SAN JOSE, Calif. - The Diamond 'Dogs dropped a hard-fought 5-4 contest to San Jose State on Saturday afternoon at Excite Ballpark.
Fresno State (23-24, 11-12 MW) attempted a ninth-inning rally scoring two in its final at-bat, but came up short in the second game of the series.
The Bulldogs outhit the Spartans for the second straight game edging San Jose State, 13-8 with nine different 'Dogs registering a base knock on the afternoon.
Ivan Luna recorded his 21st multi-hit game of the season with three hits, including his 16th double, and drove in his team-leading 48th RBI.
Andrew Kachel and Blake Wink each tallied two hits apiece while Travis Welker scored two of the 'Dogs four runs.
On the pitching side, Jake Dixon made his 13th start going 5.2 innings limiting SJSU to five hits, two runs, one walk and sent down eight Spartans on strikes.
Kyle Prushmeier, Robbie Peters, Trevor Garcia and Zach Statzer closed out the game with Garcia taking his second loss of the season.
How It Happened
The Spartans jumped on the scoreboard first with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the first from Robert Hamchuk.
The Bulldogs knotted the game at one in the third when Welker led off with a single and after a pair of wild pitches pushed him to third, he came home to score when Wink bounced into a double play.
SJSU responded with a solo home run from Hamchuk in the bottom of the frame to regain the lead, but the 'Dogs tied the game at two in the sixth when pinch-hitter Tommy Hopfe came off the bench and delivered a two-out RBI double to right field.
The Spartans scored three in the bottom of the eighth to push their lead to 5-2 with a two-out RBI single to right followed by a two-run RBI single up the middle.
The 'Dogs came out firing in the ninth with Welker leading off with a walk followed by an RBI triple by Kachel to left-center as the first baseman came home to score on a fielder's choice by Luna.
Trailing by one and with the go-ahead run at the plate, Ben Newton flew out to center to end the 'Dogs rally.
Up next
The 'Dogs and Spartans close out the weekend on Sunday at 12:05 p.m.