Fresno State Athletics
Baseball Ranked No. 11 in Collegiate Baseball Preseason Poll
12/20/2001 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Dec. 20, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - Collegiate Baseball released its first poll of the 2002 season and Fresno State debuted at the 11th spot. The Bulldogs were the third highest ranked team that finished the 2001 season not ranked. Wichita State and Oklahoma State are the other two ranked ahead of Fresno State ninth and 10th, respectively.
The last time the Bulldogs were ranked in a national poll was May 15, 2000 with a No. 21 ranking in the Coaches' Poll. Fresno State finished the 2001 season with a 41-25 mark and made the NCAA Regionals for the second straight year.
Among the 2002 Fresno State opponents that are ranked in the top 25 are No. 1 Stanford, No. 12 Rice, No. 13 Nebraska and No. 17 Cal State Fullerton. The Bulldogs open their home schedule against No. 1 Stanford Feb. 15. Other 2002 Bulldog opponents ranked in the top 40 include Pepsi/Johnny Quik participant No. 31 Oral Roberts, No. 37 Long Beach State and No. 38 Cal.
Collegiate Baseball also announced its preseason All-America teams and earning accolades once again this preseason was senior RHP Bob Runyon. The Atwater, Calif. native earned third-team honors from Collegiate Baseball and earlier this preseason was a second-team selection by the NCBWA (National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association).
Runyon was a second-team All-WAC honoree last season with a 10-1 record and a 3.54 ERA. Runyon led the pitching staff in wins, innings pitched (127.0), strikeouts (93) and complete games (4) last season and was voted Most Outstanding Pitcher by the coaching staff.
Fresno State kicks off the 2002 season on the road at Santa Clara, Feb. 1. The Bulldogs will begin their home schedule Feb. 15 against 2001 College World Series runner-up Stanford. Tickets are available at the Bulldog Ticket Office at (559) 278-DOGS or by visiting the official Fresno State Athletics website: www.gobulldogs.com.
