Fresno State Athletics
Baseball Preview: at Oregon State [March 5-7]
3/5/2015 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Matt Burkholder
mburkholder@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Games 12-15: Fresno State Bulldogs (7-5, 3-3 MW) at Oregon State (9-3, 0-0 Pac-12)
Fresno State Game Notes
| Oregon State Game Notes
First Pitch: March 6-8 - Friday: 5:35pm | Saturday: 1:05pm - doubleheader | Sunday: 1:05pm
Stadium: Goss Stadium
Surface: FieldTurf (Infield), Grass (Outfield)
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 28-9
Last Meeting: FS defeated OSU, 5-4 (2011)
Radio: ESPN 940 (Fri. & Sun. Only)
Video: Pac-12 Network (pac-12.com/oregon-state/schedule)
Live Stats: GoBulldogs.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State takes a four-game win streak on the road to face Oregon State, winners of five in a row.
• The Bulldogs will play in Corvallis, Ore. for the first time since 1952.
• Bulldog pitching has allowed three runs in last three games and owns 2.00 ERA during teams' current four-game win streak.
• Taylor Ward has hit five home runs (T-2nd in NCAA); The team has 13 (T-7th in NCAA).
• Fresno State seeks first road win of 2015 vs. Oregon State.
• Dominic Topoozian to make first career Bulldog start on Saturday.
• 12 of the first 16 games Fresno State plays are against 2014 NCAA Regional teams.
Fresno State vs. Oregon State - The Series
• Fresno State returns to Corvallis to face Oregon State for the first time since the 1952 postseason.
□ The Beavers hosted the Bulldogs at the Western Regional (District 8) on June 7, 1952 in front of a crowd of 4,600, the largest attendance figure to date at what is now Goss Stadium and Coleman Field.
□ Oregon State swept Fresno State to win the series 2-0 and advance to its first College World Series - the Bulldogs would have to wait until 1959 for their first College World Series appearance.
• The last loss Fresno State suffered against Oregon State was March 23, 1991 (L, 5-2) - also the only three-game series loss the Bulldogs have suffered against the Beavers.
• The two schools have never played four games in one season.
• Fresno State will face Oregon State as a Mountain West member for the first time, its last game against Oregon State was on Feb. 21, 2011 when the Bulldogs were members of the WAC.
• The two schools have played five times since the turn of the century - Fresno State has won all five.
Bulldogs on the Road vs. Home
Fresno State will embark on its second road trip of 2015 seeking it first win away from home against Oregon State. The Bulldogs traveled to face Nevada for a three-game set, Feb. 20-22, to open conference play and were swept. Road wins have been hard to come by the past four seasons, consequently, the last year Fresno State posted a record better than .500 on the road was the last time Fresno State made a NCAA Regional appearance - 2011. The Bulldogs are 18-50 (.265) since 2012 on the road vs. a 64-41 (.610) mark at home during those same seasons.
How Fresno State's Offense Compares to its Conference Counterparts
Five of Fresno State's seven wins have been powered by an offense that has produced at least five runs or more. Through 12 games the Bulldog offense ranks in the upper half of the Mountain West in most every category:
• No. 2 - .451 slugging percentage. [Leader, NEV - .499]
• No. 2 - 118 hits. [Leader, SDSU - 145]
• No. 2 - 13 home runs. [Leader, NEV - 17]
• No. 3 - .291 batting average. [Leader, SDSU - .322]
• No. 3 - 62 RBI. [Leader, Nevada - 89]
• No. 3 - 183 total bases. [Leader, Nevada - 208]
• No. 3 - 68 runs. [Leader, Nevada - 97]
• No. 3 - 20 doubles. [Leader, NEV - 28]
• No. 3 - 3 triples. [Leader, SDSU/UNLV - 4]
Correlation Between Walks and Wins
The last time Fresno State lost was on Feb. 24 to USC, a night the pitching staff walked 10 and allowed another runner to reach base on a hit by pitch. The 3-2 extra inning loss to the Trojans grew the Bulldogs losing streak to five games. In those five games, Bulldog pitchers issued 37 walks and another eight passes to first base on hit by pitches. Those 45 free baserunners was a direct reflection of a 7.11 team earned run average.
Fresno State has won it last four games since its game vs. USC, in that time Bulldog pitchers have walked 11 batters and hit a batter once. Fresno State pitchers own a 2.00 team ERA during its current four-game win streak.
Runs Hard to Come By For Opponent During Recent Winning Streak
The Bulldogs have allowed just three runs over the past three games (27.0 IP) with wins of 2-1 (2/28), 4-0 (3/1) and 6-2 (3/3). Up until the ninth inning of Tuesday night's game vs. Sacramento State, the Bulldog pitching staff had a streak snapped of 19-straight scoreless innings - starting with the last two innings of the Feb. 28 game vs. UNLV, the Sunday shutout (3/1) and the first eight innings of Tuesday's win.
Bomb's Away
Not one, not two, but three games in a row Fresno State preseason All-American Taylor Ward hit a home run in the Bulldogs series sweep of UNLV. The junior has five home runs for the 2015 season and 14 career. In the Bulldogs 2-1 win on Feb. 28, Ward hit what turned out to be the game-winning home run in the first inning vs. UNLV - a game Fresno State won 2-1 with one hit, the Bulldogs limited the Rebels to three hits. Ward's five home runs ranks tied for the third most in NCAA (as of 3/5). The Division I lead is six.
Fresno State Starting Rotation Sets Milestones in UNLV Sweep
Heading into the series against Oregon State, Fresno State has used Jimmy Lambert (Friday), Dylan Lee (Saturday) and Garrett Mundell (Sunday) as its starting rotation through the first three weekends of the season. After all three picking up no decisions opening weekend vs. UC Irvine, Lee taking a loss against Nevada and the other two getting a no decision for the second consecutive weekend - all three picked up wins vs. UNLV and set milestones in the process. Lambert set single-game career highs in both innings pitched (7.1) and strikeouts (7). Lee earned his first Division I win behind a one earned run, three-hit performance. Mundell also set a single-game career high for innings pitched at 6.0 while earning his first win in a start.
Anthony Arias Debuts in Midweek Matchup
Fresno State redshirt freshman Anthony Arias made his collegiate debut to start the sixth inning against Sacramento State last time out for the Bulldogs. Arias, a Pitcher of the Year selection all four years at Fairfield HS, was sidelined all season in 2014 due to undergoing Tommy John surgery. In his debut, Arias threw 3.0 scoreless innings, allowed one hit, struck out four, and did not walk a batter.
Bulldogs or the Ball
12 games into the season Fresno State has hit 13 home runs, which is 1.083 per game and puts the `Dogs on pace for 61 home runs in 2015. A year ago, the Bulldogs totaled 37 homers (57 games), 36 in 2013 (56 games), and 19 in 2012 (59 games). Fresno State currently ranks (as of 3/5) tied for seventh in the NCAA with 13 home runs alongside UCLA.
Against the Pac-12
Since 2003, when head coach Mike Batesole became the Fresno State baseball head coach, the Bulldogs have played 72 games against Pac-12 schools. Batesole holds a 25-47 record in those games. The Bulldogs have played Stanford more than any other Pac-12 school in that time (22 games).
Scouting Oregon State
•.The Beavers are winners of five straight, with their last win coming against Portland on Wednesday (14-2). Oregon State is 9-3 in 2015.
• Oregon State has played one other team from Mountain West this season - New Mexico. The Lobos account for two of the Beavers three losses this season, both at the Surprise Tournament in Surprise, Ariz., Feb. 15-16.
• Oregon State held its home opener Feb. 27-28 vs. Grambling State. The Beavers outscored the Tigers 44-12 in the three-game sweep.
• Oregon State is hitting for a team average of .340 and own a team 3.83 ERA.
• K.J. Harrison is batting .449 (22-for-49) while Kyle Nobach leads the team at .526 (10-for-19).
• Harrison was named the Pac-12 Player of the Week on Feb. 23 and NCBWA National Hitter of the Week on Feb. 24. - he was 10-for-22 (.455) over five games, collecting two doubles, one triple, two home runs and 10 RBI.
• Harrison and Gabe Clark own eight of the teams 16 home runs - four apiece. Both are slugging better than .800 percent.
• The Beavers open Pac-12 play on March 13 at Arizona State.
Newcomer Impact
Despite owning the smallest number of newcomers on a Mountain West roster - nine, Fresno State has still benefited a great deal from newcomer play. 14 Bulldogs have seen their first D1 Collegiate action this season, which includes all five redshirts from 2014, all four junior transfers and all five true freshman. With Arias playing vs. Sacramento State on Tuesday (3/3) - 31 of 32 players on the 2015 roster have now appeared in a game this season. Sophomore Fred Schlichtholz is the only Bulldog not to play - he will miss the entire 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery.
• Redshirt Freshman Nick Warren hit first career home run vs. Sacramento State (3/3), he is 3-for-7 (.429) with one double and one home run. Two runs scored and one RBI.
• Freshman Korby Batesole leads the team in starts (5) for a newcomer.
• Junior transfer Dylan Lee leads Fresno State newcomers in innings pitched (13.1).
Two `Dogs Stepping Up In Big Way in 2015
Although in limited appearances, the two Bulldogs that sit atop the season statistics for batting average after 12 games is Austin Guibor (eight starts, 12 games played) and Taylor Tempel (four starts, 10 games played). Guibor, a sophomore left-handed hitter, is batting .444 (12-for-27) with two home runs and one triple and four RBI - as a freshman, Guibor hit for a .241 average in 43 games played. Tempel, one of five Bulldog seniors, is hitting .435 (10-for-23) with two doubles, one triple, one home run and five RBI. Last season, Tempel owned a .196 batting average in 38 games played.
Leader in Wins and Saves
At 7-5, Fresno State has one pitcher who is both the current wins leader (2) and saves (2) leader - junior Jake Shull. The `Dogs closer is tied for the Mountain West lead with seven games finished in his seven appearances. Shull picked up his two wins in back-to-back games opening weekend vs. UC Irvine and earned two saves in the UNLV series.
Garrett Mundell Puts MLB on Hold for Senior Season
The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Garrett Mundell in the 18th round of the 2014 MLB Draft. The Lake Forest, Calif., native announced on June 22 he would return for his senior season with the `Dogs. He was one of six Bulldogs, all juniors, selected in the 2014 draft - the other five all signed with their respective MLB clubs. Under Batesole, there have been three other pitchers to forego the MLB for one more season at Fresno State - two are in the majors - Doug Fister (Washington Nationals) and Tanner Scheppers (Texas Rangers), while Taylor Garrison is moving up the ranks in the Yankees farm system.
2015 Fresno State Team Captains
Acting as team captains for the Bulldog baseball team in 2015 are seniors Manny Argomaniz (INF) and Garrett Mundell (RHP). They are two of the five seniors on the Fresno State baseball team this season. For the first time under 13-year head coach Mike Batesole the team captains will don a stitched "C" indicating captain on their jersey tops.
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