Fresno State Athletics
Friday, April 1
Fresno, CA
6:05 P.M. PT
Fresno State
2
vs
6
Air Force
Photo by: Musashi Sukeda
'Dogs drop opener against Falcons
4/1/2022 9:35:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - The Diamond 'Dogs dropped their series opener against Air Force, 6-2 on Friday evening at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Fresno State (12-13, 6-4 MW) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end after being held to five hits and a pair of runs against the Falcons.
Air Force starting pitcher Paul Skenes held the 'Dogs scoreless through six innings allowing only three singles with Bulldog southpaw Ixan Henderson countering with a career-best 7.0 innings, but surrendered three hits, four runs, three earned, three walks and struck out 11.
Andrew Kachel was the long Bulldog with multiple hits smacking his third home run of the season while Zach Morgan added his second long ball of 2022.
Tommy Hopfe tossed the final two innings on the mound after starting the game as the designated hitter.
How It Happened
After a scoreless first four innings saw Henderson hold the Falcons without a hit, Air Force exploded for a four-run fifth inning taking advantage of a walk, throwing error and a hit by pitch by the 'Dogs to take a 4-0 lead.
With Skenes exiting after six innings, the Bulldogs were finally able to jump on the board in the seventh when Kachel belted a home run down the right field line that appeared to go foul, but was called fair and cut the Falcons' lead to 4-1.
Air Force responded with a pair of solo home runs in the eighth to extend its lead to 6-1 and Morgan got the 'Dogs final score with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth, but the next three Bulldogs were retired to end the game.
Up next
The 'Dog and Falcons play game two of the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.
Fresno State (12-13, 6-4 MW) saw its three-game winning streak come to an end after being held to five hits and a pair of runs against the Falcons.
Air Force starting pitcher Paul Skenes held the 'Dogs scoreless through six innings allowing only three singles with Bulldog southpaw Ixan Henderson countering with a career-best 7.0 innings, but surrendered three hits, four runs, three earned, three walks and struck out 11.
Andrew Kachel was the long Bulldog with multiple hits smacking his third home run of the season while Zach Morgan added his second long ball of 2022.
Tommy Hopfe tossed the final two innings on the mound after starting the game as the designated hitter.
How It Happened
After a scoreless first four innings saw Henderson hold the Falcons without a hit, Air Force exploded for a four-run fifth inning taking advantage of a walk, throwing error and a hit by pitch by the 'Dogs to take a 4-0 lead.
With Skenes exiting after six innings, the Bulldogs were finally able to jump on the board in the seventh when Kachel belted a home run down the right field line that appeared to go foul, but was called fair and cut the Falcons' lead to 4-1.
Air Force responded with a pair of solo home runs in the eighth to extend its lead to 6-1 and Morgan got the 'Dogs final score with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth, but the next three Bulldogs were retired to end the game.
Up next
The 'Dog and Falcons play game two of the series on Saturday at 6:05 p.m.
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