Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Eastern Michigan
Bulldogs host Eastern Michigan for Ag Fest Weekend [March 10-12]
3/9/2017 2:30:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team welcomes Mid-American Conference opponent Eastern Michigan to Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium for Ag Fest Weekend starting Friday at 6:05 p.m.
Games 13-15: Eastern Michigan (2-11, 0-0 MAC) at Fresno State (6-5, 2-1 MW)
First Pitch:Â March 10-12 - Fri: 6:05 p.m., Sat: 6:05 p.m., Sun: 1:05 p.m.
Stadium:Â Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
Surface:Â Grass
Dimensions:Â 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
All-Time Series:Â Fresno State leads 3-0
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated Eastern Michigan 8-2 (March 7, 2001 in Fresno, Calif.)
Radio:Â AM 940 ESPN (Sunday only)
Play-by-play:Â Paul Loeffler
Video:Â N/A
Live Stats:Â GoBulldogs.com
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Weekend Promotions
Friday: Petting zoo behind the batting barn Â
Ag Fest- spotlight: Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology
Saturday: Youth Jersey Saturday- All kids wearing their youth team jersey get in free!
Ag Fest - spotlight: Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology and Gibson Farm Market Â
Sunday: Salute to SundayÂ
- All military and veterans get in for free!
- Kids run the bases post game!
- Ag Fest- spotlight: Gibson Farm Market
Bulldog Headlines
• The Bulldogs played their first road game on Tuesday traveling to Malibu to face Pepperdine and after falling behind 4-0 rallied to take a 5-4 lead only to be taken to extra innings tied 5-5. Both teams scored in the 10th inning and after finishing the 11th inning tied 6-6, the game was suspended due to darkness. The teams will resume the game in Fresno on March 22 when the Waves visit the 'Dogs.
• The 'Dogs close out their first 14 of 15 games at home this weekend with a three-game series against Mid-American conference foe Eastern Michigan.
• Fresno State is 15-2 all-time against MAC opponents.
• The last time the 'Dogs faced a MAC foe was in 2012 when they swept a two-game series at home over Kent State.
• Junior left-handed pitcher Ricky Tyler Thomas was named the Fresno State Athlete of the Week after throwing 8.1 innings in the 'Dogs MW-opening win over Nevada while striking out nine.
• Thomas currently ranks third in the nation in strikeouts (33), 21st in WHIP (0.61), 23rd in hits allowed per 9IP (3.38) and are 30th in strikeouts per 9IP (13.92).
Fresno State vs. Eastern Michigan - The Series
• Fresno State leads the all-time series against Eastern Michigan 3-0.
• The two teams have not met since March 7, 2001 when the 'Dogs defeated the Eagles in a two-game series in Fresno winning 11-3 and 8-2.
• This will be Coach Batesole's first meeting against Eastern Michigan.
• It will be his ninth game against an opponent from the MAC and he has a perfect 8-0 record.
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Fresno State leads 3-0
Last Meeting: March 7, 2001 (Fresno, Calif.) -Â W, 8-2
Current Streak: W3
Last Fresno State Win: March 7, 2001 (8-2) Fresno, Calif.
Last Eastern Michigan Win: N/A
Where Fresno State Ranks Offensively in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 3/9/17)
• .279 Batting Average: No. 5 [Leader, UNM - .335]
• .398 Slugging Pct: No. 4 [Leader, UNM- .510]
• .357 On base Pct: No. 5 [Leader, UNM - .424]
• 11 sacrifice bunts: No. 2 [Leader, NEV - 14]
• 62 Runs: No. 5 [Leader, UNM - 112]
• 112 Hits: No. 5 [Leader, UNLV - 142]
• 56 RBI: No. 5 [Leader, UNM - 101]
• 24 Doubles: No. 4 [Leader, UNM - 36]
• 6 Triples: No. 1
• 4 Home Runs: No. 6 [Leader, UNM- 16]
Where Fresno State Ranks Pitching in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 3/9/17)
• 3.92 ERA: No. 3 [Leader, SJSU - 3.36]
• .212 Opposing bat average: No. 1
• 4 saves: No. 1
• 118 strikeouts: No. 1
• 47 Earned runs allowed: No. 3 [Leader, SJSU - 38]
• 80 Hits allowed: No. 1
• 64 walks allowed: No. 7 [Leader, UNM - 35]
• 8 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 2 triples allowed: No. T-2 [Leader, SDSU - 1]
• 6 home runs allowed: No. 1
Where Fresno State Ranks Fielding in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 3/9/17)
• .978 Fielding Percentage: No. 2 [Leader, UNM- .979]
•  131 Assists: No. 4 [Leader, UNLV - 150]
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2017
Batting Average: Austin Guibor - 6th (.362)Â
       Jesse Medrano - 9th (.356)
Slugging percentage: Guibor - 8th (.596)
On-Base percentage: Guibor - T-7th (.444)
Hits: Guibor - T-7th (17); Medrano - T-12th (16)
RBI: Guibor - T-10th (10)
Runs: Guibor - T-8th (11)
Doubles: Scott Silva - T-3rd (5)
Sacrifice bunts: Â Korby Batesole - T-2nd (3)
ERA: Ricky Tyler Thomas - 2nd (1.27)
Opposing batting average: Thomas - 1st (.114)
Hits allowed: Thomas - T-1st (8)
Earned runs allowed: Thomas - T-1st (3)
Innings pitched: Thomas - 2nd (21.1)
            Rickey Ramirez - T-3rd (19.0)
Strikeouts: Thomas - 1st (33) (3rd in the nation)
         Ramirez - T-3rd (20)
Saves: Edgar Gonzalez - T-2nd (2)
Taking a look at the Eastern Michigan Eagles
Eastern Michigan is off to a 2-11 start to the season picking up wins over SEC member Missouri and Atlantic-10 member St. Bonaventure while dropping three one-run games. The Eagles have been the only team to defeat Mizzou as the Tigers are on a nation-leading 12-game winning streak since the Eagles defeated them Feb. 17.Â
In that contest, Eastern Michigan was able to get to Tiger ace pitcher Tanner Houck, a likely 2017 MLB first round draft selection, for eight hits, five runs, four earned and drew two walks.
The Eagles are hitting .230 as a team as they are led by senior John Montgomery who leads the team with a .311 average from the plate and also leads the club in hits (14), runs (9), RBIs (7), total bases (20) and slugging percentage (.444).Â
Senior outfielder Mike Mioduszewski is one of only two players to appear in all 13 games and is hitting .279 and leads the team with four doubles and has scored seven runs.Â
The pitching staff has an ERA of 7.33 with opponents hitting .346 allowing 115 runs in 13 games as opponents are averaging 8.8 runs per game. They have surrendered 80 walks and struck out 69 while allowing 50 extra-base hits.
The weekend rotation of Brent Mattson, Brad Allen and James Harness is a combined 2-3 throwing a combined 41.1 innings and has 30 strikeouts. Allen has tossed a team-high 18.1 innings and has 15 strikeouts, while Mattson has pitched 12.0 innings and has two wins.
2017 MAC CONFERENCEÂ PRESEASON POLL
East Division
Rank   Team (1st-place votes)    Points
1. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Kent State (9) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 61
2. Â Â Â Â Â Â Miami (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 56
3.      Ohio                            44
4.        Bowling Green (1)          32
5.      Buffalo                         27
West Division
Rank   Team (1st-place votes)    Points
1. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Ball State (5) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 57
2. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Central Michigan (2)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 49
3. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Toledo (1) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 36
4. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Northern Illinois (2) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 32Â
5. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Western Michigan (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â 31
6.       Eastern Michigan          26
Fresno State vs. Mid-American conference teams
The 'Dogs have played seven of the 11 baseball-playing Mid-American conference teams and hold an all-time of 15-2 in 17 contests. The last time the Bulldogs played a member of the MAC came in 2012 when the 'Dogs topped Kent State in a pair of games in Fresno by scores of 14-2 and 5-2.
Bulldogs All-Time Record vs. MAC opponents
Bowling Green: 2-1 (1998, 2000, 2003)
Buffalo: 4-0 (2009)
Eastern Michigan: 3-0 (1990, 2001)
Kent State: 2-0 (2012)
Miami: 2-1 (2001, 2006)
Toledo: 1-0 (1998)
Western Michigan: 1-0 (1959)
Fresno State vs. Opponents from Michigan
The Bulldogs have also historically had great success against opponents from the Wolverine State as they have an all-time record of 9-1 in 10 contests. The 'Dogs hosted Oakland out of the Horizon League in 2016 winning an entertaining contest 11-10. In addition to this weekend's series against the Eagles, the 'Dogs will travel to Michigan State on Apr. 7-9.
Bulldogs All-Time Record vs. opponents from Michigan
Eastern Michigan: 3-0 (1990, 2001)
Michigan: 3-1 (1989, 1992)
Michigan State: 1-0 (2012)
Oakland: 1-0 (2016)
Western Michigan: 1-0 (1959)
Thomas continues to deliver standout performances
Junior left-hander Ricky Tyler Thomas has had three standout performances to start the season coming off a nine-strikeout outing in a 3-2 win over Nevada last Friday to open Mountain West play. He was two outs shy of a complete game being lifted after 8.1 innings and 123 pitches limiting the Wolf Pack to five hits and two runs.
That performance comes on the heels of perhaps his best game in a Bulldog uniform tossing seven scoreless innings allowing only one hit in the contest while striking out a career-high 15 in the 'Dogs 4-3 loss to UC Riverside in 18 innings on Feb. 24.
Thomas currently ranks third in the nation in strikeouts (33), 21st in WHIP (0.61), 23rd in hits allowed per 9IP (3.38) and are 30th in strikeouts per 9IP (13.92).
Stone on a 24-game on-base streak                                           Â
Senior outfielder Jake Stone is the lone 'Dog to hit safely and reach base in all 12 games this season and dating back to 2016 is currently on a 24-game hitting streak as he reached base safely in the 'Dogs final 12 games of last season.
Pitching staff continues to be a strength
The 'Dogs pitching staff currently ranks 12th in the nation in hits allowed per nine innings limiting opponents to 6.67 per game and are 24th in strikeouts per nine innings with nearly 10 strikeouts per game striking out 9.8 batters per contest. The Bulldogs have been susceptible to walks allowing 5.33 per nine innings to rank 238th in the nation.
Ryan Jensen becoming reliable arm out of the pen
Freshman right-hander Ryan Jensen has made a team-high seven appearances out of the bullpen this season throwing 10.1 innings with a 3.48 ERA and has nine strikeouts while holding opponents to a .205 average.
Up next:Â The Bulldogs travel to San Francisco (8-5) on Wednesday for a 2:30 p.m. game before going to Air Force next 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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