FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team handed the UC Irvine Anteaters their first loss of the season in a 13-1 slugfest at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium on Friday night.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State's Noah Beal opened the game with a three-strikeout inning and accumulated eight strikeouts before a run was scored by either team.
Bobby 'Barrels" Blandford crushed his first home run of the season in the bottom of the fourth inning to get the Bulldogs on the board, scoring Tyler Davis and Ben Newton who had both singled earlier in the inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Tyler Davis hit a no-doubter over the right field wall to add on a pair of runs for the Diamond 'Dogs.
The Anteaters made their way on the board in the top of the seventh on a wild pitch.
Pinch hitter Rocco Peppi filled in for designated hitter Lee Trevino and hit a first-pitch RBI single for the 'Dogs in the bottom of the seventh to make it a 6-1 game.
The Bulldogs secured some insurance runs in the bottom of the eight with four hits and seven runs, highlighted by a grand slam from Grady Morgan, his fourth home run of the season, to score Murf Gray, Tommy Hopfe and Eddie Saldivar.
Fresno State held the Anteaters to their one run and ended UC Irvine's win streak with a 13-1 victory.
NOTES
Starting pitcher Noah Beal had a career game with an astounding 12 strikeouts and no walks over 88 pitches in 7.0 innings pitched.
Grady Morgan leads the squad in home runs with four after his grand slam against the Anteaters.
The Bulldogs defeated the Anteaters by scoring a season-high 13 runs, including a season-high three home runs.
Despite falling to UC Irvine in the opening game of the weekend, Fresno State outscored UCI 17-14.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will continue the weekend with a pair of games against the Columbia Lions on Saturday and Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.