FRESNO, California – HBU senior shortstop
Tyler Depreta-Johnson ripped a two-run double in the top of the 11
th inning and three Husky pitchers combined to shut out Fresno State for a 2-0 victory in the non-conference baseball series opener Friday night at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Senior first baseman
Jake Pulcheon led off the 11
th with a walk, then junior
Tyler Clark came on as a pinch runner. After junior rightfielder
Brady Batten failed to get down a bunt attempt, he smashed a single through the left side. Depreta-Johnson also failed to get a bunt down, but then blasted a shot to left center, past the diving leftfielder to break a scoreless tie when both runners came home.
Depreta-Johnson and senior leftfielder
Spencer Halloran each went 2-for-5 for the Huskies (3-2), while senior rightfielder/pitcher
Matt Heck extended his hitting streak to five games. Junior catcher
Erik Voller doubled and was hit by a pitch twice.
Junior righthander
Zach Carter took a no-decision, shutting out Fresno State (4-2) on six hits, striking out a career-high eight and walking two in eight innings. Heck (2-0) earned the win with two scoreless innings, striking out four, walking one and pitching out of a jam in the ninth. Junior righthander
JT Newton nailed down his second save with a perfect ninth, striking out one.
Zach Ashford went 3-for-3 with a double and a walk for the Bulldogs.
Ryan Jensen also took a no-decision, shutting the Huskies out on four hits with nine strikeouts and two walks in seven innings. Jamison Hill threw three scoreless frames, allowing two hits, striking out four and walking one. Ryan Sullivan (0-1) took the loss, giving up two runs on two hits with a strikeout and a walk in one inning.
Fresno State looked poised to end the game in the ninth when Emilio Nogales reached on an error to lead off the inning. After Heck struck out Warren, pinch hitter Torin Goldstein also reached on an error to put runners on the corners with one out. Pinch runner Austin White stole second, but Heck struck out Jeremiah Burks. Ashford was intentionally walked to load the bases, then Korby Bateshold hit a chopper to short and Depreta-Johnson flipped to second to force out Ashford and send the game to extra innings.
The series continues with a doubleheader Saturday at 4:05 p.m. CST, followed by a single game Sunday at 3:05 p.m. CST. The Legacy Sports Network audio broadcasts with
Russ Reneau will be available on HBUHuskies.com, beginning with the pregame show 10 minutes prior to each first pitch.
