FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team claimed its first series victory of 2024 with a 9-3 win over the Milwaukee Panthers at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Milwaukee was the first on the board after back-to-back singles and an error gave the Panthers a one run lead in the top of the first.
The lead didn't last long as Murf Gray stepped to the plate in the bottom of the inning and crushed a two-run homer in the bottom of the inning, sending Eddie Saldivar over the dish.
The Bulldogs struck again in the bottom of the third as Tommy Hopfe was able to sneak across the plate on a wild pitch, making it a 3-1 game.
Milwaukee bats found life in the fourth inning with three hits and two runs scored to tie the game.
After three straight scoreless innings, Fresno State bounced back in an electric eighth inning. Long Beach State transfer Rocco Peppi hit a sharp double down the left field line, scoring Hopfe. Senior Grady Morgan cleared the bases immediately following with a home run off of the right field foul pole, sending Peppi home.
Marco Pirruccello found his way on base after an error from the Panthers' catcher and Bobby Blandford and Justin Stransky quickly joined him, getting hit by pitches in consecutive at bats. Eddie Saldivar singled to right field and brought in Blandford and Pirruccello. Stransky made his way home on a wild pitch before the end of the six-run frame.
The Bulldogs held the Panthers to a three-up, three-down inning, locking in a 9-3 win over Milwaukee.
NOTES:
Jake Riding and Valley natives Noah Beal and Cam Schneider all made their Bulldog debut on the field in game two against the Panthers.
Clovis's Noah Beal started the game and went for six innings with nine strikeouts recorded.
Jake Riding earned his first Division I win in nine innings, striking out three batters and only allowing one hit.
Murf Gray was the first Diamond 'Dog to get one over the wall in 2024, quickly followed by Grady Morgan on opposite sides of the field.
Fresno State outscored Milwaukee 11-0 in the eighth inning so far in this series.
UP NEXT:
The Bulldogs are back on the field to wrap up the series tomorrow with an updated first pitch of 12:35 p.m. PT due to rain.