May 26, 2011

Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery

MESA, Ariz. - Louisiana Tech's pitching staff allowed 13 runs and walked eight batters while the Bulldog defense committed four errors in the first three innings as No. 3 LA Tech dropped a 13-1 decision in seven innings to No. 2 Fresno State in the second round of the WAC tournament at Hohokam Stadium in Fresno Thursday afternoon.

Louisiana Tech (33-26) moves to the elimination bracket and will face either No. 1 Hawaii, No. 4 Nevada or No. 5 San Jose State on Friday, May 27 at 3 p.m. PT/5 p.m. CT. Fresno State (38-14) advances to play the winner of the No. 1 Hawaii vs. No. 5 San Jose State on Friday at 7 p.m. PT/9 p.m. CT.

Mike Jefferson (6-4) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits in 2.2 innings pitched while walking five and striking out three. The loss marked Jefferson's first career loss to Fresno State. Four other pitchers came on in relief, allowing seven more runs on nine hits and walking three more Fresno batters as the California Bulldogs took advantage of several Tech miscues in the game.

Greg Gonzalez (11-0) remained perfect on the season in a complete game performance with one run allowed on four hits while striking out three and walking two.

Louisiana Tech's lone run came in the fifth inning as Will Alvis hit a solo home run over the left field fence, the first home run of any team in the 2011 WAC Tournament. The first play of the game foreshadowed the next seven innings as Fresno's Danny Muno reached on a fielding error. Two consecutive singles would score a run and an RBI single by Kenny Wise would add Fresno's second run of the inning.

The California Bulldogs jumped on Tech's miscues in a second inning that featured three Tech errors and a wild pitch but only recorded one unearned run. Clint Ewing would drop a foul ball but was saved as Pat Hutcheson would ground out to short. But Jefferson would walk the next three batters and a combination of a wild pitch and two throwing errors off an RBI single by Jordan Ribera would give Fresno three runs and send Ribera to third. Ribera would score as Garrett Weber would double down the right field line in the next at bat for Fresno's third run of the inning.

Fresno would tack on another run in the third inning as Hutcheson tripled to center field after Aaron Judge doubled to right field to start off the inning.

After Alvis' home run in the top of the fifth, Fresno responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning as Muno hit an RBI double to left center and Ribera hit a sacrifice fly to center three at bats later.

Fresno's offense hit its stride again in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs on five hits capped off by Dusty Robinson's three-run home run that hit the scoreboard over the left field fence.

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