FRESNO, Calif. ? Defending NCAA National Champion Fresno State used some timely hits, along with solid pitching and defensive play to claim a 16-1 win over CSUB on day-two of the 31st Annual Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic at Beiden Field Tuesday.
The Bulldogs (7-4 overall) scored 16 runs on 12 hits and two Bakersfield errors, putting together four multiple run innings. The Roadrunners, meanwhile, banged out 10 hits and had runners in scoring position in four innings, but failed to push any across home plate after the first inning, stranding 11 total runners on base.
Bakersfield (3-7 overall) opened the top of the first by taking a quick 1-0 lead. With one out, Kyle Richardson led things off with a single up the middle. Ryan McIntyre followed with a single through the left side and both runners advanced on a wild pitch. Clean-up Jeremy Rodriguez then sacrifice flied out to left field, sending Richardson home.
The Bulldogs responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning, courtesy of a two-RBI single by Kenny Wise and a first-and-third double steal in which Steve Detwiler safely reached home.
After two-and-a-half scoreless innings, Fresno State broke open the two-run game with four runs in the fourth and three in the fifth. With two-outs in the fourth, Brenna Gowens doubled to left-center field, scoring Wise, who had led off the inning with a single. Gowens scored while Gavin Hedstrom reached on an error and Alan Ahmady blasted a two-RBI triple to right-center field, sending Hedstrom and Danny Muno, who reached on a walk, across home plate for a pair of unearned runs.
A two-run home run by Danny Robinson and a passed ball accounted for the Bulldogs three-run fifth inning, and Tom Mendoca led off the sixth with a solo shot to right, giving Fresno State an 11-1 lead. Fresno State added five more in the eighth, two on a home run by Jordan Ribera and three on a bases-clearing double by Ryan Allgrove.
Bakersfield starting pitcher Erik Draxton took the loss, moving to 1-1 on the season. The junior right-hander recorded five strikeouts, seven walks and six hits in 4.1 innings of work.
Derek Benny picked up his first collegiate win, striking out three and scattering seven hits in five innings for the Bulldogs.
The Roadrunners got a pair of hits each from Richardson, McIntyre, Stuart Smith and Derek Geisinger, but got it's only RBI from Rodriguez, his seventh of the season.
Tournament action continues Wednesday when Bakersfield takes on the University of Portland at 6:00 p.m.
Score by Innings R H E
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CSU Bakersfield..... 100 000 000 - 1 10 2
Fresno State........ 300 431 05X - 16 12 0
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Win - Benny (1-1). Loss - Draxton (1-1). Save - Morse (1).
E - Medina(5); Draxton(3). LOB - CSUB 11; FS 9. 2B - Allgrove(2); Gowens(1). 3B - Ahmady(2). HR - Mendonca(4); Ribera(1); Robinson(2). HBP - Boren;
Johnson. SH - Hedstrom(1). SF - Rodriguez(1). SB - Richardson(2); Detwiler(1); Wise(2); Gowens(1). CS - McIntyre(1); Ahmady(1).
