SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team concluded the 2024 season with a 7-5 loss to the University of San Diego in the Santa Barbara Regional.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Reining WCC Champion took an early advantage over the Diamond 'Dogs after a two-run homer in the top of the first.
Eddie Saldivar popped the Bulldogs' first hit of the came to right-center in the bottom of the inning for a double.
After a three-up, three-down inning for Jake Dixon, Grady Morgan led off the second with a single up the middle.
Dixon retired three straight batters for the second straight inning in the third. Tommy Hopfe hit his 19th double of the season just inches into fair territory down the left line and 'Dogs got on the board with a Murf Gray single up the middle that sent Hopfe over the plate.
San Diego extended its lead in the top of the fourth with a sacrifice fly and a pair of RBI doubles in the top of the fifth to make it a 6-1 game.
Gray cut down the Bulldog deficit in the fifth with a no-doubter over the left field wall to score Hopfe and Saldivar. Tyler Davis hit a double and was plated by a Justin Stransky single through the left side.
Both San Diego and Fresno State went scoreless in the sixth and seventh innings. The San Diego lead grew to two runs in the top of the eighth with a solo home run to right field.
Hopfe and Saldivar hit back-to-back singles in the ninth but with one out the Bulldogs grounded into a double play and concluded the game, 7-5 in San Diego's favor.
NOTES
The Bulldogs concluded the season with a 33-29 overall record.
Murf Gray earned four out of the team's five RBIs.
Fresno State was not shut out in a single game this season for the first time since 2016.