“This group is everything, the closest team I’ve ever been a part of.”
By Al Scott
A year after hoisting the Mountain West Conference trophy, the Bulldogs are one step closer towards doing it again. The Diamond ‘Dogs defeated San Jose State 7-3 on Thursday night at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona.
Bulldog shortstop Lee Trevino was moved up to the sixth spot in the order following a recent hot stretch of play.
“It gives me confidence. But, you know, at the same time, hitting 6, 7, 8, 9, whatever, still trying to do the same job, stick to our approach,” Trevino said.
Trevino took advantage and rewarded Head Coach Ryan Overland with a 3-for-4 performance, including three runs driven in. He now leads the team with a .366 batting average.
What happened
With Jack Anker on the mound for Fresno State, the Spartans got back-to-back infield singles up the middle of the field to begin the game. Anker bounced back to get two fly outs before striking out Jeriah Lewis to keep them scoreless.
Win Scott followed suit with a 1-2-3 bottom half, including striking out Mountain West Co-Player of the Year Murf Gray.
Anker held San Jose State scoreless in the second. Catcher Justin Stransky led off the bottom half of the first with a four-pitch walk. A batter later, Trevino singled through the right side of the infield but Scott kept the ‘Dogs off the board with a pair of outs to end the frame.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the third with a walk and a pair of infield hits. Scott got both Gray and Stransky out before walking Bobby Blandford to give the ‘Dogs the lead. Trevino followed with another single, this time a grounder on the left side just past the outstretched arms of the shortstop, scoring both Griffin Sotomayor and Eddie Saldivar to make it 3-0 after three.
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Both teams were held scoreless in the fourth. San Jose State singled four straight times with two outs in the fifth inning, including RBI knocks from Rocco Caballero and Zach Chamizo to cut the deficit to one run.
Gray led off the bottom of the inning with a double over Spartan right fielder Alex Fernandes.Two batters later, it was Trevino again with a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Gray to make it 4-2.
“[Lee] staying back on that ball and getting it through the six hole, he had the two biggest at bats of the day,” Overland said.
The Bulldogs made it 6-2 in the sixth with an RBI double from Griffin Sotomayor, who came around to score on a single in the right-center gap from Eddie Saldivar.
San Jose State got one more run in the seventh but it wasn’t enough. Anker gave Fresno State eight solid innings (105 pitches), striking out seven to pick up his ninth win of the year.
This performance comes in spite of the Bulldog starter being under the weather and almost not even being available to pitch.
“He’s about as tough as they come in as a competitor. We weren’t really sure what we were going to get from him, if he was even going to be able to go today, to give us eight,” Overland said. “It sets us up fresh for tomorrow which is really big.”
Anker, who is expected to be drafted in July, spoke after the game on team morale and how it has played a big role in their success.
“This group is everything, the closest team I’ve ever been a part of,” Anker said.
Sky Collins put the nail in the coffin with a solo home run over the left-center field wall, his sixth longball in 2025, giving the ‘Dogs a 7-3 lead.
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Drew Townson came on in relief of Anker, for his first appearance in over a month (foot injury). The righty showed no signs of rust. After allowing a leadoff single, he induced a ground ball for a double play. He got another grounder to finish the game.
“He attacked the strike zone,” Overland said. “It was really good to get him back out there and give us a clean zero.”
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What’s next
The Bulldogs send conference Pitcher of the Year Aidan Cremarosa to the mound on Friday afternoon as they face off against the University of Nevada, with first pitch at 3:05 p.m
This comes three weekends after the Wolfpack swept the ‘Dogs in Reno. Now facing off in a neutral environment, the top two teams in the Mountain West face off in what Coach Overland calls the “championship game for all intents and purposes” with the way the format is set up.
The winner of the game will be one win away, with two chances to do so and win the tournament on Saturday.
Cover photo provided by Fresno State.