ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Fresno State baseball team claimed a 7-5 victory over the New Mexico Lobos in game one of the three-game series between the two squads on Thursday night.
The Bulldogs now sit alone in second place in the Mountain West standings at 17-11 MW, just one win away from claiming a top-two seed in the MW Championship.
HOW IT HAPPENED
After a scoreless first inning, Bobby Blandford smoked a home run to right field to get the Bulldogs on the board in the top of the second.
Murf Gray led off the fourth inning by crushing a 2-1 ball to the left field wall for a double. Blandford grounded out to the second baseman but allowed Gray to cross the plate and give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
Starting pitcher Jack Anker put up zeros in three straight innings before the Lobo offense broke through with a solo home run to right center. New Mexico took the lead in the bottom of the fifth after an RBI single and a three-run homer to straight away center.
Fresno State answered in the next inning with four runs of its own, kicked off by an RBI single from catcher and MW Player of the Week Justin Stransky. The Bulldogs loaded the bases, and pinch hitter Jett Ruby drew a walk that scored a run. Lee Trevino battled through a 10-pitch at bat before hitting a single through the left side that gave the Bulldogs their lead back, 6-5.
New Mexico put itself in a position to score in the bottom of the eighth with a runner at first. The Lobo second baseman doubled to right field, and the runner attempted to make it home before being gunned down from Blandford to Lee Trevino to Justin Stransky.
The Bulldogs held their lead through the next two scoreless innings, and Sky Collins led off the top of the ninth with a triple against the right-field wall. Designated hitter Griffen Sotomayor was credited with his first hit and RBI of the night, hitting a single up the middle that bounced off the mound and over the Lobo shortstop's head, allowing Collins to score, solidifying the final score of 5-7.
NOTES
Fresno State held the Lobos to only five runs, the second-fewest runs New Mexico has scored in a game at home this season.
The Bulldogs have defeated New Mexico in five straight games.
Murf Gray was 3-for-5 on the night with a double.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will battle for a series win against the Lobos on Friday at 1 p.m. PT at Santa Ana Star Field.