RUSTON, La. – The Fresno State baseball team won its first game of the WAC tournament by defeating Sacramento State 3-2 on Thursday morning at J.C. Love Field. Fresno State is now 34-27 and plays Friday at 1 p.m. (Pacific Time) against the loser of the first round game between Nevada and San Jose State.

“I am proud of the way the guys played,” Fresno State coach Mike Batesole said. “We played good defense and we had good patient at bats today.”

Justin Wilson improved his record to 6-4 as he pitched seven innings, allowing five hits and striking out two. Brandon Burke earned his eighth save of the season.

Fresno State pounded out nine hits with Tommy Mendonca going two for four and scoring one run. Steve Susdorf went one for four with one RBI and he is now two away from becoming the school’s all-time RBI leader.
Ryan Overland had one hit and two RBIs.

The Bulldogs struck first in the first inning when Susdorf platted Gavin Hedstrom on a single to center field. Hedstrom reached base on a single up the middle with one out.

Sacramento State tied the game at one in the top of the fourth inning but in the bottom half of the fourth the Bulldogs countered with two runs to take a 3-1 lead.

With one out and Ahmady on first after a walk, Mendonca singled to right field allowing Ahmady to move to third. Overland then stepped to the plate and smacked a two RBI double to left-center to give Fresno State the lead for good.

Sacramento State scored a run in the top of the seventh but the Bulldog pitching staff held off the Hornets the rest of the way to seal the victory.