Courtesy of Fresno State Athletics

STANFORD, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team erupted for six runs in the ninth inning to pull away for a 15-4 win over Stanford on Saturday afternoon at Sunken Diamond.

With the victory, the Bulldogs improved to 5-4 on the season, piling up 14 hits and drawing 12 walks in a complete offensive performance. Eight of Fresno State’s nine starters reached base, and six different Bulldogs drove in at least one run.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Stanford struck first with a sacrifice fly in the opening inning and added solo home runs in the third, fourth and fifth to stay within striking distance early. Fresno State answered in the third when Griffen Sotomayor roped an RBI double to right, scoring Owen Faust to tie the game at 1-1.

The Bulldogs seized control in the fourth inning with a four-run frame. Mikey Boyd started the rally with a double before Marcus Nolen reached on an error that allowed Boyd to score. Austin Young followed with a two-run double to left center, and Faust added a sacrifice fly to cap the inning and give Fresno State a 5-2 lead.

Fresno State tacked on single runs in the fifth and two more in the sixth, taking advantage of free passes and hit-by-pitches. In the sixth, Jett Ruby and Faust reached to open the inning before Sky Collins was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Nolen later added a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 8-4.

After a quiet seventh, the Bulldogs delivered the knockout blow in the ninth. Ruby singled to spark the inning, and Sotomayor and Collins followed with base hits to plate two runs. Boyd singled and reached safely on a throwing error that brought another run home before Nolen crushed a three-run home run to deep left field, his second of the season, to cap the six-run outburst.

NOTES

  • Tyler Patrick (1-1) earned the win, allowing four runs on 10 hits over five innings while striking out two.
  • Parker Heintz was dominant in relief, tossing four hitless innings with one strikeout to secure his first save of the season and shut the door on any Stanford comeback hopes.
  • Boyd led the way at the plate with a 4-for-5 afternoon and three runs scored.
  • Ruby reached base four times, going 2-for-4 with two runs and two walks. Faust scored a team-high four runs and added an RBI.
  • Sotomayor finished 2-for-3 with three walks and an RBI double, while Collins drove in three runs and added a stolen base.
  • Nolen provided the biggest swing of the day, launching a three-run homer in the ninth and finishing with four RBIs.
  • Young chipped in with a two-run double as part of a 1-for-4 performance.

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will look to carry the momentum into the series finale against the Cardinal on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT at Sunken Diamond with coverage on ACCN+ on ESPN+.