'Dogs race past Roadrunners, 12-5

Tuesday, March 1

Bakersfield, CA

7:05 P.M. PT

Fresno State

4-4

CSU Bakersfield

3-4

Fresno State

CSU Bakersfield

Photo by: Josie Robles

'Dogs race past Roadrunners, 12-5

3/1/2022 10:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Travis Blanshan / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - The Diamond 'Dogs got back on the winning track on Tuesday evening defeating CSU Bakersfield, 12-5 at Hardt Field.

After being held to five runs in three games in the Tony Gwynn Legacy, Fresno State (4-4) broke out offensively scoring 12 runs and belting 15 hits, including five extra-base knocks.

Freshman Bobby Blandford recorded his first pair of hits as a Bulldog belting a double and home run while scoring a pair of runs. Ben Newton notched his second straight three-hit contest finishing with a pair of singles, a double, drove in an RBI and scored a run.

Payton Allen, Zach Morgan and Andrew Kachel all tacked on two hits apiece while Josh Lauck belted a two-run RBI triple.

On the pitching side, seven Bulldogs saw action on the mound with Trevor Garcia getting his second start of the season while southpaw Robbie Peters earned his second win of the season tossing 0.2 innings and struck out one.

How It Happened
The 'Dogs got the scoring started in the top of first with a pair of runs as four of the first six Bulldogs reached base. Singles by Allen, Ivan Luna and an error by the Roadrunners' third baseman allowed Morgan to reach base and load the bases for Kachel who flew out to center for a sacrifice fly. Bakersfield native Tommy Hopfe followed with a double to left to bring home Luna for a 2-0 lead.

The Bulldogs put up two more runs in the second as the first three 'Dogs reached base. A single by Blandford, his first career hit as a Bulldog, a walk by Nate Thimjon and an RBI single by Newton drove in Blandford before a sacrifice bunt by Luna brang home Thimjon for a 4-0 lead.

After a scoreless third and fourth innings, the 'Dogs extended their lead to 5-0 in the fifth thanks to Kachel's second RBI of the night on a single to right that scored a racing Morgan who slid under CSUB catcher Bailey Seeger's attempted tag. Initially called out, after a video review, the call was reversed and Morgan was ruled safe.

The Roadrunners quickly answered back with three runs and five base knocks in the bottom of the fifth getting a solo home run by AJ Miller and back-to-back RBI singles to cut the 'Dogs lead to 5-3 before Peters came on for a pair of quick outs and Alex Kendrick got a groundout to shortstop to strand a pair of runners ending the frame.

A solo home run by Blandford in the top of the sixth pushed the 'Dogs lead back to three at 6-3, but CSU Bakersfield again kept the offense going getting two runs in the bottom of the sixth with a two-run RBI double by Seeger. With Seeger at second and representing the tying run, Morgan was able to pick him off the base and keep the 'Dogs in the lead.

Lauck's two-out, two-run RBI triple to right-center in the seventh put the 'Dogs up, 8-5 and four more runs came through in the eighth as the 'Dogs capitalized on a pair of fielding blunders by the Roadrunners.

Zach Statzer struck out the final five Roadrunners he faced to seal the seven-run victory.

Up next
The Bulldogs return home to host Portland (6-1) this weekend for Mardi Gras Weekend.

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