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.