Josh Lauck’s walk-off home run clinched a series win for the Diamond ‘Dogs in their weekend series against Nevada.
The Fresno State baseball team won its first two games of the series, 6-2 and 3-2 respectively, before dropping its final game of the series in extra innings, 7-6.
The series victory snapped a streak for the ‘Dogs in which they had lost five of their last six games, and also lifted the team to a .500 win percentage in conference games with a 3-3 record.
The Diamond ‘Dogs began the series with a dominant performance from sophomore pitcher Ixan Henderson, who pitched 6.2 innings and struck out seven batters while only allowing four hits and one earned run.
Henderson’s strong outing was backed up by an offensive explosion for Fresno State, which began in the first inning.
Andrew Kachel drew a four-pitch walk to become the first baserunner of the game for the ‘Dogs and was then knocked by an Ivan Luna single to center field.
Tommy Hopfe followed Luna with a single. With Hopfe and Luna on base, Vinny Bologna brought them home with his triple to extend their lead to 3-0.
In the second inning, Fresno State added two more from Luna’s infield single with the bases loaded.
Nevada scored its first run in the top of the third, but Hopfe responded by hitting a solo home run to open the fifth.
Following Hopfe’s homer, he was called on to relieve Henderson in the sixth.
He finished the game with 2.1 innings pitched and only allowed one run off of two hits, while also going 2 for 3 at the plate with a home run.
Nevada scored its second and final run in the eighth with back-to-back doubles, but Fresno State held on to win the game 6-2.
The second matchup of the series was originally scheduled for Saturday night, but was canceled due to rain, creating a doubleheader for the ‘Dogs on Sunday.
The Bulldogs began Sunday’s play by winning 3-2 with a walk-off home run.
Nevada opened up scoring in the bottom of the second inning when second baseman Joshua Zamora hit a solo home run.
Both teams then struggled offensively, with Fresno State not picking up its first hit until the fifth inning on a Bologna single.
Nevada added another run in the top of the eighth on a sacrifice fly to center field by Zamora.
The ‘Dogs entered the bottom of the ninth inning trailing two runs and with only two hits the entire game.
Despite this, Bologna kicked things off with a single to center and was immediately followed by a two-run home run from Payton Allen that tied the game 2-2.
Lauck followed Allen, and the redshirt senior then ended the game with a walk-off home run to clinch a Fresno State series victory.
The Diamond ‘Dogs had half-an-hour to celebrate before beginning the third and final game of the weekend.
Although they had won two straight games, Fresno State dropped the third game of the series 7-6 in extra innings.
The matchup began with neither team scoring for the first two innings. However, Ben Newton set the tone for the ‘Dogs by knocking in Allen for the first run of the game.
Kachel then hit a two-run home run the next at-bat to extend their lead to 3-0.
Nevada responded the next inning on a sac-fly from catcher Matt Clayton, but Fresno State then added two more runs in the bottom of the inning to extend its lead to 5-1.
In the sixth, Nevada began making its way back into the game.
They scored their first run on a throwing error by Kachel, then added another from a sac-fly by third baseman Tyler Bosetti.
Clayton then tied the game with a two-run home run, and Jacob Stinson gave Nevada the lead with a single to round out the inning.
The ‘Dogs performed more late-game heroics as Zach Morgan tied the game with an RBI single.
But Nevada clinched the game in the top of the 10th inning when right fielder Pat Caulfield singled to bring in the go ahead run.
The series victory has the Diamond ‘Dogs current record at 9-11 overall and added much needed wins in Mountain West play. The team’s next game will be a Tuesday night matchup against Long Beach State.
