Fresno State Baseball secures first win of 2026 season

Diamond 'Dogs defeat Utah 14-8 after back-to-back losses to start the year

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Following two losses to start the season, Fresno State Baseball finally got the upper hand on Utah in the third game of the weekend series, unleashing a 14-8 offensive explosion at Bob Bennett Stadium. The Diamond 'Dogs scored nine runs in the first inning and added five more over the next six innings, including a solo home run by true-freshman Brady Hewitt, to build a large enough cushion to withstand a late Utah rally.

Why it matters

This win marks the first victory of the 2026 season for Fresno State Baseball after dropping the first two games of the series against Utah. The early offensive outburst and strong pitching performance from junior RHP Douglas Crystal provide a much-needed boost of confidence for the team as they look to build momentum heading into the rest of the season.

The details

Fresno State fell behind 1-0 early after a fielder's choice error, but then erupted for nine runs in the bottom of the first inning, capitalizing on four hits, two bases loaded walks, and a few Utah errors. The Diamond 'Dogs would add five more runs over the next six innings, including a solo home run by true-freshman Brady Hewitt in the fifth. Utah made a late push, plating seven runs in the seventh and eighth innings, but Fresno State's early lead proved too large to overcome.

  • The game was played on February 16, 2026 at Bob Bennett Stadium in Fresno, California.
  • Fresno State scored nine runs in the bottom of the first inning.

The players

Brady Hewitt

A true-freshman player for Fresno State Baseball who hit his first collegiate home run in the fifth inning of the game.

Douglas Crystal

The junior right-handed pitcher for Fresno State who picked up the win on the mound, pitching two hitless innings.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Following back-to-back losses to start the season, Fresno State Baseball finally gets the upper hand on the Utes in game three of the weekend.”

— Dylan Morgan, Author (yourcentralvalley.com)

The takeaway

Fresno State Baseball's offensive explosion and strong pitching performance in their first win of the 2026 season provides a much-needed boost of confidence for the team as they look to build momentum and turn their season around after dropping the first two games of the series against Utah.