Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
New Mexico
Diamond 'Dogs look to reverse fortunes in Albuquerque
3/30/2017 5:30:00 PM | Baseball
Games 25-27: Fresno State (14-10, 5-4 MW) at New Mexico (16-9, 9-0 MW)
First Pitch:Â March 31 - April 2 - Fri: 5:30Â p.m. PT, Sat: 1:00Â p.m. PT, Sun: 11:00 a.m. PT
Stadium: Santa Ana Star Field (1,000)
Surface:Â FieldTurf
Dimensions:Â 350Â (LF), 420 (CF), 350Â (RF)
All-Time Series:Â New Mexico leads 23-14
Last Meeting: New Mexico defeated Fresno State 7-4 (April 10, 2016 in Albuquerque, N.M.)
Radio:Â AM 940 ESPN
Play-by-play:Â Paul Loeffler
Video:Â Mountain West Network
Live Stats:Â GoBulldogs.com
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State starts its longest road stretch of the season on Friday as the 'Dogs play their second Mountain West road series traveling to 2016 MW Tournament champion New Mexico for a three-game series.
• The 'Dogs are coming off a five-game homestand that saw them go 3-2 with wins over Pepperdine (5-2), San Diego State (8-7) and Cal Poly (12-8).
• The Bulldogs dropped a doubleheader against the Aztecs on Saturday falling 5-4 and then were held to one hit in the nightcap falling 12-0.
• The Bulldogs trail the all-time series against New Mexico 23-14.
• Fresno State is 1-14 all-time in Albuquerque with its lone win coming in 2015 in a 8-1 win that saw the 'Dogs seal the win with a five-run ninth inning.
• The Bulldogs currently rank 11th in the nation in double plays (27) & sacrifice bunts (23) and are 21st in the country in triples (10).
• Junior LHP Ricky Tyler Thomas leads the MW & ranks 15th in the country in K's (52).
• Junior OF Jared Akins checks in 3rd in the MW in doubles (11) & is 23rd in the nation.
• Junior SS Korby Batesole leads the MW and ranks 4th nationally in sacrifice bunts (7).
Fresno State vs. New Mexico - The Series
• Fresno State and New Mexico have played 37 games all-time against one another.
• New Mexico leads the series 23-14, including a 14-1 mark at home. The lone win for the 'Dogs in Albuquerque came in 2015 winning 8-1.
• The teams met only met three times in 2016 with the Lobos sweeping the 'Dogs in Albuquerque. The Bulldogs dropped a pair of one-run games falling 2-1 and 14-13 in 12 innings before losing the series finale 7-4.
• The 'Dogs are only 4-18 against the Lobos since joining the MW in 2013, including a 1-11 mark on the road.
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: New Mexico 23-14
Last Meeting: April 10, 2016 (Albuquerque, N.M.) - L, 7-4
Current Streak: L3
Last Fresno State Win: May 16, 2015 (11-2) - Fresno, Calif.
Last New Mexico Win: April 10, 2016 Â (7-4) - Albuquerque, N.M.
Where Fresno State Ranks Offensively in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 3/30/17)
• .297 Batting Average: No. 5 [Leader, AFA - .331]
• .443 Slugging Pct: No. 4 [Leader, UNM .510]
• .377 On base Pct: No. 4 [Leader, UNM - .402]
• 24 sacrifice bunts: No. 2 [Leader, NEV - 26]
• 161 Runs: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - 220]
• 260 Hits: No. 5 [Leader, UNLV - 295]
• 148 RBI: No. 3 [Leader, UNM - 199]
• 51 Doubles: No. 4 Leader, UNM - 66]
• 10 Triples: No. 2 [17th nationally]
• 19 Home Runs: No. 4 [Leader, UNM- 30]
Where Fresno State Ranks Pitching in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 3/30/17)
• 4.85 ERA: No. 3 [Leader, SDSU - 3.58]
• .260 Opposing bat average: No. 1
• 7 saves: No. 1
• 213 strikeouts: No. 1
• 122 Earned runs allowed: No. 3 [Leader, SDSU - 88]
• 223 Hits allowed: No. 2
• 121 walks allowed: No. 6 [Leader, UNM - 73]
• 34 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 4 triples allowed: No. T-2 [Leader, SDSU - 3]
• 13 home runs allowed: No. 2 [Leader, UNM - 11]
Where Fresno State Ranks Fielding in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 3/30/17)
• .962 Fielding Percentage: No. 7 [Leader, SDSU .983]
• 287 Assists: No. 3 [Leader, UNLV- 310]
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2017
Batting Average: Jared Akins - 8th (.355)
Slugging percentage: Aaron Arruda - 6th (.557)
On- base percentage: Akins - 10th (.423)
Hits: Arruda - 10th (36)
RBI: Arruda - T-5th (26)
Runs: Austin Guibor - T-4th (25)
Doubles: Jared Akins - 3rd (11) [23rd nationally]
Triples: Guibor - T-1st (3)Â
Sacrifice bunts: Â Korby Batesole - 1st (7) [4th nationally]
ERA: Ricky Tyler Thomas - 3rd (3.05)
Opposing batting average: Thomas - 1st (.208)
Innings pitched: Thomas - 2nd (38.1)
       Rickey Ramirez - 4th (37.2)
Strikeouts: Thomas - 1st (52) (15th in the nation)
          Ramirez - 3rd (33)
Hits allowed: Schlichtholz - 1st (20); Thomas - 3rd (30)
Earned runs allowed: Schlichtholz - T-1st (11)
Doubles allowed: Thomas - 1st (3)
Saves: Edgar Gonzalez - 2nd (4)
Taking a look at the New Mexico Lobos
New Mexico comes into this weekend's series with the Bulldogs on a five-game winning streak after dropping its five previous contests before this recent hot streak and sports a 16-9 overall mark on the season with a 7-1 record at home.
The Lobos, who were the Mountain West preseason favorite to win the conference, are off to a MW record 9-0 start to conference play with sweeps over Air Force and UNLV on the road and a sweep over San Jose State at home
New Mexico currently ranks second in the MW and 17th in the nation with a .314 batting average as a team and leads the conference and ranks among top 40 in the country in walks (123), doubles (66), home runs (30), on-base percentage (.402), runs (220), scoring (8.8 runs per game), slugging percentage (.510) and triples (11).
Standout two-way player Luis Gonzalez leads the team and ranks fifth in the MW with a .380 average and is one of three players with 10 doubles along with leading the team in on-base percentage (.504) and stolen bases (7). Five other players with 65 or more at-bats are hitting over .300 as the Lobos potent lineup averages nearly nine runs per game and has crossed that mark nine times this season.
The UNM pitching staff has been solid with a 4.84 ERA and has allowed 127 runs in 25 games as opponents are averaging five runs per game and are hitting .303 from the plate. The weekend rotation of right-handers Tyler Stevens and Johnathon Tripp along with southpaw Gonzalez is a combined 7-4 and has started 16 games. Stevens leads the MW with 39.2 innings pitched and is second in strikeouts with 43.
A look at the 'Dogs and Lobos series in Albuquerque since 2013
2013 - April 12-14 - 1-2 [L, 4-11; L, 3-14; L, 3-4]
2014 -April 11-13 - 1-2 [L, 4-5; L, 6-11; L, 1-4]
2015 - March 27-29- [L, 7-12; W, 8-1; L, 1-5]
2016 - April 8-10 - [L, 1-2; L, 13-14 (12); L, 4-7]
Since joining the MW in 2013, the 'Dogs have had a tough time winning in Albuquerque with only one win and 11 defeats. The Bulldogs lost a pair of one-run contests in 2016 falling 2-1 and 14-13 in 12 innings and have lost four one-run contests in the last four years.
'Dogs find their offense against Cal Poly
The Bulldogs found their offense on Tuesday in a 12-8 victory over Cal Poly matching their season-high with 18 hits as seven different 'Dogs had multi-hit games. Senior outfielder Jake Stone had a career-high four hits, including a double, scored two runs and drove in two RBIs. Sophomore Zach Ashford smacked his first career home run and junior Aaron Arruda lifted his team-leading fifth home run with a three-run shot in the fourth.
Schlichtholz currently leading the Mountain West in a pair of categories
Junior southpaw Fred Schlichtholz tops the MW leads in hits allowed with 20 and earned runs allowed with 11 in 24.0 innings of work and has 28 strikeouts and two wins.
Fresno State Baseball set to retire Fibber Hirayama #3 jersey on April 30
The 'Dogs will retire their ninth jersey in program history on April 30 when legendary Bulldog Fibber Hirayama will see his #3 retired in a pregame ceremony. The Bulldogs will wear their retro Fresno Athletic Club jerseys against San Jose State.
Batesole within ten wins of #500 at Fresno State
After Tuesday's win, head coach Mike Batesole now sits at 492 wins at Fresno State and 748 in his career. He is eight victories of his 500th at Fresno State and will become only the third coach to reach that milestone joining Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett. The earliest he can clinch win number 500 at Fresno State is April 11 at home vs. San Francisco.
Up next:Â The Bulldogs continue their road trip next week traveling to Sacramento State on Wednesday and then head to Big Ten foe Michigan State over the weekend.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
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