Fresno State Athletics
WAC Champs Head To Nevada For Tournament Play
5/24/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 24, 2007
RENO, Nev. -
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On Deck
Fresno State finishes the regular season with a 32-27 overall record and a 17-7 first place finish in the WAC. Fresno State recorded their second consecutive WAC Championship after San Jose State defeated Nevada May 20 by a 17-8 score. Since joining the WAC in 1993 this Bulldog baseball club is the first team to win back-to-back Championships in Fresno State history. As WAC Champions, the Bulldogs are the No. 1 seed in the tournament, and will face off with No. 6 seed Sacramento State on Thursday for the team's first game in the tournament. The tourney itself kicks off at 11 a.m. on Thursday, as No. 2 seed Nevada will play No. 5 seed Hawaii, followed by No. 3 Louisiana Tech playing No. 4 San Jose State. From that point, the tournament will follow a double-elimination format, with three games each day prior to a championship game starting Sunday at noon, and an if necessary game to follow that game. The winner of the tournament will receive the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals. All other tournament information can be found at www.wacsports.com or www.gobulldogs.com.
Look Back
Since 1993 the Bulldogs have won three WAC Championships. They were West Champions in 1994 and 1998. Fresno State won a WAC Championship in 2006 and 2007 and are the first team to do so in Bulldog history. The Bulldogs posted a 32-27 regular season record and a 17-7 conference mark, including two wins over No. 16 ranked San Diego, and three-game sweeps over Sacramento State, New Mexico State and San Jose State. The Bulldogs also took home the Pepsi/Johnny Quik title after a three-way head-to-head tie between Iowa and Dallas Baptist. The `Dogs captured the title in ruling to a tie breaker with least runs allowed. The Bulldogs have now captured the classic two years in a row.
Scouting Sacramento State
There's no other team that the Bulldogs would rather play in the WAC Tournament then starting off with No. 6 seed Sacramento State. Fresno State swept the Hornets in a three-game series at home by scores of 16-7, 8-1 and 5-2. The Bulldogs had a season high 20 hits in game one and combined for 39 in the series. Later in the year the Dogs' tied their season high with 20 hits at San Jose State.
Scouting Sacramento State Cont.
The Hornets are bringing left hander Mick Joyce to the mound who has a 4-6 record with a 5.55 ERA. The Bulldogs faced Joyce in the third game of the series this year winning 5-2. In the first four and two-thirds innings Fresno State grabbed four hits and three runs. The last two runs came off of reliever Chris Mols. The biggest Hornet-killer for the Bulldogs has been outfielder Loren Storey, who has a .500 average against Sacramento State (6-12) in the three games the two teams have played.
Bulldog Awards
Hand in hand with the success that the team has been having this year are individual accolades that are piling up for the Bulldogs in 2007. Most notably, Junior Steve Susdorf was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District Team for the West, recognizing exceptional work both in the classroom and on the field. He is now eligible for Academic All-American consideration, which will be announced at the end of the month. Several Bulldogs are also eligible for many of the top postseason awards. Second baseman Erik Wetzel
Streaking
Four players are currently tied with the WAC's longest current hitting streak at eight games apiece: San Jose State's Chris Balatico, Hawai`i's Derek DuPree, New Mexico State's Marcus Quade and Fresno State's Steve Susdorf.
Key Final Notes
Fresno State has won six of its last nine games and is the first WAC team besides Rice to win outright back-to-back regular season conference championships since Hawaii in 1991-92. In WAC games only, sophomore LHP Justin Wilson leads the league with an ERA of 1.46. The Bulldogs have six players with six or more home runs (Steve Susdorf-11, Tom Mendonca-9, Alan Ahmady-7, Loren Storey-7, Ozzie Lewis-7, Todd Sandell-6), the most in the WAC. Susdorf is tied for second in the WAC with 63 RBI and junior RHP Allison Clayton is tied for the WAC lead in wins with nine. He is 26-2 when leading after six inning. Additionally, the Bulldogs have many players in the running for conference honors, which will be announnced at the WAC banquet preceding the WAC Tournament on May 24. Additionally, the Bulldogs have many players have grabbed conference honors. Fresno State led the conference with six players on the all-WAC first team. Repeat first team selections from 2006 include Erik Wetzel, Loren Storey and Steve Susdorf. The last three include, Dan Grubb, Tanner Scheppers and Justin Wilson. Second team selection honors include Clayton Allison and Brandon Burke.
Triples
Tom Mendonca has five triples on the year placing him in the single-season Fresno State record books tied for eighth among 12 other players in Bulldog history history.
Running The Bases
Senior speedster Loren Storey leads the Bulldogs in stolen bases with 19 on 22 attempts. Junior Steve Susdorf is second on the list with 11 stolen bases in 14 attempts. Erik Wetzel is third on the list with six.
Clutch Performers
Loren Storey and Erik Wetzel lead the team in hitting with runners in scoring position. Wetzel bats with a .472 and Storey hits with a .480 average with runners in scoring position.
Milestone Watch
Head Coach Mike Batesole marked his 400th career win at home March 13 against the Iowa Hawkeys by a 14-6 score in the Pepsi/Johnny Quik Classic.
Weekly WAC
The Bulldogs have had two players honored in the conference Player and Pitcher of the week awards this season. Steve Susdorf hit .545 (6-11) with four runs, seven RBI and a home run as Fresno State swept New Mexico State in a three-game series April 23 to move into first place in the WAC standings. He also stole two bases during the series. It is Susdorf's fifth career WAC Hitter of the Week award and the first for a Bulldog player this year. Clayton Allison earned the honor the same week as Susdorf, as he threw seven innings and got the win in Fresno State's 7-0 victory over New Mexico State on Friday April 20. He allowed just five hits, one walk and struck out eight. It is Allison's first career WAC Pitcher of the Week award and the first for a Bulldog pitcher this year.
`Dogs on the Air
KMJ 580 AM will once again be the radio home of Fresno State baseball this week. KGPE-47 sports anchor Paul Loeffler will be calling the action for this weeks tournament. You can also catch the Bulldogs on Gametracker through the official website at www.gobulldogs.com.
Media Policy
Head coach Mike Batesole and players will be available for interviews approximately 10 minutes after the conclusion of each game. Contact the Fresno State Media Relations Office for practice times and interview requests.
