FRESNO, Calif. - The Diamond 'Dogs opened their home slate on Thursday afternoon with a pair of one-run victories over Nebraska Omaha defeating the Mavericks, 2-1 in game one and 3-2 in game two.
Fresno State (3-2), who extended their home opening winning streak to 15 with a win in game one, totaled five hits in game one tacking on six more in the nightcap.
Grady Morgan and Michael McKernan tallied doubles in the opener with Morgan knocking in both of the 'Dogs runs.
In the second game, five different 'Dogs totaled hits with a pair from Tommy Hopfe and runs from Ben Newton, Payton Allen and Nikoh Mitchell.
On the mound, Ixan Henderson earned the win in game one matching his career high with seven shutout innings allowing three hits and striking out five. Roman Angelo picked up his first save of the season, throwing the final two innings allowing one hit and one unearned run.
Trevor Garcia got the starting nod in game two tossing 4.1 innings striking out a career-high eight.
Robbie Peters came in for an out in the fifth to earn the win with Zach Statzer, Victor Arreola and Tommy Hopfe closing out the game as Hopfe earned the save.
How It Happened in Game One
The opening game saw a pitcher's duel ensue with a scoreless first five innings of play between Henderson and Nebraska Omaha's preseason All-American Caleb Riedel.
The 'Dogs were finally able to break up Riedel's no-hit bid in the sixth with a leadoff double by McKernan. The junior center fielder moved to third on a single by Newton and came home to score on a sacrifice fly by Morgan.
The Bulldogs added a key insurance run in the eighth on a two-out RBI double to right by Morgan that drove home Travis Welker for a 2-0 lead.
That run came up clutch as the Mavericks broke up the 'Dogs shutout bid in the ninth with a two-out RBI double down the left field line by Mike Boeve. With the tying run on second, Angelo got a flyout to center as Mitchell was able to race in and secure the win.
How It Happened in Game Two
The Bulldogs opened game two with a pair of runs in the third inning with an RBI single by Hopfe and an RBI groundout by Allen for a 2-0 lead.
After a leadoff home run by UNO in the fifth cut the 'Dogs lead down to 2-1, the Mavs tied the game at two in the sixth on an RBI groundout.
The 'Dogs quickly responded with the eventual game-winning run in the bottom of the frame as pinch-hitter Tyler Davis came up huge coming off the bench for a sacrifice fly that brang home Allen from third.
After back-to-back perfect innings from Arreola in the seventh and eighth, UNO put runners on first and second with two outs in the ninth, but Hopfe was able to get a flyout to right to lock down the victory.
Up next
The Bulldogs and Mavericks look to wrap up the four-game series on Saturday and Sunday.