Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Host Nevada in WAC Home Opener
4/14/2011 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 14, 2011
Complete Release in PDF Format 
FRESNO, Calif. - The No. 13 Fresno State baseball team faces the Nevada Wolf Pack in its 2011 Western Athletic Conference home opener April 15-17. The Bulldogs host a four-game series with a game on April 15 at 6:05 p.m., a doubleheader at 2:05 p.m. on April 16 and the final game on April 17 at 1:05 p.m.
Fresno State vs. Nevada
The Bulldogs lead the overall series against Nevada 80-47. The first meeting between the schools was in 1965 and the Dogs won 11-7. The Bulldogs played the Wolf Pack four times last season splitting the series 2-2. The last meeting was in Reno, Nev. and the Bulldogs won 9-3.
About the Wolf Pack
Nevada comes into the weekend series with a three-game winning streak. The Wolf Pack has an overall record of 11-17 and are 2-11 on the road. Nevada is 0-0 in WAC play and open the 2011 season against the Bulldogs. The Wolf Pack are hitting .256 with nine triples, 18 home runs and 108 RBIs. Joe Kohan leads the pack with a .333 batting average and a team-high 19 RBIs. The pitching staff has an ERA of 5.93 with a combined 160 strikeouts. Starter Jeremy Cole has a 3.24 ERA and has struck out 12 batters.
Bulldog Winning Ways
The Bulldogs are among Top 25 teams that that have the fewest losses in the nation. Fresno State has the fifth best winning percentage in college baseball with a 22-5 record (.815) and Virginia leads the nation with a record of 31-3 (.915). Virginia and Vanderbilt are the only teams in the nation with less losses than the Bullodgs. North Carolina and South Carolina are tied the Dogs and have five losses on teh season. The teams that are ranked higher than the Dogs in the Top 10 range between three and 13 losses on the season.
How the Dogs Stack Up Nationally
The Bulldogs rank among the top 20 in the nation in several statistical categories. As a team, the Dogs have the 15th best ERA (2.58) in the country, the fifth best winning percentage (.815) and the 13th best fielding percentage (.977). Dusty Robinson is 12th in home runs per game (.33) and 18th in slugging percentage (.704). Charlie Robertson is fourth in the nation in saves (10). Greg Gonzalez is 11th in the nation in wins (6) and hits allowed per nine innings (5.23).
Ranking the Dogs
Currently, Fresno State is ranked in all four major baseball polls. The Dogs are No. 13 in Baseball America and No. 14 in Collegiate Baseball's polls. The Bulldogs stayed at No. 13 in the USA Today Coaches poll. The fourth poll the Bulldogs are ranked in is the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association at No.14.
Home Field Advantage
Fresno State will play 35 games at Pete Beiden Field in 2011. The Bulldogs are 16-2. Since 2003 the Dogs have had a winning record at Beiden Field. Under Batesole, the Dogs are 183-100 at home. The best home record in Batesole's tenure came in 2006 when the Bulldogs went 34-1 at Beiden Field.
Bulldogs Score First
Head Coach Mike Batesole stresses the importance of scoring first and the Bulldogs are doing just that. Fresno State has outscored opponent 155-83 in 27 games. In the first three innings, the Dogs have outscored opponents 59-31.
Catching Up With Wynns
Sophomore Austin Wynns moved into the starting line up this season and leads the team with a .357 batting average. The catcher 31 hits, which is third best on the team. He also has scored 20 runs, which is second most this season. Wynns has five doubles, 12 RBIs and 11 walks this season.
Kendall in Relief
Junior Cody Kendall has the best ERA on the Bulldogs staff at 0.71 in 11 appearances. He has allowed only two earned runs in 25.1 innings pitched and has hurled 23 scoreless innings of relief work this season. Kendall has made nine appearances without allowing a run. He also has 21 strikeouts on the year.
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!" Fresno State baseball returns to Pete Beiden Field April 15-17 facing Nevada in a four-game WAC series. For tickets call 278-DOGS or log on gobulldogs.com.
