Fresno State Athletics
No. 28 Dogs Host Pepperdine
2/23/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
Feb. 23, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team continues its eight-game home stand this weekend with a three-game series against Pepperdine. No. 28 Fresno State is off to a hot start after going 3-0 opening weekend against Gonzaga and Oregon State.
Fresno State vs. Pepperdine
Friday marks the 55th meeting between Fresno State and Pepperdine. The Dogs lead the overall series 35-23. The last meeting was in 2007 and the Waves swept a three game series.
About the Waves
Pepperdine is 3-1 this season. The Waves swept Eastern Kentucky opening weekend and fell to No. 2 UCLA in a midweek game on Tuesday. Pepperdine hit .234 in four games with six doubles and 19 RBIs. The pitching staff has an ERA of 3.89 with 35 strikeouts and an opposing batting average of .275.
Series Happenings
The first 2,000 fans in the gates of Beiden Field on Friday night will get a Sports Chalet mystery cards. Members of the Bulldog Pantry will throw the first pitch on Friday. Also, every Sunday this season active military and veterans get in for free with an I.D. of service.
Here Comes the Judge
Aaron Judge had a great debut in a Bulldog uniform over the weekend. The freshman started all three games in right field and hit .500. Judge went 1-for-3 in the first two games and on Sunday he was on fire going 3-for-4. He finished the weekend 5-for-10 with three RBIs.
Gonzalez King of the Mound
Preseason All-WAC pitcher Greg Gonzalez picked up where he left off in 2010. The righty struck out eight batters in seven innings pitched and earned his first win of the season. Gonzalez leads the team and league in strikeouts with eight. Opposing batters have a .091 average against the senior and he also leads the league in batters struck out looking with four.
Pitcher Perfect
Three Bulldogs earned 0.00 ERAs over the weekend after not allowing any earned runs to cross home plate. Tom Harlan did not allow a run in five and two-thirds innings and struck out four. Cody Kendall did not let an earned run come home in three and a third innings pitched. Charlie Robertson pitched two innings without a run.
Ranking the Dogs
The Bulldogs begin the season with national rankings in two of four major college baseball polls. Collegiate Baseball Newspaper has the Dogs ranked No. 28 in their top 30 poll. The NCBWA has the Bulldogs ranked No. 35 in their top 35 poll. Fresno State is also receiving votes in the USA Today/ESPN poll.
Home Field Advantage
Fresno State will play 35 games at Pete Beiden Field in 2011. The Bulldogs are 3-0 at home this season and since 2003 the Dogs have had a winning record at Beiden Field. Under Batesole, the Dogs are 172-99 at home. The best home record in Batesole's tenure came in 2006 when the Bulldogs went 34-1 at Beiden Field.
Another One Bites the Dust
Whenever an opposing batter is struck out at Beiden Field, "Another One Bites the Dust" is played. So far, the Bulldog pitching staff is dominating on the mound. The Dogs have recorded a combined total of 31 strikeouts, which is the most in the league. Fresno State also leads the league in batters struck out looking (9), saves (2) and wins (3). The top three leaders in the WAC in strikeouts are Greg Gonzalez (8), Derek Benny (6) and J.D. Salles (6).
940 KYNO New Home of Fresno State baseball
Fresno State Athletics announced that it will partner with 940 KYNO in airing the 2011 baseball season. 940 KYNO will be the new home of Bulldog baseball for the next three years. Paul Loeffler will remain the voice of Fresno State baseball. Ray O'Canto will return for his fourth season as the color commentator.
"We Are Your Team!" The Dogs are back in action at Beiden Field next weekend against Pepperdine. The Dogs host the Waves for three game series Feb. 25-27. Log on to gobulldogs.com for all the up-to-date information on Bulldog baseball.
