Fresno State Athletics
Baseball Preview: vs. Cal Poly [Feb. 17]
2/16/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Game 4: Cal Poly Mustangs (0-3, 0-0 Big West) at Fresno State Bulldogs (3-0, 0-0 MW)
First Pitch: Feb. 17 - Tues: 6:35pm
Stadium: Beiden Field
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 92-53
Last Meeting: FS defeated CP, 3-2 (2012)
Radio: AM 940 ESPN
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler
Analyst: Steve Hosey
Video: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: GoBulldogs.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
On Tuesday night, the Fresno State baseball team will put its unblemished record on the line against an old rival, Cal Poly, at Beiden Field in its first midweek matchup this season. First pitch is 6:35 p.m. The game will also kick off a season-long ticket promotion at Beiden Field -- Two-for-Tuesday's. All year, fans will receive two tickets for the price of one at all Tuesday home games.
The Bulldog baseball team is fresh off an opening weekend series sweep of the Big West's UC Irvine, a team that participated in the College World Series last June, and was ranked in several preseason polls. Fresno State will looks to improve its record to 4-0 behind freshman southpaw Ricky Thomas (0-0, 4.50 ERA), while freshman RHP Andrew Bernstein will make his collegiate debut on the mound for the Mustangs.
Cal Poly traveled to the Lone Star state to open its season at Baylor, and fell in all three games - handing Cal Poly its first series sweep since 2011. The Mustangs return 19 lettermen from its 2014 squad that posted a school record 47 wins, claimed its first Big West Conference title and hosted a regional for the first time. Cal Poly was picked to place second in the 2015 Big West preseason coaches' poll.
The Mountain West announced on Monday that outfielder Brody Russell was chosen as its MW Player of the Week, while teammate Jake Shull was selected as the MW Pitcher of the Week. The last time Fresno State swept the MW weekly awards honor from the conference was on March 3 - Taylor Ward and Tim Borst. It was also a Monday after the Bulldogs posted a weekend series sweep (Texas A&M).
Russell leads the MW with a .583 batting average and seven hits. The junior outfielder was instrumental in the Bulldogs come-from-behind victory on Sunday, hitting the go-ahead home run to give the Bulldogs its first lead of the game in the eighth inning. Shull earned two of the Bulldogs' three victories over UC Irvine. Shull leads the MW in wins and owns a 0.00 ERA in 3.2 innings pitched.
Following Tuesday night's game, Fresno State will hit the road for the first time and open conference play with a pivotal three-game series against Nevada. The Wolf Pack also swept its opening weekend series - vs. Abilene Christian.
Weekend Scoreboard Recap:
FRESNO STATE
Fri: Fresno State 5, UC Irvine 4
Sat: Fresno State 7, UC Irvine 5
Sun: Fresno State 7, UC Irvine 5
CAL POLY
Fri: Baylor 8, Cal Poly 6
Sat: Baylor 8, Cal Poly 6
Sun: Baylor 6, Cal Poly 0
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
