FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team closed out the long weekend with a 15-4 win over the Columbia Lions at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Columbia got the bats moving early with a two-run homer in the top of the first. The Bulldogs bounced back quickly, scoring two runs from a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch and an RBI ground-out from Grady Morgan to score Rocco Peppi.
After a three-up, three-down inning from starting pitcher Jack Anker, Rocco Peppi got Pete Beiden field rocking with his second home run and first grand slam in a Bulldog uniform.
Michael McKernan and pinch hitter Bobby Blandford made it an 8-2 game in the bottom of the third, each with bases-loaded sacrifice flies.
The Lions started to rally in the fourth with a solo shot over the left-field wall.
Murf Gray opened the bottom of the sixth inning with a no-doubter over the left field wall, quickly followed by a double from Ben Newton and a single from Justin Stransky. Michael McKernan hit a shot against the scoreboard, his first of the season, to drive in both runners and give the Bulldogs a 13-3 advantage.
In the bottom of the seventh, Tommy Hopfe scorched a ball over the wall along the right field line for a solo run. Freshman designated hitter Cam Schneider earned his first RBIs of the season with a single to left field to score Justin Stransky and Ben Newton.
The Lions scored one final run in the top of the ninth, but came up short, falling to the Bulldogs 15-4.
NOTES
At 11-4, the Bulldogs tie their best 15-game since 2016.
The Bulldogs accumulated four home runs, the most so far this season.
Freshman Can Schneider went 3-4 on the afternoon, with his first career RBI.
Rocco Peppi was 1-1 with a grand slam, his second home run in a Bulldog uniform.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will return to John Smith Field to face the Sac State Hornets on Tuesday, March 12 at 6 p.m. PT.