Day four at the 2010 WAC Tournament saw Fresno State stave off elimination twice as they continue the quest to maintain domination of the conference tournament. The Bulldogs eliminated sixth-seeded San Jose State 13-1 in a run-rule seven inning game and then followed up with a 14-5 dismantling of fourth-seeded Hawai’i in the championship game to force the “if-necessary” game and set up a winner take all Sunday finish.
Game 9 – #1 Fresno State 13, #6 San Jose State 1 – Elimination Game
The Bulldogs pounded out 13 runs on 11 hits and drew seven walks in a run-rule rout of six-seeded San Jose State. The game was close through the first four innings as the Bulldogs held a slim 2-0 lead but exploded for five runs in the top of the fifth inning to go ahead 7-0. Fresno State would add another run in the top of the sixth to push their lead to 8-0 and then sealed the game with a five-spot in the top of the seventh to go ahead 13-0.
San Jose State would break up the shutout as they would draw a bases loaded walk by Tim Quiery as they collected two of their five hits in the inning.
Charlie Robertson went the distance for the Bulldogs allowing just one run on five hits and struck out five and walked four. SJSU starter Andy Hennessey went 4.1 innings giving up seven runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking two. Hennessey took the loss and finishes the season 3-3.
The Spartans finish the season with a 23-37 record but certainly exceeded everyone’s expectations for them in this year’s WAC Tournament as the six seed.
The Bulldogs’ victory put them in the championship game against Hawai’i.
Game 10 – #1 Fresno State 14, #4 Hawai’i 5 – Championship Game #1
The Bulldogs staved off elimination once again as they pounded Hawai’i pitching for 14 runs on 19 hits. After Hawai’i jumped out to a 4-0 lead after the top of the first inning, the Bulldogs responded with two runs in the bottom of the first inning to cut the lead to 4-2. The Warriors would add another run in the top of the second to go up 5-2 but Fresno State put up six runs in the bottom of the second to take an 8-5 lead and never looked back. The Bulldogs would add two in the third to go up 10-5 and then added two more in the fifth to extend the lead to 12-5. Fresno State added single runs in the seventh and eighth to go up 14-5.
Matt Morse started for Fresno State and threw 6.1 innings giving up five runs on 12 hits while striking out three and walking two. Cody Kendall threw the final 2.2 innings and gave up no runs and no hits. Connor Little go the start for the Warriors and lasted just one inning as he gave up six runs on six hits while striking out two and walking one. Jesse Moore pitched 1.2 innings and gave up four runs on four hits. Alex Capaul threw the final 5.1 innings giving up four runs on nine hits but striking out seven Bulldogs.
The Fresno State victory forces a championship deciding game on Sunday at noon PT.
Day Five Preview
Game 11- #1 Fresno State vs. #4 Hawai’i – 12:00 p.m. PT – Championship Game #2
Hawai’i defeated Fresno State 11-2 on Friday night and Fresno State beat Hawai’i 14-5 on Saturday night. Sunday’s game will be the tiebreaker and the winner will receive the automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. It is unlikely that the loser of the game will receive an at-large bid.
