Fresno State Athletics
Diamond 'Dogs head to Bay Area for spring break
3/21/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Bulldogs head out on the road for spring break this week traveling to Saint Mary's on Tuesday afternoon for a non-conference matchup with the Gaels at 3:00 p.m. Fresno State will also play a MW series at San Jose State on Thursday through Saturday.
Game 21: Fresno State (13-7, 4-2 MW) at Saint Mary's (11-7, 2-1 WCC)
Probable Pitching Matchup: Mark Reece (Jr., RHP, 0-1, 6.43) vs. Bryce Reichmann (Jr., LHP, 0-0, 2.77 ERA)
First Pitch: Mar. 22 - Tue: 3:00 p.m.
Stadium: Louis Guisto Field (1,000)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 68-22
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated Saint Mary's 12-2 on April 3, 2001 (Fresno, Calif.)
Video: http://www.smcgaels.com/
Live Stats: GoBulldogs.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State plays Saint Mary's for the first time since 2001 on Tuesday afternoon at Louis Guisto Field in Moraga, Calif.
• It will be the 'Dogs first trip to Saint Mary's since Feb. 21, 1995 when they lost 6-3.
• The Bulldogs lead the all-time series over the Gaels 68-22 and played at least game every year over a 21-year from 1976-1996.
• The 'Dogs also play West Coast conference opponents Pacific (Apr. 5, 12) and San Francisco (May 19-21) this year.
• Fresno State's 13-7 start to the season is tied for the second-best 20-game start under head coach Mike Batesole matching the 2014 season and eclipsed only by an 18-2 start by the 2011 team.
• The 'Dogs 2.58 ERA, 176 strikeouts and .232 opponents' batting average continue to lead the Mountain West.
• Junior pitcher Jimmy Lambert continues to lead the MW in wins (4), ERA (0.79), innings pitched (34.0), earned runs allowed (3) and walks allowed (3).
• On Tuesday (Mar. 8) it was approved by the CSU Committee on Institutional Advancement to name Fresno State's baseball facility, Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Fresno State vs. Saint Mary's - The Series
• The Fresno State/Saint Mary's series dates back to 1969 with the two teams meeting on the diamond 90 times.
• This will be the first meeting between the Bulldogs and Gaels since April 3, 2001 when Fresno State won 12-2 at home.
• This will be the 'Dogs first game at Saint Mary's since February 21, 1995 (L, 6-3).
• The two teams met at least once every year over a 21-year period from 1976-1996.
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Fresno State 68-22
Last Meeting: W, 5-1 - Feb. 6, 2001 (Fresno, Calif.)
Current Streak: W7
Last Fresno State Win: Feb. 6, 2001 (5-1), Fresno, Calif.
Last Saint Mary's Win: Feb. 21, 1995 (6-3), Moraga, Calif.
Where Fresno State Ranks Offensively in the Mountain West in 2016 (as of 3/21/16)
• .251 Batting Average: No. 6 [Leader, AFA - .353]
• .353 Slugging Pct: No. 5 [Leader, AFA - .502]
• .336 On base Pct: No. 6 [Leader, UNM - .424]
• 99 Runs: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - 150]
• 160 Hits: No. 5 [Leader, UNM - 211]
• 84 RBI: No. 4 [Leader, UNM - 134]
• 29 Doubles: No. T-4 [Leaders, UNM- 41]
• 6 Triples: No. T-3 [Leader, NEV- 13]
• 8 Home Runs: No. T-2 [Leader, UNM- 19]
Where Fresno State Ranks Pitching in the Mountain West in 2016 (as of 3/21/16)
• 2.58 ERA: No. 1
• .232 Opposing bat avg: No. 1
• 8 saves: No. 1
• 176 strikeouts: No. 1
• 51 Earned runs allowed: No. 1
• 155 Hits allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA - 120]
• 61 walks allowed: No. 4 [Leader, SDSU- 50]
• 25 doubles allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA- 19]
• 4 triples allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA - 2]
• 6 home runs allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA - 4]
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2016 (as of 3/21/16)
Sacrifice flies: Jake Stone - 1st (5)/3rd in NCAA
Plate appearances - Austin Guibor - 2nd (91)
Doubles: Aaron Arruda - T-3rd (7)
Triples: Ryan Dobson - 3rd (3)/18th in NCAA
Home Runs: Arruda - 4th (4)
Sacrifice bunts: Stone -1st (6)/13th in NCAA
Strikeouts: Ricky Tyler Thomas - 1st (39)/23rd in NCAA
Lambert - 2nd (32)
ERA: Jimmy Lambert - 1st (0.79)/ 15th in NCAA
Thomas - 3rd (2.78)
Opposing batting avg: Lambert - 1st (.208)
Thomas - 3rd (.222)
Innings pitched: Lambert - 1st (34.0)
Thomas - 3rd (32.1)
Wins: Lambert - T-1st (4)/ 8th in NCAA
Saves: Tim Borst - 1st (6)/T-6th in NCAA
Walks allowed: Lambert - 1st (3)
Earned runs allowed: Lambert - 1st (3)
Appearances: Borst & Brennon Williams - T-1st (10)
Taking a look at the Saint Mary Gaels
Saint Mary's enters Tuesday afternoon game after taking two of three games at San Diego to open West Coast Conference play this weekend. The Gaels are 11-7 overall with a 5-1 mark at Louis Guisto Field defeating MW foe Nevada 6-1 last Tuesday (March 15) in their last home game.
The Gaels are hitting .276 from the plate as a team to rank fifth in the 10-team WCC. Sophomore infielder Zach Kirtley leads the team with a .361 average to go along with a team-high 22 hits, 20 runs scored, five home runs and 15 RBIs. Three other Gaels are hitting .333 apiece and Edward Haus has a team-high nine doubles
On the mound, Saint Mary's has a 3.96 ERA while opponents are hitting .278 against the staff. Tuesday's starter Bryce Reichmann has a team-high eight appearances tossing 13.0 innings in relief and six strikeouts.
Pitching Dominance
Fresno State had another outstanding weekend from its pitching staff. After 20 games of action, the 'Dogs rank first in the Mountain West in ERA (2.58), opposing batting average (.232), strikeouts (176), earned runs allowed (51) and saves (8).
In addition, the 'Dogs rank second in hits allowed (155), doubles allowed (25), triples allowed (4), and home runs allowed (6).
The 'Dogs team ERA of 2.58 ranks 18th in the nation and Fresno State is 48th in hits allowed per nine innings at 7.85.
Lambert continues outstanding start to his junior season
Jimmy Lambert continues to have a phenomenal start to his junior season leading the Mountain West in wins (4), ERA (0.79), innings pitched (34.0), earned runs allowed (3), and walks allowed (3).
His latest outing on Saturday night saw the San Dimas native toss six innings allowing only five hits, one earned runs, two walks and tied his career high with nine strikeouts in the 'Dogs 6-2 win over UNLV.
Lambert started the season tossing 6.1 innings and allowing one earned run against Creighton on Feb. 20. He followed that up with a complete game shutout over Youngstown State on Feb. 27 and a seven-inning, nine strikeouts performance in a 10-5 win over San Diego State on March 5 to earn back-to-back MW Pitcher of the Week honors.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs is 940 AM ESPN Radio. Stay connected with the Bulldogs on Facebook (Fresno State Athletics), Instagram (FresnoStateAthletics), Twitter (@FresnoStateBSB) and Snapchat (FSAthletics).
