FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team swept Nevada in Saturday's doubleheader at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium with 9-8 and 9-2 victories.
HOW IT HAPPENED
GAME ONE: Fresno State 9, Nevada 8
The Bulldogs took a quick lead in the bottom of the first with back-to-back hit batsmen that advanced on wild pitches twice to bring in a run.
Jake Dixon struck out the side in the top of the second, quickly bringing the 'Dogs back to the plate where an Eddie Saldivar RBI single would bring in a pair of runs in Tyler Davis and Bobby Blandford.
Murf Gray rocked a double into left field to lead off the bottom of the third and was quickly brought home by Bobby Blandford who singled to right. The Bulldogs extended their lead to 7-0 in the fifth as Rocco Peppi was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, followed by an RBI single from Tommy Hopfe.
Nevada started chipping away at the lead, hitting three home runs in the following two innings to score six.
With runners on first and third, Justin Stransky laid down a bunt that sent Ben Newton home and Eddie Saldivar advanced Bobby Blandford over the plate with an RBI single to score a pair of insurance runs for the Bulldogs in the eighth.
The Wolf Pack added two runs in the top of the ninth with a last-minute attempt at a comeback, but closer Tommy Hopfe held them back, securing a 9-8 victory for the Diamond 'Dogs.
GAME TWO: Fresno State 9, Nevada 2
Grady Morgan wasted no time driving in runs for the Bulldogs in game two of the double header as he hit an RBI double to score Tommy Hopfe and Eddie Saldivar early in the bottom of the first. Morgan crossed the plate after a sacrifice fly from Murf Gray. A Justin Stransky RBI would give the Bulldogs their fourth run of the inning, sending Ben Newton home.
Murf Gray sent Tommy Hopfe across the plate in the third with an RBI, and Rocco Peppi extended the Bulldog lead to seven in the fourth with an RBI single to left center.
Bobby Blandford earned a sac in the fifth with a flyout that sent Ben Newton home.
The Wolf Pack earned their first hit of the game in the sixth, scoring Nevada's only two runs on a home run hit to the scoreboard in left field.
Tommy Hopfe closed scoring for the Diamond 'Dogs in the bottom of the frame with an RBI single to score Rocco Peppi.
Noah Beal held the Wolf Pack to two runs and three hits through eight innings and was relieved by Jaykob Acosta in the ninth who closed out the game with a quick three-up, three-down innings to lock in the Bulldogs' 9-2 win.
NOTES
Starting pitcher Noah Beal had a career game, pitching a career-high 8.0 innings and recording 10 strikeouts, holding the Pack hitless through five innings.
In total, Bulldog pitching struck out 20 batters and allowed only three walks.
Tommy Hopfe and Murf Gray led the team at the plate with .667 slugging percentages.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs look for their second straight series sweep tomorrow against Nevada at 1:05 p.m. PT at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.