FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team split a doubleheader with San Diego State on Sunday afternoon with a 7-1 loss followed by an 11-1 win over the Aztecs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: SDSU 7, Fresno State 1
The Diamond 'Dogs had a slow start to the afternoon with only five hits in the first game of the day. The Aztecs scored five runs in the first two innings and added a pair off of an RBI single in the fifth and a solo home run in the sixth to conclude SDSU's scoring.
Tommy Hopfe brought in the Bulldogs' only run in the first game with an RBI double to score Eddie Saldivar.
Game 2: Fresno State 11, SDSU 1
The Bulldogs flipped the script in game two by scoring early and often, starting with Murf Gray driving in Eddie Saldivar in the first inning.
Rocco Peppi launched his first home run in a Bulldog uniform in the bottom of the fourth. Tyler Davis and Michael McKernan hit back-to-back doubles to drive in an additional pair of runs.
Starting pitcher Jack Anker struck out the side in the top of the fifth, and Ben Newton walked in another run in the bottom of the frame.
Fresno native Eddie Saldivar lived out his childhood dream of hitting a home run in Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium with a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth.
The Aztecs made their way on the board in the seventh on a pair of doubles, but the 'Dogs responded with an electric half of the inning. Pinch hitter Marco Pirruccello doubled on his first pitch and was scored by a Ben Newton single. The 'Dogs got two free runs, one walked in and one driven in by a hit-by-pitch to make it a 9-1 game.
Victor Arreola stepped on the mound to relieve Anker and held the Aztecs scoreless.
The Diamond 'Dogs sealed the deal in the bottom of the eighth as Marco Pirruccello hit a walk-off single that scored Grady Morgan, ending the game early with a 10-run lead after the seventh inning.
NOTES:
Fresno State ended game two early due to a Mountain West policy that rules a game completed if a team is up 10 runs after the seventh inning on a travel day during a MW series.
Grady Morgan had three hits on the day, extending his hit streak to 10 games.
Jack Anker had another lights-out performance on the mound for the Diamond 'Dogs, tying his career-best 7.0 innings pitched and eight strikeouts, both personal records he just set last weekend against the Cal State Fullerton Titans.
Victor Arreola came in on relief for the 'Dogs and retired three batters in only 10 pitches.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs will continue their homestand with a mid-week game against the Pacific Tigers on Tuesday, March 5, at 6:05 p.m. PT at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.