If cinema has taught us one thing over the years, it̢۪s that sequels are never as good as the original.

Too bad that carries over to the baseball diamond as well.

A year after their unprecedented run to the NCAA title, the Fresno State Bulldogs went two-and-out in the Irvine Regional last weekend, ending their season with a 32-30 record.

This marked the first time in nine games dating to last season that the Bulldogs lost in an elimination game.

Fresno State made the NCAA Tournament by sweeping a doubleheader against New Mexico State in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Championship to nab the conference̢۪s automatic bid.

The Bulldogs were placed in what many considered to be the nation̢۪s toughest regional at Anteater Ballpark in Irvine.

The regional featured the No. 1 UC Irvine Anteaters, ACC Champion Virginia Cavaliers, and San Diego State, which features the nation̢۪s top pitcher in Stephen Strasburg.

Fresno State faced off against the Anteaters in its opening game on Friday night.

Freshman right-hander Derek Benny got the start for the Bulldogs and was mildly effective, pitching 6 1/3 innings, while striking out three.

Benny had control issues though in the fourth inning that resulted in four runs for the Anteaters.

Those were the only runs UC Irvine would score in the game, but that was more than enough for Irvine̢۪s All-American southpaw Daniel Bibona.

The junior struck out 14 Bulldog batters and only allowed two runs.

One of those runs was a solo shot by freshman left fielder Dusty Robinson, who put one over the scoreboard in left-center field.

Fresno State lost by a score of 4-2.

The Diamond ‘Dogs came back on Saturday to play in the losers’ bracket where they matched up against the San Diego State Aztecs.

Although they didn̢۪t have to face Strasburg, the Bulldogs faced all they could handle in Aztec right-hander Taylor Lavigne.

Lavigne stymied the Bulldogs̢۪ offense, striking out eight batters. Fresno State̢۪s lone run came off of an RBI triple from freshman designated hitter Kenny Wise.

Junior Matt Morse surrendered two home runs on the mound for the Bulldogs and Fresno State would go on to lose 4-1 and end its season.

Virginia ended up winning the regional, by defeating UC Irvine, 5-1.

One bright spot for Fresno State was the performance of senior Holden Sprague.

The Fresno native ended his collegiate career by pitching 3 1/3 solid innings of relief, allowing one unearned run.

Although Fresno State̢۪s 32nd appearance in the NCAA Tournament didn̢۪t exactly turn out the way the team wanted, it was an accomplishment that the Bulldogs even got into the tournament.

This was a team that needed to win three out of four games at Sacramento State to even make it back to the conference tournament.

Fresno State does have a lot to look forward to in 2010 though.

The entire starting rotation will be back next season, including a healthy Jake Floethe, who will be recovering from surgery in the offseason.

Offensively, the Bulldogs received contributions from several younger players this season.

Robinson, Wise, Trent Garrison and Brennan Gowens were all freshmen who logged a significant amount of playing time.

Add in Danny Muno, Jordan Ribera, Jake Johnson and Steve Detwiler, if he can regain his 2008 form, and this is a team built to win right now.

Though the sounds of aluminum bats won’t be ringing through Pete Beiden Field anytime soon, there is still a sense of hope for the Diamond ‘Dogs.

Fresno State opens with Nebraska next season and the 2010 college baseball season will start two weeks earlier.

February is right around the corner – see you next season.