Game 1 - Fresno State 9, Nevada 8
Game 2 - Fresno State 9, Nevada 2
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Fresno, Calif. - Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
Game 1
WP: Jake Dixon (3-1)
LP: Jason Doktorczyk (3-2)
SV: Tommy Hopfe (6)
Game 2
WP: Noah Beal (3-3)
LP: Easton Marks (2-2)
FRESNO, Calif. - Nevada dropped its first series of Mountain West play Saturday, as the Wolf Pack was swept by Fresno State in a doubleheader. The Pack's comeback from a seven-run deficit in the opener came up just a run short in a 9-8 setback, then another early hole in the nightcap led to a 9-2 defeat.
Derek Tenney highlighted the Wolf Pack offense Saturday, homering twice and driving in five runs in the opener. Nevada hit all five homers of the doubleheader, with
Taylor Holder and
JR Freethy adding long balls in the opener, and
Michael Ball driving in both Nevada runs with a two-run shot in the second game.
Nevada (12-15, 7-6 MW) will look to salvage a game Sunday as it faces the Bulldogs (21-9, 11-3 MW) at 1:05 p.m.
Game 1 - Fresno State 9, Nevada 8
Facing a seven-run deficit, Nevada twice cut it to a run, but ultimately fell short, 9-8.
Derek Tenney homered twice to contribute to the rally, first smashing a three-run shot in the seventh which cut the deficit to two at 7-5. Two batters later,
JR Freethy's solo shot made it 7-6.
But Fresno State scored twice in the bottom of the eighth. Justin Stransky dropped a bunt that scored Ben Newton, then Eddie Saldivar drove in Bobby Blandford with a two-out single.
Those runs made the difference, as Tenney mashed another bomb, this one a two-run shot off the scoreboard in left, in the ninth to cut it to 9-8. Nevada put the go-ahead run at the plate twice with one out, but Bulldog closer Tommy Hopfe struck out
Michael Ball and
Taylor Holder for the save.
Nevada pitchers hit six Fresno State batters in the contest, with half of those contributing to Bulldog runs in the first and fifth innings which helped put Nevada into a seven-run hole.
Wolf Pack starter
Jason Doktorczyk had four of those hit-by-pitches, the first leading to a run in the first, and the last setting up a three-run fifth. Doktorczyk would suffer his second loss of the season, giving up seven runs (six earned) on six hits, and seven free passes issued (three walks, four HBPs) over 4.2 innings.
Doktorczyk hit Eddie Saldivar to load the bases with two outs in the fifth, giving way to reliever
Nico Wagner. But Wagner would immediately force a run in by plunking Rocco Peppi. Hopfe would drive in two with a single off the glove of
Justin Acal up the middle.
Game 2 - Fresno State 9, Nevada 2
Fresno State scored four times in the first inning, and Bulldog starter Noah Beal limited Nevada to two runs on three hits as the Wolf Pack suffered the 9-2 loss.
Easton Marks, who started Nevada's Tuesday game against Sacramento State, made a spot start in place of
Theo Millas, and had a tough go in the first. Grady Morgan did the damage with a two-run double, and a Wolf Pack error with two outs allowed a fourth run to score.
Peppi's two-run single in the fourth helped Fresno State open up an 8-0 lead. Beal retired the first 13 Nevada batters he faced, and did not give up a hit until
Michael Ball's two-run homer with two away in the seventh. Beal improved to 3-3 in the eight-inning outing.
Marks fell to 2-2 on the year, going four innings and giving up seven runs (six earned) on seven hits.
