The Fresno State Diamond ‘Dogs lost the final game of their three-game series against Air Force on April 19, at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Prior to Saturday’s 8-3 loss, the Bulldogs won the first two games 9-8 and 5-1.
Frustrated but optimistic, Head Coach Ryan Overland shared some post-game thoughts.
“I think there were a lot of offensive opportunities that we left on the table, that game 8-3 could have easily been, you know 8-6, 8-7 coming down the stretch,” Overland said.
Kaleb Hay started on the mound for the Bulldogs and cruised through the first two innings before being tagged in the third inning.
Air Force center fielder Chase Spencer drove in second basemen T.J. Oster off an RBI single in the top of the third inning.
Five of the eight runs scored by the Falcons were at the top of the third; an unlucky start to the game for the ‘Dogs.
Short stop Ben Neidnagel stole home before right fielder Zach Peters hit a double, scoring two more runs. After, left fielder Cristian Taylor drove in two more runs with a single putting the Falcons up 5-0. During the inning, the ‘Dogs called a mound visit to regroup. Overland spoke about what it took to regroup his players coming out of the ill-fated third inning.
“We gotta keep playing the game that we showed up to play,” Overland said. “We showed up to play nine innings and that just gives you that one inning [that can] get away from you a little bit; you gotta keep playing.”
With Air Force in the lead five to nothing and right fielder Bobby Blandford at bat, Blandford drove in third baseman Murf Gray with a single scoring Fresno State’s first run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Following Gray’s hopeful run, Air Force responded with a run off of an RBI single from first baseman Luke Elmore , leaving the ‘Dogs behind 6-1.
Fresno State’s Cayden Munster then took it away at the bottom of the fifth inning with a homer to right center.
Still struggling at 6-2 but carrying out the battle nonetheless, Fresno State got hit again at the top of the seventh inning with Air Force’s Tripp Garrish scoring, now in the lead 7-2.
Munster then picked it up by scoring a run off a sacrifice fly from short stop Owen Faust at the bottom of the seventh inning, only for Fresno State to get smashed at the top of the ninth inning with Air Force’s Zach Peters hitting a home run.
Concluding the Bulldog’s 8-3 loss, Overland shared his hopes for the Bulldogs’ next matchup.
“We gotta, I mean obviously, keep scoring some runs and starting pitching,” he said. “We gotta keep finding pieces in the bullpen to keep getting big outs for us.”
Fresno State fell short on Saturday but won the overall series, as they will look to take on Cal Poly on Tuesday, April 22, at Baggett Stadium.
