PULLMAN, Wash. – The Fresno State baseball team clinched the series win over Washington State with a 12-2 win over the Cougars on Friday night in Pullman, Wash.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Ben Newton got the Bulldog offense going early with an RBI single to plate Rocco Peppi.
Newton led off the Bulldogs' explosive fourth inning with his 19th double of the season and was sent home by Murf Gray who hit a double in the following at-bat. Michael McKernan hit an RBI single that scored both Gray and Bobby Blandford, and Rocco Peppi closed out the inning by reaching first on a fielder's choice, sending McKernan home.
An RBI double put the Cougars on the board for the first time in the bottom of the fourth.
Starting pitcher Noah Beal held the Cougars to one run in four innings, striking out three batters and allowing only two walks before Jaykob Acosta came in to relieve him on the mound.
The Bulldogs extended their lead in the sixth with an RBI double from Eddie Saldivar followed by a sacrifice fly from Peppi. Newton hit his second double of the game to score plate Tommy Hopfe and Saldivar, making it a 9-1 game.
Justin Stansky cranked a single down the left-field line and made it all the way home on a Cougar fielding error.
The Cougars scored their second run of the night in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI double deep into right center.
Fresno State added two insurance runs in the top of the ninth with a sacrifice fly from Peppi and an RBI single from Hopfe.
Acosta retired three straight batters in the bottom of the ninth and the Bulldogs claimed a 12-2 win over the Cougars.
NOTES
Jaykob Acosta pitched his second game of the season with at least five innings on the mound and struck out seven batters while only allowing one run and no walks.
Ben Newton hit two doubles on the night, his second time this season.
Fresno State is the first Mountain West team to face Washington State since the conference announced it would join the league and won the series.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will conclude the series against the Cougars on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT.