Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs to Play No. 2 North Carolina
6/16/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
June 16, 2008
OMAHA - For a team that is making the most noise at the 2008 College World Series, no one associated with the Fresno State Bulldog program could notice a difference in the players and coaches.
Even with the national media attention bestowed on the "Cinderella" Bulldogs, from ESPN coverage to USA Today and numerous web sites, head coach Mike Batesole and the Bulldogs were business as usual on Monday with a hard practice at Millard West High School in Omaha. Approximately 40 youngsters from that neighborhood watched the practice and waited patiently for autographs.
The Bulldogs return to action the 2008 College World Series when they play No. 2 national seed North Carolina Tuesday at 4 p.m. PT. The game will be shown live on ESPN2. Sean McDonough, who will call the game for ESPN2, had breakfast with the Dogs getting to know the players and coaches.
The College World Series completed its third day with Bracket One competition on Monday, with Florida State being eliminated by No. 1 seed Miami (Fla.) and No. 8 Georgia defeated Stanford, bumping the Cardinal into the loser bracket.
Bracket Two action resumes Tuesday with No. 6 Rice playing No. 7 LSU at 11 a.m. and Fresno State, which defeated Rice 17-5 Sunday, playing North Carolina. The Tar Heels advanced by beating LSU.
The winners of each bracket meet in a best two-of-three series for the national championship beginning Monday.
Batesole admitted he is not that familiar with the Tar Heels.
"We will have a scouting report by the end of the day," said Batesole, the 2008 National Coach of the Year. "But to be honest, I don't know a lot about them. I'm more concerned about the guys in our dugout. When you look at the stats you can see they have a very, very good pitching staff and they have two guys hitting over .400. They are obviously a very talented team that has played for the national championship the last two years. It's a cliché, but we respect everyone and fear no one. I'm more concerned about the 25 guys in our dugout and playing Bulldog baseball."
Joining McDonough in the ESPN booth will be former Reds great Barry Larkin and on the field Erin Andrews.
Fresno State's run through the Long Beach Regional, Super Regional wins over No. 3 Arizona State and the impressive win over No. 5 Rice have taken the college baseball world by storm.
About North Carolina
North Carolina Tarheels (52-12): The Tarheels are 19-18 overall in the College World Series and they are making their third straight trip to Omaha. They have made six CWS, the first being in 1960. Mike Fox is in his 10th year as head coach at UNC and has a 449-188-4 record. In 24 years of coaching overall, Fox has a 989-329-5 record. UNC went unbeaten in the Regional and Super Regional, defeating Mount St. Mary's, UNC Wilmington and Coastal Carolina (twice). They are third in the nation with 51 wins are ranked No. 2 overall in the country. The Tarheel pitching staff leads the nation with a 2.83 ERA, 640 strikeouts and a .227 opponent batting average. They are led by Alex Warren on the mound with a 10-3 record and a 2.75 ERA.
- UNC is just the second team in ACC history to make three-straight CWS
- Dustin Ackley (.408) and Tim Fedroff (.398) are two of the top hitters in the ACC
- The Tarheels are 10-13 all-time in the CWS
WAC at CWS
Since the WAC began in 1962, several programs have earned success in the College World Series. A WAC team has reached the championship game eight times, winning six NCAA titles. The last WAC team to win a College World Series title was Rice in 2003 with a 14-2 win over Stanford. Other WAC schools with College World Series crowns: Arizona State (1967, 1969, 1977), Arizona (1976). WAC schools are 54-36 in the College World Series. This is Fresno State's first CWS appearance as a member of the WAC.
Bulldogs in the NCAAs Fresno State is 60-64 all-time in NCAA tournament action. In three seasons under Mike Batesole the Bulldogs are 10-6 in the NCAA tournament. Fresno State has beaten No. 1 seeds in the first round of the tournament for two years in a row (No. 4 ranked San Diego in 2007 and No. 11 Long Beach State in 2008). Batesole is 3-0 all-time in NCAA first round games. Fresno State is 19-12 all-time in the first round of the NCAA tournament. While heading to the College World Series is new territory for this team, this is the program's third CWS appearance in the last 20 years.
On A Roll Fresno State continues a roll in the College World Series having won 12 of its last 14 games. The only losses during that time were to No. 6 San Diego and No. 3 Arizona State. Fresno State's hot streak helped them clinch the WAC regular season championship, win the WAC tournament with a perfect 4-0 record, the Long Beach Regional (3-1) and the Tempe Super Regional (2-1).
2008 College World Series Results and Schedule
Saturday, June 14
Stanford 16, No. 4 Florida State 5
Georgia 7, No. 1 Miami (Fla.) 4
Sunday, June 15
Fresno State 17, No. 6 Rice 5
No. 7 LSU, vs. No. 2 North Carolina
Monday, June 16
No. 1 Miami (Fla.) 7, No. 4 Florida State 5 (FSU Eliminated)
No. 8 Georgia 4, Stanford 2
BULLDOG SHOP HAS COLLEGE WORLD SERIES APPARREL
The Bulldog Shop, located on the corner of Barstow and Cedar, has official Fresno State baseball and College World Series merchandise.
Join the State - Fresno State! The Bulldog baseball team continues play in the College World Series Tuesday at 4 p.m. PT No. 2 national seed North Carolina. All Fresno State games from the CWS can be heard in the Valley on KMJ Radio and seen nationally on ESPN/ESPN2.
