Courtesy of Fresno State Athletics

SAN DIEGO – The Fresno State baseball team blazed their way through a double header in the Mountain West Championship, sending Air Force home after defeating them 10-3 and forcing a rematch with San Jose State after claiming an 8-5 victory over the Spartans.

The Diamond ‘Dogs will return at Tony Gwynn Stadium on Sunday for the title game at 1 p.m. PT.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Game One – No. 4 seed Fresno State vs. No. 1 seed Air Force
The Bulldogs took an early lead over Air Force as Murf Gray led off the top of the second with a solo shot over the left-field wall. Tyler Davis extended that lead in the top of the third with a homer of his own, scoring Grady Morgan and Gray who had both had hits to start the inning.

Justin Stransky and Michael McKernan hit back-to-back singles to start the fourth and were driven in by Tommy Hopfe with an RBI single to left field.

The Birds got on the board in the bottom of the frame due to a solo home run from MW Co-Player of the Year Jay Thomason.

Fresno State and Air Force each exchanged a run in the fifth with the Bulldogs adding a run from Gray’s second home run of the game, and an RBI double for the Falcons.

The Bulldogs added a run in both the sixth and seventh inning as Tommy Hopfe singled through the left side to score Stransky, and Stransky scored Gray with a sacrifice fly. Hopfe led off the eighth with a triple down the right-field line and was plated by an RBI from Morgan. Davis then reached first on a throwing error that sent Eddie Saldivar home.

Air Force scored their final run of the season in the bottom of the frame with a groundout RBI and was not able to cut down the Fresno State lead. The Bulldogs earned a 10-3 victory over the Falcons and advanced to the next game of the tournament against undefeated San Jose State.

Game Two – No. 4 seed Fresno State vs. No. 3 seed San Jose State
Ben Newton wasted no time sending one over the wall, hitting a homer to left-center on the second pitch of the game.

The Spartans retaliated with a two-run homer in the bottom of the second. The lead extended to four runs for the Spartans in the fourth inning after an overthrow to first allowed two runners to score and an RBI single.

Fresno State had a big seventh inning, quickly loading the bases with a single and two walks. Hopfe walked to bring in a run, and Gray hit a double that landed just inches away from the foul line to bring in two more runs.

The Bulldogs held the Spartans scoreless for two more innings before taking the lead in the top of the ninth with Gray’s second double of the game that sent Hopfe home, who reached first after being hit by the first pitch of the inning. Davis singled through the left side and Stransky managed to reach first on a fielder’s choice. Both runners were driven in by a single from Sky Collins in his second-ever Bulldog at-bat.

Victor Arreola held off the Spartans in the bottom of the ninth, retiring three straight batters to lock in an 8-5 win for Fresno State.

NOTES

  • Noah Beal tied his career-high of 12 strikeouts in the Bulldogs’ first game of the day without walking a batter through 7.1 innings.
  • The Bulldogs outhit opponents 27-13 in both games.
  • Fresno State is one win away from its first MW title since 2019.

UP NEXT
The Diamond ‘Dogs will face the Spartans again on Sunday at 1 p.m. PT in pursuit of a MW title at Tony Gwynn Stadium.

“Fresno State Athletics – Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities” – The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California’s Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate.