March 22, 2008

Box Score

HONOLULU - For the second straight night two excellent pitchers locked-up in a pitching dual and for the second straight game the Dogs came out on the losing end.

Fresno State opened defense of its Western Athletic Conference crown with 2-0 loss to Hawaii. It was the second straight day the Dogs were shutout by the Bows, who improved to 2-0 in the league. Fresno State fell to 8-12 overall and 0-2 in the WAC.

Hawaii's Nicholas Rhodes and Fresno State's Justin Wilson, two of the top left-handed pitchers in the league, combined to scatter just seven hits through the first eight innings. Wilson threw 7 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits with a career-high nine strikeouts. Rhodes allowed just two Bulldog hits threw 8 2/3 innings.

"Justin Wilson just threw his best game in a Bulldog uniform," said head coach Mike Batesole. "He had great command on the hill. It's just a shame we could get him a little run support."

The pitchers in this series have combined for more than 40 strikeouts in the two games played thus far.

The Rainbows scored their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on a two-run homerun by Brandon Haislet.

The Dogs managed just two singles in the game, one by Erik Wetzel, the WAC hits leader, and the other from Gavin Hedstrom.

Fresno State's best opportunity to score was in the top of the ninth inning when it had runners on second and third with two outs, but Hawaii reliever Jayson Kramer closed out the game on a groundout.

The Dogs conclude their four-game series against Hawaii on Saturday afternoon with double header at 4:05 p.m. PT. Both of the games will be live on KMJ radio.

"Join the State - Fresno State!" -
The Fresno State baseball team begins a quest for three consecutive Western Athletic Conference Championships this weekend, when the Dogs travel to Hawaii for a four-game series at Les Murakami Stadium in Honolulu. The Dogs return home March 24 against Cal Poly. Log on to www.gobulldogs.com and click on Tickets.