Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Welcome Ohio State
3/22/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 22, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
FRESNO, Calif. - No. 10 Fresno State continues a stretch of 12 home games at Beiden Field. The Dogs are not on the road until April. Fresno State began the home stand with a three-game sweep over Washington State. The Bulldogs host Ohio State and San Diego this week. San Francisco comes to Fresno for the last home series before starting the 2011 WAC season on the road at San Jose State on April 8.
Fresno State vs. Ohio State
This is the first meeting between the Bulldogs and the Buckeyes in school history. Ohio State baseball travels to California for non-conference games for the first time in 15 years. After this weekend, the Dogs will have faced eight Big 10 schools.
About the Buckeyes
Ohio State has an overall mark of 6-7 heading into the mid week match up. The Buckeyes lost two straight games to Cal over the weekend. OSU is hitting .303 as a team with two triples, five home runs and 71 RBIs. Ryan Cypret is hitting .412 in 13 starts with five doubles, a homer and seven RBIs. On the mound, the Buckeye pitching staff has an ERA of 5.09 with 69 strikeouts. Starter Dean Wolosiansky has a 1-2 record with an ERA of 3.72 and eight strikeouts.
Dogs Against the Big Ten
The Bulldogs have a 14-4 record against schools from the Big Ten conference. The last Big Ten opponents the Dogs faced was Indiana in 2008. Fresno State has winning records against seven of the 11 Big Ten schools. After this weekend, the only Big Ten school that the Bulldogs have not played is Michigan State.
Ranking the Dogs
The Bulldogs broke into the Top 10 of Baseball America's Top 25 poll. The Dogs moved up seven spots to No. 10 and it is the highest regular season ranking under head coach Mike Batesole. Currently, Fresno State is ranked in all four major baseball polls. Collegiate Baseball has the Dogs at No. 20. The Bulldogs moved up two spots to No. 17 in the USA Today Coaches poll. The fourth poll the Bulldogs are ranked in is the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association at No. 21.
And the Winner is...
Outfielder Brennan Gowens became the first Bulldog to earn WAC Hitter of the Week honors for the week of March 14-20. The junior hit .727 with a triple, two home runs and 10 RBIs. He also recorded a stolen base and had a fielding percentage of 1.000. Greg Gonzalez has been selected the Verizon Wireless WAC Pitcher of the Week twice this season.
Haley Shines in First Start
Sophomore Justin Haley got his first career start against Washington State on March 18. He struck out a career-high eight batters in a career-high five innings of work Friday night. Haley is the first Bulldog this year to strikeout the side. He limited the Cougar hitters to three hits and one run. Haley has a 1-0 record and an ERA of 0.71.
Charles in Charge
Charlie Robertson leads the league and team in saves. The junior has recorded seven saves in seven appearances. So far, the right-hander has recorded a save every time he has hit the mound. Robertson has not allowed a run in nine and third innings. He also has limited the opponents to only three hits. Robertson is eight saves away from breaking the single season record for saves of 13 set by Brandon Burke in 2008. Burke also holds the career save record at 24.
The Middle Men
The Bulldogs relievers have been very effective in 2011. The Dogs have four players with substantial innings out of the bullpen this season and have a combined ERA of 1.66. Three of the five boast an ERA under 1.00. Charlie Robertson, Taylor Garrison, Cody Kendall, J.D. Salles and Josh Poytress have a combined 45 strikeouts in 43.2 innings pitched and have allowed only eight earned runs.
Home Field Advantage
Fresno State will play 35 games at Pete Beiden Field in 2011. The Bulldogs are 10-1 at home this season and since 2003 the Dogs have had a winning record at Beiden Field. Under Batesole, the Dogs are 179-100 at home. The best home record in Batesole's tenure came in 2006 when the Bulldogs went 34-1 at Beiden Field.
Series Happenings
On Saturday, all youth baseball and softball players in 8th grade or younger get in to the game free with a paid adult. And on Sunday, all veterans and active military get into the game for free. Children are welcome to play catch in the outfield or run the bases following the game.
"We Are Your Team!" Fresno State continues its 13-game home stand this week with games against Ohio State and San Diego. The Bulldogs face the Buckeyes March 22-23 at 6:05 p.m. and on March 25-27 the Toreros come to Beiden Field for a four-game series. Log on to gobulldogs.com for tickets.
