Fresno State Athletics
Diamond 'Dogs host No. 16 Long Beach State Tuesday
3/28/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. - The Bulldogs baseball team returns home after a four-game road swing in the Bay Area for spring break hosting Long Beach State on Tuesday at 6:05 p.m. at Pete Beiden Field.
Game 25: No. 16 Long Beach State (16-7, 0-0 Big West) at Fresno State (16-8, 6-3 MW)
Fresno State Notes 
| Long Beach State Notes
Probable Pitching Matchup: Dave Smith (Jr., RHP, 2-2, 6.46) vs. Anthony Arias (So., LHP, 2-2, 4.81)
Promotion: It will be #ShareAPair night at Pete Beiden Field as the public is asked to bring new socks and underwear for children (ages 3-12) to help benefit children at the Marjaree Mason Center and Catholic Charities. Fresno State athletics is offering free entry (1 ticket) for every two packages of new kids socks or underwear donated.
The #ShareAPair campaign, with the slogan "It's What's Underneath that Counts," will take place from March 29-April 17, 2016. Full details at http://shareapair2016.wix.com/donate.
First Pitch: Mar. 29 - Tue: 6:05 p.m.
Stadium: Beiden Field (3,575)
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 58-51
Last Meeting: Long Beach State won 4-3 (March 7, 2016 at LBSU)
Radio: AM 940 ESPN
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler
Video: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: GoBulldogs.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State plays its second ranked team of the season hosting 16th-ranked Long Beach State on Tuesday at Pete Beiden Field after playing at #3 Texas A&M on March 11-13.
• The Dirtbags will be the first ranked team to visit Pete Beiden Field this year and the first ranked foe since No. 21 Cal on March 25, 2015 when the `Dogs topped the Golden Bears 7-2.
• This will be the Bulldogs and Dirtbags second meeting this year after the two teams played on March 7 in Long Beach with LBSU winning 4-3.
• Fresno State holds a 58-51 all-time series lead over Long Beach State. Prior to this season's previous meeting, the two teams had not played since 2008 in the NCAA Regional hosted by Long Beach.
• The `Dogs 2.73 ERA, 207 strikeouts, .243 opponents' batting average, 65 earned runs allowed and 10 saves lead the Mountain West.
• Junior pitcher Jimmy Lambert leads the MW in wins (5) and walks allowed (4), while ranking second in ERA (1.49), innings pitched (42.1) and earned runs allowed (7).
• Outfielder Brody Russell leads the team in batting avg. (.372), hits (29) & RBI (24).
• 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. Long Beach St. - The Series
• Fresno State and Long Beach State will meet for the 110th time on Tuesday.
• The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with the Dirtbags 58-51, but LBSU won the most recent meeting earlier this season winning 4-3.
• The `Dogs most recent win over the Dirtbags came in the 2008 NCAA Regional with Fresno State winning 7-3.
• Head coach Mike Batesole is 3-2 vs. LBSU.
Where Fresno State Ranks Offensively in the Mountain West in 2016 (as of 3/28/16)
• .267 Batting Average: No. 6 [Leader, AFA - .333]
• .374 Slugging Pct: No. 4 [Leader, UNM - .481]
• .347 On base Pct: No. 4 [Leader, UNM - .416]
• 33 sacrifice bunts: No. 1 [3rd in NCAA]
• 129 Runs: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - 175]
• 209 Hits: No. 2 [Leader, UNM - 252]
• 111 RBI: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - 158]
• 43 Doubles: No. 2 [Leaders, UNM- 51]
• 7 Triples: No. T-3 [Leader, NEV- 14]
• 9 Home Runs: No. T-3 [Leader, UNM- 23]
Where Fresno State Ranks Pitching in the Mountain West in 2016 (as of 3/28/16)
• 2.73 ERA: No. 1
• .243 Opposing bat avg: No. 1
• 10 saves: No. 1
• 207 strikeouts: No. 1
• 65 Earned runs allowed: No. 1
• 197 Hits allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA - 138]
• 76 walks allowed: No. 5 [Leader, SDSU- 59]
• 28 doubles allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA- 25]
• 4 triples allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA - 2]
• 6 home runs allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA - 5]
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2016 (as of 3/28/16)
Plate appearances - Guibor - 2nd (110)
Doubles: Aaron Arruda & Stone - T-2nd (8)
Triples: Ryan Dobson - 3rd (3)/31st in NCAA
Home Runs: Arruda - T-4th (4)
RBI: Brody Russell - T-2nd (24)
Sacrifice flies: Jake Stone - 1st (5)/5th in NCAA
Sacrifice bunts: Stone -1st (8)/11th in NCAA
Strikeouts: Ricky Tyler Thomas - 1st (46)/27th in NCAA
Lambert - 4th (35)
ERA: Jimmy Lambert - 2nd (1.49)
Thomas - 3rd (2.29)
Innings pitched: Lambert - 2nd (42.1)
Earned runs allowed: Lambert - 2nd (7)
Gonzalez - 3rd (8)
Starts: Edgar Gonzalez - 1st (7)/3rd in NCAA
Wins: Lambert - T-1st (5)/ 4th in NCAA
Saves: Tim Borst - 1st (6)/13th in NCAA
Walks allowed: Lambert - T-1st (4)
Appearances: Borst & Brennon Williams - T-1st (12)
Jake Stone named Mountain West Player of the Week
Fresno State junior outfielder Jake Stone was named the Mountain West Player of the Week, as announced by the conference office on Monday.
Helping the Bulldogs win three of four games on the week and improve to 16-8 on the season, Stone hit .533 from the plate going 8-for-15 with five doubles, seven runs scored and one RBI. He also had a .562 on-base percentage and a .867 slugging percentage.
Collecting a hit in all four games, his week was highlighted by a pair of three-hit and three-run performances. In Thursday's 13-4 win at San Jose State, the Carlsbad, Calif., native had a single-game career high three hits, all doubles, while scoring three runs and drove in one RBI. He followed up that performance on Friday with another three-hit outing, including a double, and scored three runs in a 9-4 win over the Spartans.
He added a single and two sacrifice hits in Tuesday's 6-4 win at Saint Mary's and added a double and a run scored in Saturday's 3-2 loss to SJSU in 10 innings.
It is the first MW weekly award for Stone and the fifth weekly award for the Bulldogs this year.
Taking a look at the #16 Long Beach State Dirtbags
The Long Beach State Dirtbags, ranked 16th in the nation this week by D1Baseball.com and 17th by Baseball America, enter Tuesday's contest with a 16-7 overall record. LBSU is hitting .252 as a team with 187 hits, including 44 for extra-base hits, and 93 RBI.
Junior infielder Garrett Hampson is tied for fifth in the Big West in batting average with a .363 average. He has started all 23 games leading the team with 33 hits, 21 runs scored, a .429 slugging percentage, and 10 stolen bases.
On the mound, the Dirtbags have a 2.92 team ERA (28th in the nation) while holding opponents to a .230 batting average. LBSU ranks second in the Big West with 69 earned runs allowed, third with 202 strikeouts and fourth with 63 walks issued. Tuesday's starter Dave Smith has a 2-2 record with a 6.46 ERA in 23.2 innings and 18 strikeouts.
Long Beach State is coming off winning two out three games in a non-conference series at Cal State Fullerton last weekend. The Dirtbags have won six of their last eight games and 11 of their last 14 dating back to March 5 vs. Nebraska. LBSU is 5-2 on the road this year.
Pitching Dominance
Fresno State continues to get outstanding pitching from its pitching staff. After the first 24 games, the `Dogs rank first in the Mountain West in ERA (2.73), opposing batting average (.243), strikeouts (207), earned runs allowed (65) and saves (10).
In addition, the `Dogs rank second in hits allowed (197), doubles allowed (28), triples allowed (4) and home runs allowed (6). The `Dogs team ERA of 2.73 ranks 20th in the nation and Fresno State is 66th in hits allowed per nine innings at 8.29.
Another solid week for Lambert
Jimmy Lambert has gotten off to a phenomenal start to his junior season leading the Mountain West in wins (5) and walks allowed (4), while ranking second in ERA (1.49), innings pitched (42.1), earned runs allowed (7) and is fourth in strikeouts (35).
The San Dimas native is coming off his second-longest outing of the season tossing 8.1 innings allowing 11 hits, four earned runs and three strikeouts in last Friday's (March 25) 9-4 win over San Jose State.
Lambert has tossed six or more innings in five of his six starts, has at least two strikeouts in all six starts and has thrown at least 85 pitches in all six starts.
Ashford moves into leadoff role
After dropping seven straight games after opening the season winning 11 straight, the `Dogs looked for a jumpstart at the top of the lineup against UNLV on March 19.
Moving Austin Guibor down to fifth in the order, the `Dogs elevated freshman Zach Ashford into the leadoff role. In six games since the move, Ashford is 7-for-19 with a double, six runs scored, three RBIs and has drawn five walks.
On the season, Ashford has played in 22 games hitting .333 (15-45) with two doubles, a triple, 12 runs scored, and seven runs scored.
Gonzalez moves into weekend rotation
Another Bulldog freshman, right-handed pitcher Edgar Gonzalez, is making an instant impact as he has moved into the weekend rotation. Making his second weekend start on Saturday, the freshman from Newark threw 4.0 innings allowing three hits, one unearned run and had three strikeouts.
Ranking third in the nation with seven starts, he is 1-0 with a 2.84 ERA throwing 25.1 innings and ranks fourth on the club with 24 strikeouts. He is holding opponents to a .230 batting average.
'Dogs sacrificing for the team
Fresno State leads the Mountain West and ranks tied for third in the nation with 33 sacrifice bunts. Getting at least one sacrifice hit in 17 of the Bulldogs 24 games, Jake Stone leads the MW and ranks fifth in the country with eight. The `Dogs had a season-high five in last Tuesday's (March 22) 6-4 win at Saint Mary's and have got at least one sacrifice hit from 11 different players.
Lee & Williams having strong senior seasons in relief
Brennon Williams and Dylan Lee, a pair of senior relievers for the `Dogs, have combined for 23 appearances with two saves for the Bulldogs in relief. The pair has allowed only eight earned runs with 29 strikeouts in 33.2 innings.
Edge of your seat excitement
The `Dogs have made the Red Wave sweat out a number of close contests in 2016 playing 12 one-run games and three extra-inning games thus far. Posting a 6-6 mark in those contests, the `Dogs are also 2-1 in two-run games.
Up next
The Bulldogs stay at home this weekend for their fourth Mountain West series of the season hosting Air Force (12-5, 4-1 MW). The 'Dogs host the Falcons for games at 6:05 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and a 1:05 p.m. first pitch on Sunday. It is Salute to Services Weekend will all military and veterans getting into the all three games for free.
"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).
