Bulldogs drop opener to Pilots, 7-4

Friday, March 4

Fresno, CA

6:05 P.M. PT

Fresno State

4-5

Portland

8-1

Portland

Fresno State

Photo by: Armando Carreno

Bulldogs drop opener to Pilots, 7-4

3/4/2022 9:45:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score

By: Travis Blanshan / Assistant Director of Strategic Communications

FRESNO, Calif. - Despite a two-run lead after seven innings, a late comeback by Portland handed the 'Dogs a 7-4 loss to the Pilots on Friday evening at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.

Fresno State (4-5) took a 4-2 lead into the eighth, but a five-run frame for Portland (8-1) gave the visitors the series opener despite 11 hits from the Bulldogs.

With 10 different 'Dogs getting a base hit, leadoff hitter Ben Newton was the lone Bulldog with multiple hits notching a pair of singles and drove in an RBI.

Andrew Kachel smacked his first double of the season while Bobby Blandford scored a pair of runs and stole his first career base.

On the mound, southpaw Jake Dixon tossed 5.1 innings and struck out a career-best nine. He surrendered five hits, one run and three walks to the Pilots.

Trevor Garcia, Tommy Hopfe, Zach Statzer and Kyle Pruhsmeier pitched the final 3.2 innings as Statzer was tagged with his first loss as a Bulldog.

How It Happened
After a scoreless first inning, the Pilots struck first with a sacrifice fly in the second. Held to two hits through the first four innings by Portland starter Eli Morse, the 'Dogs found their offense in the fifth as Kachel led off with a double to left-center and Blandford drove him in with a two-out RBI single through the right side to tie the game at one.

A walk to Nate Thimjon put runners on first and second for Newton who drilled a single back up the middle and pushed the 'Dogs in front, 2-1.

An RBI single by Portland tied the game back up at two in the seventh, but the Bulldogs responded with a pair of runs on RBI base knocks from pinch-hitter Vinny Bologna and Payton Allen to put the 'Dogs up, 4-2.

Looking to seal the win, the Pilots answered back slugging five base hits and scoring five runs in the eighth with the 'Dogs having no answer being held to two hits in the final two innings.

Up next
The 'Dogs and Pilots play game two of the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.

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