Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Head to NCAA Championships
5/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 26, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - For the three-time defending Western Athletic Conference Champions, heading to the NCAA tournament will be very familiar. Not only are the Bulldogs making their third straight NCAA tournament appearance when they take the field this weekend, Fresno State has played all three teams that advanced to the Long Beach Regional.
All four of the teams in the Long Beach Regional have been ranked in the Top 25 this season. The winner of the Long Beach Regional will play the Tempe Regional winner in a Super Regional best of three series June 6-8 or June 7-9. The College World Series is scheduled for June 14-24/25 in Omaha, Nebr.
The Bulldogs are making their 31st appearance in the NCAA tournament and own a record of 54-62 in the tournament.
Under Mike Batesole, the Bulldogs are 4-4 in the NCAA tournament. Last season, the Bulldogs opened the tournament by upsetting No. 4 San Diego 6-2 in the opening game at the San Diego Regional.
Fresno State opens the NCAA tournament against Big West Conference Champion Long Beach State at Blair Field at 6 p.m. on Friday.
"It's great being a part of the postseason," said head coach Mike Batesole. "This is why we do this. As far as the seed, you want to be the one or the four because if you beat the one you become the one seed. It's been a long road. I'm really proud of the guys for hanging in there. I like the way we played in the WAC tournament and that's always good to head into the NCAAs playing well. It hasn't sunk in yet but I like the fact that we've seen the three teams and have video on them. Long Beach State has an outstanding pitching staff. We know it will be a tough pitching and defensive match-up."
2008 Long Beach Regional Schedule
Friday, May 30
California vs. San Diego, 2 p.m.
Fresno State vs. Long Beach State, 6 p.m. .
Saturday, May 31
Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 2 p.m. .
Winning Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 6 p.m. .
Sunday, June 1
Game 5, 1 p.m. .
Game 6, 5 p.m. .
Monday, June 2
Game 7 (if necessary), 6 p.m.
Long Beach (37-19) is hosting an NCAA regional for the fourth time and the second straight season. The Dirt Bags, ranked No. 18 in the nation, won their first Big West Conference title since 2003 with a 2-1 series win over No. 8 Cal State-Fullerton. The Dogs and Dirt Bags split their two mid-week games this season. The Bullogs won 7-6 in Fresno and Long Beach State won 2-1 at Blair Field. Fresno State leads the all-time series 57-50. This will be the first meeting between the two schools in the NCAA tournament.
California (33-19-2), ranked No. 15 in the latest polls, finished the Pac-10 with a 12-12 record. The Bears are making their ninth NCAA tournament appearance and first since 2001. Cal has won two NCAA baseball national championships, 1947 and 1957, and reached the 1992 College World Series. The Bears won both games against the Bulldogs this season, winning 14-4 at the San Diego State tournament and 5-4 at Berkeley on April 4. Cal leads the all-time series 61-59. The Bulldogs beat the Bear 7-6 in 10 innings in the first game of the 1985 NCAA tournament played at Beiden Field, the only time the two teams ever met in the postseason.
San Diego (41-15), ranked No. 7 in the nation, is coming off a series sweep of No. 13 Pepperdine to win its second straight West Coast Conference title. Kevin Muno, older brother of Bulldog shortstop Danny Muno, was named the MVP of the WCC. The Bulldogs and Toreros met earlier this season, with San Diego taking a 2-1 win at the San Diego State tournament. Fresno State leads the series 15-5, including 3-0 in NCAA tournament play. This is the third straight year Fresno State and San Diego have been in the same regional.
Tickets will go on sale online at www.longbeachstate.com at 10 a.m. on Monday, while the Walter Pyramid Box Office will open on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Fans may also call (562) 985-4949 for ticket information.
All-session tickets are $80 for box seats and $60 for general admission for the three-day, six-game, possible four-day (and seven game) regional. Single game tickets will go on sale Friday.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State baseball team heads to the NCAA tournament for the
