SAN JOSE, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team defeated the San Jose State Spartans in game one of the weekend series at Excite Ballpark on Friday evening.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a pair of scoreless innings, the Bulldogs were the first on the board with back-to-back two-out doubles by Rocco Peppi and Tommy Hopfe to drive in three runs.
The 'Dogs got themselves in a pinch in the bottom of the third as the Spartans loaded the bases, but Tommy Hopfe collected two unassisted outs, catching a liner and beating the runner on first back to his bag to end the frame.
Ben Newton led off in the fourth inning with a four-pitch walk and reining Freshman of the Week Cam Schneider signed up the middle and advanced to second on a throwing error to push Newton to third. Newton scored on a ground-out, extending the Fresno State lead.
Tommy Hopfe hit a stand-up triple to lead off the fifth inning and was sent home by a sacrifice fly from Grady Morgan. Tyler Davis made it a 6-0 game with a sacrifice fly of his own to send Murf Gray home.
The Spartans' offense woke up in the bottom of the fifth off a solo shot off the left field foul pole, an RBI triple and an RBI single.
San Jose State continued its rally with a solo home run over the left-field wall in the bottom of the sixth.
Three-straight RBI singles from Ben Newton, Tyler Davis and Cam Schneider brought the Bulldog lead back to five to start the seventh inning.
The Spartans began to chip away with a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning to make it a 9-6 game.
Tommy Hopfe took over on the mound for the bottom of the ninth to close and held the Spartans, securing the 9-6 victory for the Bulldogs.
NOTES
Tommy Hopfe hit a single, double and triple in game one of the series, and stepped on the mound to close in the bottom of the ninth, earning him his fourth save.
Eight out of nine Bulldogs had at least one hit on the night, with four having a multiple-hit game.
The Bulldogs extended their win streak to five and snapped a three-game skid against San Jose State.
Mountain West ERA leader Jake Riding earned his third win of the season and lowered his ERA to 1.47.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will be back in action at Excite Ballpark on Saturday for game two of the series against the Spartans at 2:05 p.m.