Fresno State Athletics
Baseball Preview: vs. USC [Feb. 24]
2/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Game 8: USC Trojans (8-0, 0-0 Pac-12) at Fresno State Bulldogs (3-4, 0-3 MW)
First Pitch: Feb. 24 - Tues: 6:35pm
Stadium: Beiden Field
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
All-Time Series: USC leads 35-23
Last Meeting: FS defeated USC, 14-3 (2013)
Radio: AM 940 ESPN
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler
Analyst: TBA
Video: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: GoBulldogs.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
The Fresno State baseball team returns the Beiden Field on Tuesday to host the USC Trojans under the lights at 6:35 p.m. The game marks the second Two-for-Tuesday ticket promotion of the season, as fans can receive two tickets for the price of one at all Tuesday home games this season.
The Fresno State Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, also known as SAAC, is also hosting a special equipment drive prior to the game in an effort to collect gently used sports equipment, clothes and gear. Every donation will go to a local underprivileged middle school in need of proper athletic gear.
After dropping three on the road at Nevada last weekend in their first 2015 road trip, the Bulldogs return to Beiden Field where they are 3-1 on the season. Fresno State continued to hit the ball well in Reno, posting a .300 batting average while outhitting the Pack in two of three games. Taylor Ward chipped in seven RBIs on the series, and one double in each contest. Taylor Tempel went 5-for-10 in three games, including two doubles, while Manny Argomaniz registered four doubles in the series. Argomaniz leads the Mountain West with seven doubles seven games in to the season.
USC enters Tuesday's matchup undefeated at 8-0, the programs best start since 1988. The midweek game versus the Bulldogs will be the Trojans first game outside of the greater Los Angeles area and second away from their home field this season. USC earned series sweeps against Towson and most recently Oakland at Dedeaux Field - they also picked up a Thursday night win against Kentucky prior to its series against Oakland. The one road win was against Cal State Fullerton.
Fresno and USC last faced each other in a three-game series in Fresno on March 1-3 - a series the Bulldogs won 2-1. The Trojans opened the series with a 9-1 win before the 'Dogs went on to win the series with victories of 5-1 (Saturday) and 14-3 (Sunday). Prior to the 2013 series, the two California schools had not squared off since 1976. To date, there has not been a higher attended game at Beiden Field since the March 2, 2013 game - 2,285.
Following Tuesday night's game, Fresno State will host UNLV on Friday, kicking off Mountain West action at Beiden Field. The weekend series will be the Rebels first taste of conference play, while Fresno State will look to rebound from its trip to Nevada.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio.
