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Fresno State Athletics
Tuesday, May 18
Fresno, CA
5:05 P.M. PT
Fresno State
17-22
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USC
22-23
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Fresno State
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Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Presno's walk-off grand slam pushes 'Dogs over USC
5/18/2021 10:15:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - A six-run bottom of the ninth inning was capped off by a walk-off grand slam by Zach Presno to give the Diamond 'Dogs a dramatic 13-10 comeback win over USC, 13-10 on Tuesday evening at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Trailing 8-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth, Fresno State (17-22) used a five-run inning in the sixth and a six-run frame in the ninth to mount the furious come-from-behind win over USC (22-23).
With Presno being the hero of the game with the grand slam, the 30th home run in his career, a mark that moves him into a tie for 10th all-time in program history, it was Ryan Higgins who had a career night going 5-for-5 from the plate with two home runs, three singles and three runs scored.
Leadoff hitter EJ Andrews, Jr. went 3-for-5 with a single, double and home run, scored two runs and drove in a pair.
On the mound, six different 'Dogs saw action with Nik Cardinal making his fifth start and team-leading 19th appearances on the season.
After two innings from him, Cooper Bergman and Kyle Pruhsmeier each saw action for a pair followed by single innings from Tommy Hopfe, Robbie Peters and Ixan Henderson who earned his first career win as a Bulldog.
How It Happened
Facing a 5-0 deficit after two-and-half innings, the 'Dogs got on the board with a pair of solo home runs by Andrews, Jr. (watch) and Higgins (watch) in the bottom of the third inning.
Three more runs for the Trojans were pushed across in the sixth to give the visitors a 8-2 lead, but the Bulldogs refused to go away breaking out for a five-run frame.
Andrews, Jr. got the action started with an RBI double to right-center (watch) before Andrew Kachel unleashed his team-leading 10th home run of the season with a three-run shot to left field (watch) to close the Southern Cal's lead to 8-6. Higgins brought the 'Dogs within one following with a solo bomb to left field (watch).
USC brought in two insurance runs in the ninth for a 10-7 lead, but the 'Dogs were far from done scoring as Nate Thimjon ripped a two-run RBI single to left (watch) to cut the Trojans' lead to 10-9.
Walks to both Zach Morgan and Mason Grotto loaded the bases for Presno, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the eighth, as the Clovis native belted a grand slam to left field (watch) for the walk-off win.
Up next
The Bulldogs close out the home portion of the regular season hosting UNLV (19-11, 14-10 MW) this weekend.
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Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostbaseball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Trailing 8-2 heading to the bottom of the sixth, Fresno State (17-22) used a five-run inning in the sixth and a six-run frame in the ninth to mount the furious come-from-behind win over USC (22-23).
With Presno being the hero of the game with the grand slam, the 30th home run in his career, a mark that moves him into a tie for 10th all-time in program history, it was Ryan Higgins who had a career night going 5-for-5 from the plate with two home runs, three singles and three runs scored.
Leadoff hitter EJ Andrews, Jr. went 3-for-5 with a single, double and home run, scored two runs and drove in a pair.
On the mound, six different 'Dogs saw action with Nik Cardinal making his fifth start and team-leading 19th appearances on the season.
After two innings from him, Cooper Bergman and Kyle Pruhsmeier each saw action for a pair followed by single innings from Tommy Hopfe, Robbie Peters and Ixan Henderson who earned his first career win as a Bulldog.
How It Happened
Facing a 5-0 deficit after two-and-half innings, the 'Dogs got on the board with a pair of solo home runs by Andrews, Jr. (watch) and Higgins (watch) in the bottom of the third inning.
Three more runs for the Trojans were pushed across in the sixth to give the visitors a 8-2 lead, but the Bulldogs refused to go away breaking out for a five-run frame.
Andrews, Jr. got the action started with an RBI double to right-center (watch) before Andrew Kachel unleashed his team-leading 10th home run of the season with a three-run shot to left field (watch) to close the Southern Cal's lead to 8-6. Higgins brought the 'Dogs within one following with a solo bomb to left field (watch).
USC brought in two insurance runs in the ninth for a 10-7 lead, but the 'Dogs were far from done scoring as Nate Thimjon ripped a two-run RBI single to left (watch) to cut the Trojans' lead to 10-9.
Walks to both Zach Morgan and Mason Grotto loaded the bases for Presno, who entered the game as a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the eighth, as the Clovis native belted a grand slam to left field (watch) for the walk-off win.
Up next
The Bulldogs close out the home portion of the regular season hosting UNLV (19-11, 14-10 MW) this weekend.
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostbaseball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Henderson, Ixan (1-1)
L: Clow, Nate (1-1)
Batting:
2B: Thomas, Rhylan 1 ; Ramirez, Ben 1 ; Wells, Carson 2 ; Rodriguez, Miko 1 ; Clow, Nate 1
RBI: Thomas, Rhylan 2 ; Turner, Tyresse 1 ; Ramirez, Ben 2 ; Wells, Carson 1 ; Clow, Nate 4
SH: Wells, Carson 1
SF: Thomas, Rhylan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Thomas, Rhylan 2 ; Turner, Tyresse 1 ; Owens, Clay 2 ; Guillemette, Garret 2 ; Wells, Carson 1 ; Clow, Nate 2
PO: Guillemette, Garret 1
Batting:
2B: Andrews, Jr., EJ 1 ; Luna, Ivan 1 ; Thimjon, Nate 1
HR: Andrews, Jr., EJ 1 ; Kachel, Andrew 1 ; Higgins, Ryan 2 ; Presno, Zach 1
RBI: Andrews, Jr., EJ 2 ; Kachel, Andrew 3 ; Higgins, Ryan 2 ; Thimjon, Nate 2 ; Presno, Zach 4
Base Running:
RUNS: Andrews, Jr., EJ 2 ; Kachel, Andrew 2 ; Higgins, Ryan 3 ; Lauck, Josh 1 ; Thimjon, Nate 1 ; Grotto, Mason 1 ; Wink, Blake 1 ; Pirruccello, Marco 1 ; Presno, Zach 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
lf/3b
AB
5
R
3
H
5
RBI
2
AB
5
R
2
H
3
RBI
2
AB
4
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
5
R
1
H
2
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
Outfield
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Pitcher
/ Baseball
Pitcher
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Infield
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ BaseballInfield
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Catcher
/ BaseballInfield
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Catcher
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ Baseball
Catcher
/ Baseball
Pitcher
/ BaseballOutfield
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