After a 12-5 rout of Cal State Bakersfield on Tuesday night, the Diamond ‘Dogs were back at Bob Bennett Stadium to face the Portland Pilots for a three-game weekend series.
The ‘Dogs lost the opener on Friday 7-4, but bounced back to beat the Pilots 1-0, Saturday and hammered them 7-1 on Sunday.
Portland started with a 1-0 lead on Friday. It wasn’t until the fifth inning that the ‘Dogs got on the scoreboard.
Shortstop Andrew Kachel doubled to start off the inning and came around to score on a Bobby Blandford single. After stealing second, Blandford scored on a Ben Newton single up the middle, making it 2-1 for the Bulldogs after five innings.
Portland tied things up when Tony Boetto singled to left center and scored Jake Holfcroft.
The ‘Dogs came right back in the bottom of the seventh. Blandford drew a walk and then Nate Thimjon singled, advancing to second on a throwing error by relief pitcher Joey Gartrell. Liam Hatakenaka then took over for the Pilots and gave up an RBI single to Vinny Bologna who was pinch hitting for Newton. Blandford scored on the play and gave the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead.
Payton Allen ripped a single to score Thimjon and boost the ‘Dogs lead to 4-2.
Sophomore reliever Zach Statzer was brought in to preserve the two-run lead, but the Pilots struck for five runs on five base hits in the top of the eighth.
The Diamond ‘Dogs were not able to answer, only getting two hits in the final two innings of the loss.
Jake Dixon struck out nine through five innings of work, only allowing one run on five hits Friday night.
Statzer took the loss after the meltdown in the fifth inning, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk.
Newton led the way offensively for the Bulldogs, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Blandford contributed as well, going 1-for-3, scoring two runs and an RBI.
In the second game of the series on Saturday night, the ‘Dogs scored their lone run in the third inning started by a single from Matt Ottino.
Southpaw Ixan Henderson dealt for the Diamond ‘Dogs all night. The Fresno native earned the win, striking out nine Pilots and only giving up three hits and three walks through six innings of work.
“[Henderson’s] coming. He just keeps getting better and better and better, and as long as he keeps going, we are going to be in good shape,” head coach Mike Batesole said.
Normal Sunday starter Nikoh Mitchell came in to shut it down for the Bulldogs, pitching two innings and striking out four Pilots to earn his first save of the season.
Zach Morgan led the way for the ‘Dogs going 2-for-4 with the only RBI in the win. Designated hitter Mason Grotto went 3-for-4 as well.
In Sunday’s finale, the ‘Dogs’ bats came alive, defeating the Pilots 7-1.
Left fielder Briley Knight got Portland on the scoreboard first with an RBI single to left, scoring Holcroft in the first inning.
The Bulldogs struck right back in the second, Grotto drew a walk, and then Kachel reached on an error by the Pilot’s third baseman Evan Scavotto.
Then Blake Wink walked to load the bases for Travis Welker. Welker laced a two-run single up the middle, scoring Grotto and Kachel, giving the ‘Dogs a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom of the fourth, after Wink singled and Welker walked, Josh Lauck hit a bomb over the scoreboard in left-center, scoring three runs for the ‘Dogs and making it 5-1.
“Then to chip in with the bat, too and the three-run home run was probably the biggest hit of the day, I would say. So you know they pitched him tough all weekend. They got some fast balls by him, and tried to sneak one more by him and he got it,” Batesole said.
Fresno State added to its lead in the bottom of the sixth with Lauck walking and then stealing second. Morgan then doubled to right center, scoring Lauck and making it 6-1. After a pitching change for the Pilots, first baseman Ivan Luna hit an RBI single to right, scoring Morgan and making it 7-1.
Lauck led the way in hitting for the ‘Dogs in Sunday’s lopsided victory, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and scoring two runs, as well.
Morgan was also consistent throughout the series and went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI, also scoring a run in the win on Sunday.
“He’s a veteran. He’s a smart hitter. He’s a good breaking ball hitter. He is outstanding with two strikes. He doesn’t strike out,” Batesole said.
Roman Angelo, who is not a usual starter for the ‘Dogs, got the ball on Sunday and earned the win after giving up a run in the first inning.
Three relievers helped shut it down for the Bulldogs as Tommy Hopfe, Trevor Garcia and Cooper Bergman all pitched lights out in relief, allowing no runs on four hits combined.
After taking two out of three games against the Pilots last weekend, the Diamond ‘Dogs will be back at Bob Bennett Stadium to take on the Utah Utes on Tuesday evening. The first pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
