Fresno State Athletics
Presistence And Pride
5/3/2000 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The 2000 senior class has played a key role in Fresno State's success this season. The Bulldogs' 34-15 overall record and 14-10 mark in conference games is a direct result of the hard work and dedication put forth by this group of individuals. Whether it be in practice or in games, these eight players have shown what 2000 Bulldog baseball is all about -- persistence and pride.
Anthony Acevedo (Bakersfield, Calif.) transferred to Fresno State from Bakersfield College last year and has been a hitting machine since arriving on campus. Acevedo is hitting .314 with a team-high seven home runs, 48 RBIs and 15 multi-RBI games this season. He earned WAC Player of the Week honors on April 24 for his efforts against Hawai'i and Hawai'i-Hilo. Acevedo, who has 16 doubles this year, currently stands in ninth-place on the all-time doubles list with 40 career two-baggers. He is the only junior college transfer on the list. Acevedo earned honorable mention All-America and All-WAC accolades following his junior campaign. The 6-foot-5 left-hander hit a team-best .383 with 24 doubles in 1999 and led the squad in 10 offensive categories in his first season as a Bulldog.
Mike Bowlin (San Jose, Calif.), who has shown as much improvement as any Bulldog from a season ago, has been a constant in the lineup this year. He is hitting .316 with a team-high 17 doubles and is tied for the team lead with four triples. Bowlin has scored 31 runs and driven in 39 this season. His first home run of the season, a two-run inside-the-park shot to center field, occurred in Tuesday's 15-2 victory against Sacramento State.
Justin Cuellar (Tulare, Calif.) has played for two seasons and provided the Bulldogs' relief corp with a steady left-handed arm out of the bullpen. Cuellar has appeared 11 games, including one start, in his career and struck out 14 hitters in 14 innings of work.
Max Drake (Richmond, Calif.) has provided a strong right-handed presence off the Bulldog bench during his two-year career. Drake, who transferred from Laney College last year, has appeared in 13 games this season, starting three of those contests. He is hitting .167 with three RBIs in his final campaign. Drake also has filled in at third base in the late innings for the Bulldogs.
Tom Graham (Modesto, Calif.), one of the team's strongest leaders, has handled the role of No. 1 starter for the past two seasons. The 6-foot-7 right-hander has a 6-5 record and 5.08 ERA in 16 games (15 starts) this year. Graham also leads the pitching staff with 66 strikeouts. He pitched one of his finest games as a Bulldog in the championship game of the this year's Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic. Graham held Creighton hitless for seven innings and had a 1-0 shutout broken up with two outs in the ninth inning. As a junior, he was named the team's Most Outstanding Pitcher after leading the staff in wins (8), games started (19), complete games (5), innings pitched (127.2) and strikeouts (109).
Shawn Hannah (Clovis, Calif.) has rebounded from a back injury that plagued him for most of his junior season to anchor this year's starting rotation. Hannah enters this weekend's series with a 7-2 record with a 2.87 ERA, eight quality starts, three complete games and one shutout this season. The 6-foot-3 right-hander has struck out 61 hitters in a team-high 87.2 innings of work. He was named the WAC Co-Pitcher of the Week on April 24 following his five-hit shutout at Hawai'i-Hilo on April 21, the first shutout of his career. Hannah struck out a career-high 13 hitters on March 9 against Southern Illinois in the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic and was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Jason Papi (Fresno, Calif.) continued his family's tradition of playing at Fresno State after transferring from Fresno City College last year. The son of former Bulldog Ken Papi has provided a potent left-handed bat off the Bulldog bench this season. That was evident on April 25, when Papi delivered a pinch-hit, three-run home run -- the first of his career -- against San Francisco to complete the Bulldogs' eighth-inning rally from a 5-0 deficit. Papi enters this weekend with a .333 average, one home run and four RBIs this season.
Hans Smith (Central Point, Ore.) has been a dominant force out the Bulldog bullpen this season. The 6-foot-9 left-hander leads the team in wins (8), saves (6), ERA (2.31) and appearances (25). Smith has struck out 52 hitters and walked only 10 in 58.2 innings of work. He was named to the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic All-Tournament Team after winning the championship game and registering two saves. He also picked up WAC Pitcher of the Week honors on March 13 for his efforts during the tournament. The 2000 All-America and All-WAC candidate currently is in second place on the all-time saves list with 14 career saves. He trails 1991 NCAA Player of the Year and current New York Met Bobby Jones for first place on the chart. Jones recorded 16 saves from 1989-91. Smith set the single-season record for appearances when he pitched in 38 contests as a junior.
--Brian Hernandez, Fresno State Media Relations
