April 25, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team scored six runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to erase a two-run deficit and go on to defeat Santa Clara University 10-7 in front of an announced crowd of 2,541 at Pete Beiden Field. The game was a make-up of a game originally scheduled to be played on Sunday, Feb. 11 but was postponed due to inclement weather.
The Broncos used five pitchers in the game with Jim DeMartini (2-2) earning the loss. Francisco Nieves (6-2) earned the win for Fresno State.
Freshman pitcher Patrick McBride received his first career start and pitched three full innings giving up four hits and three runs. Fresno State starter Bob Runyon pitched six-and-one-third innings, giving-up five runs and 10 hits.
Fresno State scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning when San Jose native Brandon Gemoll's RBI bloop single to left field scored leadoff batter Joey Myers from second base.
Santa Clara catcher Jimmy Wallace opened the third inning with a double on a deep fly ball that landed on the warning track in centerfield. He advanced to third base on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Balestreri and scored the Broncos' first run of the game on a single to the shortstop by Matt Miller. Joe Diefenderfer reached first base on a fielder's choice and advanced to second base on a throwing error by Bulldog second baseman Oscar Lopez. He advanced home on a two-out single by Jack Headley to give the Broncos a 2-1 lead.
The Bulldogs scored two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Tony Guzman doubled to left centerfield and advanced to third on a bunt single by Myers. Guzman scored on a sacrifice fly to left field by Oscar Lopez. McBride walked Gemoll before giving-up a two-out RBI single to Casey McGehee that scored Myers and gave the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead. Designated hitter Brad Harper flied out to left field to end the inning.
The Broncos tied the game in the top of the sixth inning when Jack Headley from third base on a double steal. Headley led off the inning with a single and was advanced to third on a hit-and-run single knocked through a hole near second base by Mike Theoharis. With freshman Alex Anderson at the plate, Headley and Theoharis completed the double steal that tied the score at three-apiece. John Hilvert advanced Theoharis to third on a single to right field that ended the outing of Bulldog starter Bob Runyon.
The Bulldogs brought in reliever Francisco Nieves with one out in the sixth inning. Kellen McConnell drove Theoharis home on a sacrifice bunt, then a Jimmy Wallace single down the right field line brought Hilvert home to give Santa Clara a 5-3 lead.
Pitcher Matt Travis entered the game in relief in the bottom of the fourth inning for the Broncos. He pitched two innings and held the Bulldogs hitless and struckout two batters. Grant Feichtmeir entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Fresno State's Ben Fritz walked to leadoff the seventh inning for the Bulldogs. A wild pitch moved Fritz to second before he was knocked home by a Garcia double down the right field line. Senior Jim DeMartini entered the game with no outs and Garcia on second base in the bottom of the seventh. Guzman reached when he was hit by a pitch and advanced to second base on a fielder's choice by pinch hitter Scott Beshears. DeMartini intentionally walked Gemoll before McGehee hit his first career grand slam home run to give the Bulldogs a 9-5 lead. The Bulldogs scored their final run of the game in the bottom of the eighth when Guzman scored off a single to right field by Lopez.
Joey Gomes hit a two-run homer over the left centerfield wall to bring the Broncos within three runs in the top of the ninth.
Santa Clara is scheduled to open a three-game West Coast Conference series at Loyola Marymount Friday at 3 p.m. The two teams will also play single games on Saturday and Sunday with both games starting at 1 p.m.
