May 7, 2016
FRESNO, Calif. - A bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning ended a classic pitchers' duel and gave Fresno State a 1-0 victory over visiting San Diego State Saturday night at Beiden Field.
With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 31-17 overall and 18-8 in the Mountain West where they remain in second place two games behind league leader New Mexico.
The Aztecs, meanwhile, saw their record fall to 14-31 (6-15 MW).
Both SDSU starter Brett Seeburger and FSU starter Jimmy Lambert tossed seven innings of shutout ball, but neither would be around to be involved in the decision.
Seeburger had his best outing of the season as he allowed five hits and only one walk while striking out a career-high 10. The junior lefty put two runners on base in only one inning and no Bulldog advance past second base during his seven innings of work.
Lambert was just as effective as he surrendered four hits while walking none and striking out three. The biggest threat he faced came in the opening inning when the Aztecs loaded the bases with one out on a pair of singles and a walk. But he got a strikeout and fly ball right to end the threat.
Following nine-and-a-half innings of scoreless ball, Fresno State finally pushed across a run in the bottom of the 10th. After a leadoff double to right center by Scott Silva, SDSU reliever Jacob Erickson issued an intentional pass before getting a fly ball for the first out with Silva advancing to third.
Another intentional walk loaded the bases to set the stage for Austin Guibor's fly ball to right to score Silva and give the Bulldogs the 1-0 win.
Erickson would take the loss to fall to 3-4 on the season while Fresno's Rickey Ramirez, who had come on in the top of the 10th, was credited with the win to improve to 4-1.
Chase Calabuig and Hunter Stratton finished the evening with two singles apiece to account for four of the Aztecs' seven hits in the contest.
San Diego State and Fresno State will pay the rubber game of their weekend series on Sunday, May 8, with a contest set to begin at 1:05 p.m. at Beiden Field.