Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs face Sacramento State at Raley Field
4/26/2016 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
By: Travis Blanshan
tblanshan@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
BUY TICKETS TO MAY 7 BOB BENNETT STADIUM DEDICATION GAME
FRESNO, Calif. - After winning two of three at home against San Jose State over the weekend, Fresno State hits the road this week traveling to Sacramento State on Wednesday for a match-up with the Hornets at Raley Field.
Game 42: Fresno State (26-15, 14-7 MW) at Sacramento State (24-15, 12-3 WAC)
Fresno State Notes 
| Sacramento State Notes
Probable Pitching Matchup: Edgar Gonzalez (Fr., RHP, 2-1, 3.86 ERA) vs. Tanner Olson (Jr., RHP, 3-3, 4.04 ERA)
First Pitch: April 27 - Wed: 6:00 p.m.
Stadium: Raley Field (14,014)
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 403 (CF), 325 (RF)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 116-31
Last Meeting: Fresno State won 7-5 (April 6, 2016 at Fresno St.)
Radio: N/A
Video: N/A
Live Stats: hornetsports.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State won two of three games at home over the weekend defeating San Jose State 6-0 on Friday and 8-6 on Saturday before falling 7-5 in 12 innings on Sunday.
• The Bulldogs face Sacramento State for the second time this season after defeating the Hornets 7-5 at home on April 6.
• Fresno State has won six Mountain West series for the most MW series wins since joining the conference in 2013.
• Sophomore pitcher Ricky Tyler Thomas was named the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week after throwing a complete game two-hit shutout vs. SJSU.
• The 'Dogs 3.49 ERA, 336 strikeouts, .253 opponents' batting average, 143 earned runs and 16 saves lead the Mountain West.
• The Bulldogs are tied with Texas for the nation's lead in sacrifice bunts with 57.
• Thomas leads the MW in ERA (1.89), opposing batting average (.196), innings pitched (71.1), strikeouts (71) and earned runs allowed (15).
• Junior pitcher Jimmy Lambert leads the MW in wins (8) and walks allowed (8).
• Senior outfielder Brody Russell is third in the MW in batting average (.415), slugging percentage (.644) and doubles (15), sixth in hits (56) and seventh in RBIs (35).
Fresno State vs. Sacramento State- The Series
• This will be the 148th game between the two schools.
• Fresno State leads the all-time series 116-31.
• The 'Dogs topped the Hornets 7-5 at home on April 6 with freshman southpaw Kenny Varnell picking up his first win as a Bulldog and Austin Guibor hit two solo home runs.
• The teams met twice in 2015 with the Bulldogs winning both contests with a 6-2 victory at home and an 8-0 win at Raley Field.
• The teams have played each other every year since 2006 with the 'Dogs going 31-9 in that span.
Where Fresno State Ranks Offensively in the Mountain West in 2016 (as of 4/26/16)
• .291 Batting Average: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - .323]
• .415 Slugging Pct: No. 3 [Leader, UNM- .494]
• .362 On base Pct: No. 4 [Leader, UNM - .418]
• 57 sacrifice bunts: No. 1 [T-1st in the nation with Texas]
• 238 Runs: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - 329]
• 400 Hits: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - 482]
• 210 RBI: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - 306]
• 73 Doubles: No. T-3 [Leader, UNM- 100]
• 11 Triples: No. T-5 [Leader, NEV- 17]
• 25 Home Runs: No. T-2 [Leader, UNM- 42]
Where Fresno State Ranks Pitching in the Mountain West in 2016 (as of 4/26/16)
• 3.49 ERA: No. 1
• .253 Opposing bat avg: No. 1
• 16 saves: No. 1
• 336 strikeouts: No. 1
• 143 Earned runs allowed: No. 1
• 358 Hits allowed: No. 2 [Leader, AFA - 331]
• 135 walks allowed: No. 3 [Leader, NEV - 101]
• 53 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 7 triples allowed: No. 1
• 21 home runs allowed: No. 3 [Leader, AFA - 16]
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2016 (as of 4/26/16)
Batting average: Brody Russell - 3rd (.415)/15th in NCAA
Slugging percentage: Russell - 3rd (.644)/41st in NCAA
Doubles: Russell - T-3rd (15)/ 35th in NCAA
RBI: Russell - 7th (35)
Walks: Guibor - 3rd (26)
Sacrifice flies: Jake Stone - 1st (6)/7th in NCAA
Sacrifice bunts: Guibor - 1st (11)/12th in NCAA
Strikeouts: Ricky Tyler Thomas - 1st (71)/37th in NCAA
Jimmy Lambert - 4th (53)
ERA: Thomas - 1st (1.89)/ 48th in NCAA
Lambert - 3rd (2.61)
Innings pitched: Thomas - 1st (71.1)
Lambert - 4th (69.0)
Earned runs allowed: Thomas - 1st (15)
Edgar Gonzalez - 3rd (18)
Walks allowed: Lambert - 1st (8)
Doubles allowed: Gonzalez - 1st (4)
Starts: Edgar Gonzalez - 1st (11)/2nd in NCAA
Wins: Lambert - 1st (8)/1st in NCAA
Saves: Tim Borst - 3rd (7)/48th in NCAA
Appearances: Borst & Brennon Williams - T-1st (20)
Taking a look at the Sacramento State Hornets
Sacramento State enters Wednesday's game with a 24-15 record and are coming off winning two out of three at UT Rio Grande Valley over the weekend. The Hornets are 12-3 in WAC conference play and are 10-5 since April 1 with one of their five defeats coming to the Bulldogs at Pete Beiden Field on April 6.
The Hornets are hitting .266 as a team and lead the WAC with 73 doubles and 56 stolen bases. Leading the way from the plate is sophomore outfielder Bronson Grubbs who is hitting .339 with 41 hits and 17 runs scored. Senior Chris Lewis leads the team in hits (46), runs (23), doubles (13), RBIs (26) and slugging percentage (.470).
On the mound, Wednesday's starter Tanner Olson is 3-3 with a 4.04 ERA in 35.2 innings of work making 13 appearances with four starts. He has 14 strikeouts and walked only eight while hitters are hitting .261 against him. He also started against the 'Dogs on April 6 tossing five innings, allowing five hits, four runs, two earned, issued two walks and struck out one.
Ricky Tyler Thomas named Mountain West Pitcher of the Week
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Ricky Tyler Thomas earned his second career Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honor on Monday after tossing a complete game two-hit shutout in Friday's 6-0 win over San Jose State.
The San Diego native allowed only two singles, issued no walks and struck out four. He faced only two batters over the minimum in the game and retired the final 14 batters he faced.
Lambert stays perfect in 2016
Lambert stayed perfect in 2016 on Saturday tossing 5.1 innings, allowing nine hits, five runs, four earned, issued three walk and struck out four to improve to 8-0 on the season.
He is one of 15 pitchers leading the nation with eight wins and remains one of only three hurlers in the nation with at least 10 starts to have an unblemished 8-0 mark joining Michael Rucker (BYU) and Logan Shore (Florida).
Thomas leading the MW in seven pitching categories
Thomas currently leads the MW in ERA (1.89), opposing batting average (.196), innings pitched (71.1), strikeouts (71) and earned runs allowed (15). Thomas also leads the league and ranks seventh in the nation in WHIP (0.84). Additionally, he leads the conference and ranks 17th in the country in strikeout-to-walk ratio at 7.10.
Jimmy Lambert & Korby Batesole named to Watch Lists
A pair of Bulldogs were named to initial watch lists last week for Player of the Year Awards given to the top pitcher and shortstop in college baseball annually.
Junior right-hander Jimmy Lambert was named to the College Baseball Hall of Fame National Pitcher of the Year Watch List on Wednesday as the lone representative from the Mountain West. Sophomore shortstop Korby Batesole followed that up the following day being named to the Brooks Wallace Watch List given to the nation's top shortstop.
Bulldogs continue to flourish at Pete Beiden Field
The Bulldogs continue to play well at home this season after winning a pair of games against San Jose State last weekend moved the 'Dogs record to 21-4 at Pete Beiden Field in 2016.
The Bulldogs are now one of only seven teams in the country with at least 25 home games to have lost four or fewer games on the season. They are joined by Louisville (24-1), South Carolina (25-1), Texas A&M (24-2), Florida (25-3), South Alabama (22-3) and Vanderbilt (22-4) in on that exclusive list.
Fresno State ranks second in the Mountain West in the RPI
After debuting at No. 41 in the first release of the RPI on April 5, the 'Dogs find themselves 80th on April 26 to rank second in the Mountain West behind New Mexico (60). Nevada (140), UNLV (143), Air Force (170), San Diego State (185) and San Jose State (196) round the Mountain West.
The 'Dogs have played 11 games against top 100 programs in Texas A&M (4), Creighton (20), Saint Mary's (50), Cal Poly (62), Long Beach State (71) and Oklahoma (96).
Brody Russell continues his 2016 offensive tear
Senior outfielder Brody Russell has stayed hot from the dish for the 'Dogs since March 18 hitting .472 (42-89) over his last 22 games with 13 doubles, a triple, three home runs, 19 runs scored, 23 RBIs along with a .742 slugging percentage & a .505 on-base percentage.
Entering the season as a career .243 hitter, Russell has improved to .272 after hitting .415 so far as a senior. He has already matched or surpassed single-season career highs in hits (56), runs (29), doubles (15), triples (2), home runs (4), runs (29), RBIs (35) and total bases (87).
Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
The CSU Committee on Institutional Advancement approved the motion to name Fresno State's baseball facility, Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium, on March 8. The field honors Bob Bennett, the program's all-time winningest coach, who compiled 1,302 win in 34 seasons. The field will be formally dedicated to Mr. Bennett with a celebration on May 7 vs. SDSU.
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