FRESNO, Calif.–For the second night in a row the bat of Oscar Lopez was fatal for BYU as Fresno State won Friday, 7-2.

Lopez, a shortstop who is the last batter in the Bulldog order, hit a single to centerfield to score Jason Fanconi with what proved to be the winning run.  Fanconi had doubled in that second inning and his run broke a 1-1 deadlock.

Cougar left fielder Mark Smith had tied the game earlier in the second inning with a two-out solo homer to left, his first of the season.  BYU scored again in the third inning when Shane Belliston led off with a double to right center and was singled in by Gary Johnson.  Johnson extended his hitting streak to a season-best 12 games.

FSU’s Jeff Prieto hit a two-run triple in the seventh to chase reliever Todd Crump out of the game.  Bulldog pitcher Casey Rowe, who threw 111 pitches in six-plus innings, was the winning pitcher, while Hans Smith earned his sixth save of the season.

Smith was the winning pitcher Thursday when FSU defeated BYU, 3-2, in 10 innings.  Lopez’ two-run double tied the game in the ninth inning on Thursday. 

On Friday each team had seven hits, seven strikeouts, and stranded eight runners.  Johnson was the only Cougar with two hits and he also had two stolen bases.

FSU, now 30-26 overall and 11-12 in the Western Athletic Conference, hosts BYU, 20-29 and 7-15, in the final game of the series on Saturday at 2 p.m. MST in a game which can be heard live on KSRR Radio (1400 AM).

Fresno St. 7, BYU 2

BYU     011     000     000     2       7       3 
FSU     120     000     11X     7       7       1 

Opdahl, Crump (6), Gray (8), Noorda (8) and Freeman.  Rowe, Smith (7) and Harper.  
WP-Rowe, 5-9.  LP-Opdahl, 2-8.  Sv.-Smith (6).  
2B-Belliston (BYU), Iorg (BYU), Fanconi (FSU).  
3B-Prieto (FSU).  
HR-Smith (BYU).  
A-2,961

Source: BYU Press Release

  Maintainer: webmaster@CougarFan.com