Matt Weir / The Collegian

It may be a little early to be making comparisons like that, but the Fresno State baseball team is giving new meaning to the label of “Cardiac Kids.â€Â

The Diamond ‘Dogs opened the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament with a loss last Thursday night, but bounced back with four straight wins facing elimination to clinch their fourth straight WAC Tournament title.

Fresno State needed a doubleheader sweep over New Mexico State on Sunday to make their 31st NCAA Tournament appearance and won both games in dramatic fashion.

Trailing 7-2 in game one, the Bulldogs came back to tie it up, capped off by a Trent Garrison single in the top of the eighth inning to knot the score at 7-7.

Sophomore first baseman Jordan Ribera, who came into the tournament batting an abysmal .113, gave the ‘Dogs the lead with a two-run, opposite-field homer over the left field wall to put Fresno State up 9-7 in the top of the ninth.

First Team All- WAC right-hander Holden Sprague picked up the win for the Bulldogs by pitching 4 1/3 innings of solid relief, allowing no runs and one hit.

Sprague pitched himself out of a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the bottom of the ninth by getting a flyout and an inning-ending double play.

Game two of the doubleheader proved to be even more nailbiting than the first.

With the score knotted at 3-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Ribera put the team on his shoulders again.

With a runner on first, the sophomore belted a 2-2 fastball over the wall in center field to give the ‘Dogs a 5-3 lead.

Matt Morse would close things out with a double play ball to end the game and send the ‘Dogs back to the NCAA Tournament to defend their national title.

For his heroics, Ribera was named the MVP of the WAC Tournament.

Ribera received limited playing time in the regular season, but due to the suspension of teammate Alan Ahmady, Ribera started at first base.

Fresno State will now head south for the Irvine Regional as the Bulldogs will face off against the No.1 national seed, UC Irvine.

Many believe this regional is the toughest in the nation as it features ACC Tournament champion Virginia and the San Diego State Aztecs, whose claim to fame is junior right-hander Stephen Strasburg, the projected No. 1 overall pick in next month̢۪s MLB Draft.

Joining Ribera on the All-Tournament Team were WAC Player of the Year Tom Mendonca, who hit three homers over the weekend, sophomore second baseman Danny Muno, senior center fielder Gavin Hedstrom, and freshmen pitcher Derek Benny, who earned a complete-game victory against regular season champion San Jose State.

Fresno State beat the Spartans on Friday, 6-3, and eliminated host Hawaii on Saturday with a 10-3 victory.

The Bulldogs face off against the UC Irvine Anteaters on Friday at 8 p.m. The game will be televised on ESPNU.