SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team was defeated by top-seeded and host UC Santa Barbara, 9-6, in the Bulldogs' first regional performance since 2019.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UC Santa Barbara took an early opportunity to score with a solo home run in the bottom of the first. Starting pitcher Noah Beal struck out the fifth batter in the order to close the inning.
Bobby Blandford walked, and Justin Stransky reached first on an error to start the second inning. Ben Newton drove them both in with a single up the middle.
Beal held the Gauchos scoreless for two innings, striking out four straight batters over the second and third innings.
The fourth inning brought four runs for the 'Chos as they quickly loaded the bases. A sacrifice fly scored one, and the bases cleared after a three-run homer. They scored a sixth run in the fifth inning with two hits: a double and a single.
Blandford doubled down the right line to lead off the sixth and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Michael McKernan sent him home with a sacrifice fly to left field.
A home run and an RBI single extended their lead by three runs in the bottom of the inning.
UCSB's left fielder lost a popup from lead-off hitter Stransky in the lights, turning into a double and his first hit of the game. Newton walked and Eddie Saldivar reached on a fielder's choice. An error on the play sent Stransky over the plate and Newton to third. Grady Morgan earned an RBI with a single that plated Saldivar.
Fresno State held the Gauchos scoreless in the bottom of the eighth, and Tyler Davis led off the top of the ninth with a single to left center. Stransky hit a single that landed runners on the corners, but the game concluded after back-to-back flyouts.
NOTES
Newton, Davis and Stransky all had a multiple-hit game.
The Diamond 'Dog pitching staff recorded 12 strikeouts. Half of those came from Beal who pitched 3.0 innings.
The Bulldogs are in familiar territory this week after dropping their opening game as they did to start the 2024 Mountain West Championship.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will face the two-seed San Diego on Saturday at 1 p.m. PT at Caesar Uyesaka Stadium.
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