSU Bakersfield (0-2) in the final three innings made the Bulldogs sweat it out at the end.
The Bulldogs totaled 10 hits in the contest with a pair of doubles and a pair of home runs. Senior Zach Presno hit his second home run in as many games as he added a double and scored two runs.Â
Sophomore third baseman Andrew Kachel smacked his first home run of the season and scored two runs while the trio of Ryan Higgins, Josh Lauck and Nate Thimjon each drove in two RBIs apiece.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Jake Dixon threw six shutout innings allowing four hits, all singles, and struck out four for his first win of the season. Julian Sotelo threw a career-high 2.2 innings and Kevin Larson got the final out with his first strikeout of 2021.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs erupted for a seven-run third inning sending 13 batters to the plate as the 'Dogs got eight of their 10 hits in the frame. EJ Andrews, Jr. got the inning started with a walk and Jeff Jamison followed with a bunt single. Kachel followed with a single through the right side to load the bases for Higgins. The preseason All-Mountain West selection came through with the 'Dogs first runs of the game with a double to center field to score a pair.
Lauck kept the hot hitting going with a single through the left side of the infield that drove in Kachel and Higgins to put the 'Dogs ahead 4-0. Presno doubled to center field to put two runners in scoring position for Thimjon who singled to left field to score two more and the scoring was compete with a single to right by Zach Morgan (watch) to drive in Thimjon.
Solo home runs by Presno and Kachel pushed the 'Dogs lead to 9-0 entering the top of the seventh, but the Roadrunners scored a pair of runs capitalizing on a Bulldog error and then tacked on four more in the top of the ninth, getting a two-run home run by Jacen Roberson, but Larson got a strikeout to secure the win.
Quotes
Head Coach Mike Batesole
On today's performance...
"Dixon was fantastic and everyone pitched well. One walk when the conditions are like this, you know there are going to be some balls that go for extra-base hits and the key is that you did not walk guys in front of them. What Julian (Sotelo) did there and we some mistakes behind him and our field when it is windy like this plays so hard and those were balls that were hit in between and you don't get to choose your hop all the time like you do you in the middle of the field and sometime you have to wear whatever hop is hit to you and you get the in betweener, but credit Julian for sticking with it and not letting it get away from him and that was really impressive and I thought Kevin Larson was pumping strikes and we got the win."
Notables
The Bulldogs and Roadrunners close out their weekend series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostbaseball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Fresno State (2-0) jumped out to a 9-0 lead after six innings, but six runs by CSU Bakersfield (0-2) in the final three innings made the Bulldogs sweat it out at the end.
The Bulldogs totaled 10 hits in the contest with a pair of doubles and a pair of home runs. Senior Zach Presno hit his second home run in as many games as he added a double and scored two runs.Â
Sophomore third baseman Andrew Kachel smacked his first home run of the season and scored two runs while the trio of Ryan Higgins, Josh Lauck and Nate Thimjon each drove in two RBIs apiece.
On the mound, sophomore right-hander Jake Dixon threw six shutout innings allowing four hits, all singles, and struck out four for his first win of the season. Julian Sotelo threw a career-high 2.2 innings and Kevin Larson got the final out with his first strikeout of 2021.
How It Happened
The Bulldogs erupted for a seven-run third inning sending 13 batters to the plate as the 'Dogs got eight of their 10 hits in the frame. EJ Andrews, Jr. got the inning started with a walk and Jeff Jamison followed with a bunt single. Kachel followed with a single through the right side to load the bases for Higgins. The preseason All-Mountain West selection came through with the 'Dogs first runs of the game with a double to center field to score a pair.
Lauck kept the hot hitting going with a single through the left side of the infield that drove in Kachel and Higgins to put the 'Dogs ahead 4-0. Presno doubled to center field to put two runners in scoring position for Thimjon who singled to left field to score two more and the scoring was compete with a single to right by Zach Morgan (watch) to drive in Thimjon.
Solo home runs by Presno and Kachel pushed the 'Dogs lead to 9-0 entering the top of the seventh, but the Roadrunners scored a pair of runs capitalizing on a Bulldog error and then tacked on four more in the top of the ninth, getting a two-run home run by Jacen Roberson, but Larson got a strikeout to secure the win.
Quotes
Head Coach Mike Batesole
On today's performance...
"Dixon was fantastic and everyone pitched well. One walk when the conditions are like this, you know there are going to be some balls that go for extra-base hits and the key is that you did not walk guys in front of them. What Julian (Sotelo) did there and we some mistakes behind him and our field when it is windy like this plays so hard and those were balls that were hit in between and you don't get to choose your hop all the time like you do you in the middle of the field and sometime you have to wear whatever hop is hit to you and you get the in betweener, but credit Julian for sticking with it and not letting it get away from him and that was really impressive and I thought Kevin Larson was pumping strikes and we got the win."
Notables
- It is the 'Dogs first 2-0 start to a season since 2018 and eighth time over under Batesole.
- The Bulldogs have hit multiple home runs in each of the first two games of the season.
- It was Dixon's second career win.
The Bulldogs and Roadrunners close out their weekend series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostbaseball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dixon, Jake (1-0)
L: Joven, Arthur (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Roberson, Jacen 1
RBI: Charles, Eric 1 ; Roberson, Jacen 2 ; Terrazas, James 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Roberson, Jacen 1 ; Berkey,Evan 1 ; Saldivar, Angel 1 ; Kinkade, Konner 1 ; Rivers, CJ 1 ; Grossman, Nick 1
SB: Charles, Eric 1 ; Grossman, Nick 1
HBP: Kinkade, Konner 1
Batting:
2B: Higgins, Ryan 1 ; Presno, Zach 1
HR: Presno, Zach 1 ; Kachel, Andrew 1
RBI: Higgins, Ryan 2 ; Lauck, Josh 2 ; Presno, Zach 1 ; Thimjon, Nate 2 ; Morgan, Zach 1 ; Kachel, Andrew 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Higgins, Ryan 1 ; Lauck, Josh 1 ; Presno, Zach 2 ; Thimjon, Nate 1 ; Andrews, Jr., EJ 1 ; Jamison, Jeff 1 ; Kachel, Andrew 2
SB: Thimjon, Nate 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
5
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
4
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
Outfield
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ Baseball
Infield
/ Baseball
Infield
/ Baseball
Infield
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ BaseballInfield
/ Baseball
Catcher
/ Baseball
Catcher
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ Baseball
Outfield
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