1987_05 The Daily Collegian May 1987

              Friday, May 1,1987
Page 9
Bulldogs bombard Aztecs
By Mike Butwell
Co-Sports Editor
With the showdown against No. 1
Fullerton State coming up Saturday, it
wouldn't be unusual for the Bulldogs to look
past San Diego State.
1 But FSTjV"kicked aside thoughts of the
mighty Titans for a moment and disposed of
the visiting Aztecs in a double- header Thursday
afternoon at Bulldog Diamond 3-1 and 5-0.
"It's difficult not to overlook (Fullerton),"
said FSU head coach Margie Wright, whose
Bulldogs extended their win streak to 11
games. 'We couldn't afford not to play .our
game and although we we're flat at times, I
think are right where we should be."
The sixth-ranked Bulldogs will head into
today's contest versus San Diego State 41-13
and 21-4 in the Pacific Coast Athletic
Association. SDSU is 17-21-1 and 5-19 in
league play.
Of the Bulldogs' eight runs in the twinbill,
Gena Strang knocked in four of them to hand
her 27 RBIs for the year. Strang now needs
just two more to tie the record held by Rene
Polanco in 1984 for RBIs in a season.
Tve really been seeing the ball a lot better
lately," Strang said. Tm not concerned with
the record. I just want to get runners in when
we need to."
And Strang did just that. In the first game
with Martha Noffsinger on at second and Jill
Rolen at first with a single, Strang sizzled a
shot between the center fielder and left fielder
that didn't stop rolling until it reached the
fence. Strang finally stopped at third with a
triple.
Kim Mecum followed with an infield single
that scored Strang and instantly Fresno State
had given its starter Lori Romeiro Gardner a 3-
0 lead. The RBI was Mecum's 27th of the
season, putting her just two shy of the FSU
record.
That was about' the only offense of ^rhe
game, as SDSU starter Heidi Urban (6-18)
retired the next 12 FSU batters before walking
Shelly Stokes in the fifth. For the game.
Urban held the 'Dogs to three hits.
The Aztecs picked up their only run in the
sixth. Kellic Eldredge reached on a bunt with
one out and went to second on a wild pitch.
Trish Mang launched a double to center
enabling Eldredge to score.
Romiero-Gardner in one of her less dazzling
performances of the season, surrendered five
KutH^m/TtmOm+ce+tiHi
Bulldog second baseman Kathy Mayer tries to tagout San Diego State runner Dana Kuczon Tuesday. The Bulldogs
won both games of the" doubleheader 3-1 and 5-0.
hits, fanned three and gave up one earned run
to collect her 20th win of the year against four
losses.
"I didn't quite have it today (Thursday),"
Romeiro-Gardner said. "It was just one of
those days. I was hitting the spots, but missed
a few times and wasn't throwing hard. My
rhythm wasn't there
"It will 'be a different story tomorrow
(Friday). I'll use this game for a tune up for
the Fullerton series."
After only registering three hits in the
opener, the FSU bats came out of hibernation
in the second game. Kathy Mayer went 3-for-3
with two runs and Strang came threw with a
clutch two-run single in the fifth that widened
the score to 5-0.
Another lively bat was Melanie Parrent,
FSU's starting pitcher. Besides going the
distance with a shutout on six   hits to boost
her record to 16-8, Parrent slugged a pair of
hits and scored two runs to contribute in more
ways than one.
"It felt realy good," Parrent said. Tve been
hitting the ball hard in practice and just needed
the opportunity in a game."
By shutting out SDSU, Parrent kept her
scoreless inning streak alive at 31 innings.
See SOFTBALL, page 10
Bombs away in 'Dogs spring game
By Jim Bohannon
Co-Sports Editor
Kevin Sweeney may be gone from the
Fresno Suite offense, but the long bomb
certainly isn't
Quarterbacks Eric Buechele and Dave
Telford opened up a full out aerial attack
Thursday night during the annual spring
football game. Buechele's Red team scored in
the closing seconds to beat the Whites 28-21
at Bulldog Stadium.
From the outset to the game, both teams
were casting bombs. Buechele launched one to
Anthony Williams on the very fust play from
scrimmage.
"We wanted to get things going right from
the start — so We gave it a shot," Buechele, a
sophomore from Fullerton said- "We just
wanted to execute our plays and not make any
mistakes." ^-/
The Reds didn't make any mistakes on their
opening drive, that is until a third down play
from the 11 yard line. A botched-up hand off
pushed the Reds back to the 24 yard line and
place kicker Barry Belli was called on. The
senior booted a 41 yard field goal to make the
score 7-3 (the Whites began the game with a 7-
Olead).
After the White's drive was stalled by a
clipping penalty, the Reds got the ball back. A
big pick-up on a pass from Buechele to Brock
Smith started the drive — and Kelly Skipper
burst. Four plays later. Skipper crossed the
goal line on a 1 -yard plunge to make it a 10-7
Red lead.
Coach Jim Sweeney gave the Whites
another seven points at the beginning of the
second quarter, but their 14-10 lead didn't last
long.
Darrel Martin picked off a Telford pass and
set up his Red team at the 35-yard-line. A nine
yard touchdown pass from Buechele to Rich
Bartlewslti put the Reds back on top — 17-14.
With only five seconds left in the half,
Belli added to die bulge with another 41 yard
kick, giving the Reds a 20-14 halftime lead.
The two teams went back and forth in the
third period, until the Whites regained the lead
near the end of the quarter. Telford hit James
Williams streaking down the right side line for
a 77-yard touchdown pass.
See GRIDDERS, page 10
The junior tailback carried two straight
plays for a couple of nifty gains, before he
broke free down the right sideline for a 48-yard
Golfers get ranked No. 3...
,.But, FSU tumbles to 9th plate in tourney
By Jim Bohannon
Co-Sports Editor
Earlier this week, the Bulldog golf team
received the good news that it garnered a
No. 3 national ranking. On Thursday, one.
would never guess that the team was ranked
so high.'
Competing in the Arizona State Sun
Devil/ Phoenix Thunderbird Tournament,
Fresno State stumbled to a 374 team score,
21 strokes behind leader Brigham Young.
Tun (Loustalot, who fired a 69) had a
great day. Without him, we would be way
out of it," head coach Mike Watney said.
Tt was a bad day for the team.
"I have no doubts that we'll comeback in
the next two rounds," he added. "And. I
have no doubts that well do well in this
tournament. It was just too bad that we
started off with a bad round."
Following No. 7 RYU after the first
round, were No. 8 UCLA (361) and No. 4
Arizona State (363). Fresno State placed
ninth. * .
In individual competition, Michael Kratz
of New Mexico State led the way with a
four-under par 68. Loustalot was in a four-
way tie for second at three-under 69.
The Bulldogs got the news earlier this
week of their highest national ranking ever.
It marks the fifth time this season that
FSU has set a new school mark for the
highest ranking.
"My first year here, we were ranked No.
17, and I thought that was the greatest
thing. And now we're ranked No. 3?" said
senior Kevin Sutherland. That's beyond
anything that I ooukfve ever imagined."
All-American Loustalot added. It's like
I said all along, When I was at Harbor
High (in Santa Cruz). I never thought that
the Fresno State golf team would be in the
Top 10. Then this year, we got ranked
tenth, ninth, fifth and now third."
Only Oklahoma State and Arizona
placed above the Bulldogs. Arizona State,
Wake Forest, Oklahoma, Brigham Young.
UCLA. Georgia Tech and Florida State
round cot the Top 10.
"The" ranking really doesn't change
anything," said ninth-year head coach Mike
Wamey. "Sure, years from now, I'll
remember the No. 3 ranking — but. Til
never forget the great people and nice guys
that always did the best they could."
So far this season, the Bulldogs have
won five tournaments (that ties them with
Oklahoma State for the best in die
country). David and Kevin Sutherland,
along with Loustalot are all trying to earn
All-American  honors.  Ken  Collins   and
Sc* GOLFERS, page 10   1
■
/."
	
"