Coach Batesole said his young pitching staff would be an Achilles hill this season for the Bulldogs.
After giving up 11 runs last Saturday to Washington, the Bulldogs̢۪ pitching staff looked like it had shaken all the nerves out.

But once again the Bulldogs (2-2) showed those early-season jitters and surrendered double-digit runs, dropping Tuesday night̢۪s nonconference game to Cal Poly (3-1) 13-11 at Pete Beiden Field.

Fresno State̢۪s pitchers, which included three freshmen and two junior college transfers, gave up three homers on the night and 14 hits, matching a season-high for hits allowed.

Batesole said his pitching staff̢۪s high pitch count (190 pitches) and a sloppy defense (three errors) led to the Bulldogs̢۪ demise Tuesday night.

Fresno State̢۪s pitchers have thrown more than 400 pitches in their two losses combined.

“We’re going to keep running [the young pitchers] out there,â€Â Batesole said. “Sooner or later they’re either going to stop pitching or stop pitching scared. Whatever happens first.â€Â

Mustangs unstoppable despite ‘Dogs’ offense

The Bulldogs got a tremendous output from their offense, which scored double-digit runs for the first time this season, but every time Fresno State scored the Mustangs had an answer.

Fresno State pulled ahead 11-9 in the bottom of the seventh thanks to Danny Muno̢۪s RBI double off the left field wall, but the lead didn̢۪t stick.

Cal Poly hit back-to-back homers in the top of the eighth to retake the lead. Freshmen Bobby Crocker and Matt Jensen took Fresno State right-hander Derek Benny deep to put the Mustangs up 13-11.

Muno led the Diamond ‘Dogs at the plate, going 2-for-5 with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Freshman outfielder Brennan Gowens made a case to become a staple in the starting lineup with his performance against the Mustangs on Tuesday night.

He hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the second inning that sailed more than 400 feet to dead-center field.

Gowens joins fellow freshman Dusty Robinson as the only two Bulldogs to homer this season.
Gowens finished the night 2-for-5 with two runs driven in and two runs scored.

“We were all seeing the ball well tonight, but the final score just didn’t go our way,â€Â Gowens said. “It was disappointing for all of us.â€Â

Cal Poly came into Tuesday night̢۪s game on a hot streak, taking two out of three games last weekend from the nationally-ranked Rice Owls.

Batesole tries out young team

The Bulldogs were without center fielder Gavin Hedstrom (wisdom teeth removal) on Tuesday night as well as infielder Alan Ahmady, who will serve the final game of a five-game suspension on Friday.

Batesole said it was good to get much-needed playing time for his young team, but looks forward to seeing what his complete lineup can do in the coming weeks.

“We’re going to play the young guys early and give them a chance,â€Â Batesole said. “Trying to do it without Ahmady and Hedstrom was tough and it showed.â€Â

The Bulldogs will look to get back on track this weekend against Pac-10 foe Oregon for a three-game series, which starts on Friday.

Fresno State will be the first team to play at the Ducks̢۪ new baseball complex, PK Park. Oregon̢۪s baseball program was reinstated this season after an 18-year hiatus.