FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team clawed their way to a 9-8 walk-off victory over the Pacific Tigers on Tuesday night at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Tigers started the scoring in the top of the second on an RBI single and sacrifice fly to give Pacific a pair of runs.
The Diamond 'Dogs responded with a three-hit, three-run inning in the bottom half of the frame with one-baggers from Cam Schneider, Tyler Davis and Eddie Saldivar.
Two solo shots in the top of the fifth pushed Pacific ahead of the Bulldogs, 5-3 before Grady Morgan evened the score with a two-RBI double down the left-field line.
The Tigers knocked their third home run of the night in the top of the seventh to make it an 8-5 ballgame.
Fresno State crept forward in the next two innings with a sacrifice fly from Rocco Peppi and a two-run shot from Eddie Saldivar.
The Bulldogs and Tigers stayed knotted through regulation and Tommy Hopfe shifted from first base to the mound, retiring the side in three batters faced.
Marco Pirruccello opened the bottom of the 10th with a single to left field. The Bulldogs soon loaded the bases with reining Mountain West Player of the Week Eddie Saldivar at the dish. Saldivar singled through the left side to drive in pinch runner Sky Collins and secure a 9-8 victory for Fresno State in extras.
NOTES
With a pair of doubles on the night, Grady Morgan extended his hit streak to 11 games.
Tommy Hopfe earned his first win of the season with a painless performance as the Bulldogs' closer for the night.
Cam Schnieder earned his first hit of the season and Sky Collins saw his first in-game action for the Bulldogs as a pinch runner in the final inning.
Eddie Salidvar, Mountain West Player of the Week, went 2-3 on the night with his second home run in consecutive games at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
UP NEXT: The Bulldogs are challenging their first ranked opponent of the season, No. 19 UC Irvine and Columbia at home this weekend, starting with a contest against the Anteaters on Thursday, March 7 at 6:05 p.m. PT.