NCAA® 2007 Men's College World Series - Omaha, Nebraska

Fresno State used five pitchers including four scoreless innings from its bullpen to pick up another upset victory this time over second-seeded North Carolina, 5-3, at the Men’s College World Series Tuesday night. 

The Bulldogs (44-29), who were the fourth-seeded team at the Long Beach Regional and the first four-seed to reach the Men’s College World Series, have now beaten the second-seeded team (North Carolina tonight), the third-seeded team (Arizona State twice in the Super Regional) and the sixth-seeded team (Rice in the first round of the MCWS).

Fresno State now sits just one win away from an appearance in the championship series and will next play Friday at 6 p.m. (Central) against the winner of Thursday’s losers’ bracket game between LSU and North Carolina.  The Tar Heels (52-13) drop into the losers’ bracket where they face LSU Thursday at 6 p.m. (Central).

This time, Fresno State had to win by overcoming a 3-1 deficit.  The Bulldogs cut into the North Carolina lead in the fourth on Steve Susdorf’s leadoff homer.  Fresno State took control in the fifth when the first three batters of the inning reached base.  After a fielder’s choice cut a runner out at the plate, Alan Ahmady’s single drove in two runs and gave the Bulldogs a 4-3 lead.

The Bulldogs added some breathing room in the eighth.  Danny Muno singled and moved to second on a sacrifice. Muno then scored on a single by Erik Wetzel  to make the score 5-3.

On the mound, Kris Tomlinson, Jason Breckley, Holden Sprague and Brandon Burke combined to allow just four hits and one walk while striking out five in five innings of scoreless relief.

Early in the game, a solo home run by Fresno State catcher Ryan Overland gave the Bulldogs a lead in the second inning, but North Carolina put up three in the top of the fourth.  A leadoff single by Kyle Shelton was followed by a triple by Tim Federoff to score Shelton and tie the game.  Fedroff scored on Kyle Seager’s double and Seager scored on a single by Chad Flack that made the score 3-1.

The Tar Heels though, failed to capitalize on a one-out, bases loaded situation in the fifth and Mark Fluery was left at second after a leadoff double in the sixth.  In the eighth, North Carolina put runners on second and third with no outs, but Burke got pinch hitter Garrett Gore to ground out and end the threat.