The Fresno State Diamond ‘Dogs remain in sole possession of first place in the Mountain West Conference with their three-game series sweep against Washington State University over the weekend.
With the sweep, the Bulldogs now have a 15-6 conference record, three games ahead of both the University of Nevada, Reno and the University of New Mexico.
Starting pitchers Jack Anker and Aidan Cremarosa continued their dominant form, striking out eight and 11 batters, respectively.
“The fastball sets the tone,” Anker said after Friday night’s win. “Putting that in the right spots, getting in, getting out, up, down and really just making the pitches needed to make.”
After a streaky Friday night, the bats got hot on Saturday and Sunday, erupting for 19 runs combined in the final two games of the series.
Designated hitter Griffen Sotomayor had quite the series against his former team. Sotomayor opened up the series going 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, but said Friday’s win wasn’t any different coming against his old squad.
“Just another day at the ballpark for us,” Sotomayor said.
Sotomayor continued to wreak havoc on the Cougars, going 7-for-11 over the three-game series.
“It’s easy to get kind of caught up in the stats and stuff, but really just trying to show up and have a productive at bat and help the team win any chance I can,” Sotomayor said.
April 25, Fresno State 6, Washington State 3
The Diamond ‘Dogs were the first to strike, scoring three runs in the bottom of the third inning.
Multiple singles and an error from Washington State allowed Fresno State to move runners over, scoring three runs by the end of the inning.
Despite taking a 3-0 lead, the ‘Dogs could have done more damage as they stranded three runners to end the inning.
Anker was dealing early, having allowed just one baserunner through four innings, but found himself in a hole in the top of the fifth inning.
With no outs and runners at the corners, Anker looked to be in trouble.
After a mound visit, Anker struck out Washington State’s Luke Thiele on four pitches, but wasn’t done yet.
He followed up with back-to-back three-pitch strikeouts ending the inning and getting out of the jam, undamaged.
“Just remembering, one pitch at a time, one bat at a time, one out at a time,” Anker said. “That’s really what can kind of help out in those big situations.”
Similar to the successful third inning, the Bulldogs’ bats warmed up.
Right fielder Bobby Blandford led off the inning with a stand-up triple, igniting the dugout and the Red Wave. Sotomayor drove him in with a single to right field. The Bulldogs scored one more run in the fifth inning, taking a 5-0 lead.
Anker ran into some trouble in the eighth inning, allowing two runs. After getting out of the inning, Anker’s night was finished, having allowed seven hits while striking out eight.
With the Cougars now within 3 runs, Bobby Blandford responded with a solo shot to right field to start the bottom of the eighth inning.
JT Guerrero took the mound in the ninth inning to close out the game for the Diamond ‘Dogs. After letting up two hits and a run, he finished the game with a groundout.
Bulldogs take the series opener 6-3.
April 26, Fresno State 8, Washington State 0
Similar to Friday night, strong pitching early allowed the offense to get going.
First baseman Cayden Munster got the scoring started for the Bulldogs, hitting a three-run home run in the bottom of the second.
Following the successful second frame, the Bulldogs continued to put their foot on the gas. A Bobby Blandford double and Lee Trevino single tallied three more runs, as the ‘Dogs took a 6-0 lead into the fourth inning.
The Bulldogs tacked on two more runs in the fifth inning, taking an 8-0 while cruising to a series win.
Starting pitcher Aidan Cremarosa followed Anker’s successful Friday night with a night of his own.
Cremarosa struck out a career-high 11 batters over eight innings. This was Cremarosa’s third game with 10-plus strikeouts. He allowed just four hits and no walks in Saturday’s shutout win.
April 27, Fresno State 11, Washington State 1
With the series wrapped up heading into Sunday’s finale, the Bulldogs found themselves in unfamiliar territory, down early.
The Cougars struck first in the second inning, taking a 1-0 lead off an RBI single.
But similar to the first two games, once the ‘Dogs took the lead, they never gave it back.
In the bottom of the third inning, second baseman Eddie Saldivar doubled to right field, scoring two runs to make it a 2-1 ball game.
The Bulldogs added two more runs in the fifth inning off of a Murf Gray sacrifice fly and Justin Stransky’s RBI single.
The Diamond ‘Dogs had three different pitchers taking the bump, with each not going more than three innings.
Bryce Armstrong started the day, going three innings, striking out two batters while allowing one run on five hits.
With a 4-1 lead entering the bottom of the sixth inning, the game got out of hand quickly for the Cougars, thanks to the long ball.
Cayden Munster hit his second home run of the series, a two-run home run to left field.
After Saldivar scored a run off an RBI hit by pitch, third baseman Murf Gray stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and a 7-1 lead.
On a 1-0 count, Gray turned on a pitch, smashing a grand slam over the left field wall, to take an 11-1 lead. Gray’s eighth home run of the year capped off a seven-run inning for the Bulldogs.
The Cougars couldn’t score in the top of the seventh inning, ending the game by mercy rule, 11-1.
Following the sweep, the Bulldogs will head on the road to take on the University of Pacific Tigers on Tuesday, April 29, in Stockton. The Diamond ‘Dogs don’t return home until Tuesday, May 6, when they take on California State University, Bakersfield at Bob Bennett Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m.
