Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Francisco
Fresno State Baseball returns home to host San Francisco Tuesday
4/10/2017 6:45:00 PM | Baseball
After traveling nearly 6,500Â miles on a seven-game road swing, the Fresno State baseball team returns home for the first time in two weeks on Tuesday evening to host San Francisco at 6:05 p.m. on the Mountain West Network.
FRESNO, Calif. -Â After traveling nearly 6,500Â miles on a seven-game road swing, the Fresno State baseball team returns home for the first time in two weeks on Tuesday evening to host San Francisco at 6:05 p.m.
Game 32: San Francisco (15-17, 3-9 WCC) at Fresno State (16-15, 5-4 MW)
First Pitch:Â April 11Â - Tue: 6:05 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 77-19
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated San Francisco 6-3 (March 15, 2017 in San Francisco, Calif.)
Radio:Â 940 AM ESPN
Play-by-play:Â Paul Loeffler
Video:Â Mountain West Network
Live Stats:Â GoBulldogs.com
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Promotion
Tuesday: Adopta-Palooza
We will be honoring local animal shelters at Tuesday's game and if you show us a picture of your pet, you get in the game for FREE.
Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State returns home after a season-long seven-game road swing that saw them go 2-5 against Mountain West foe New Mexico, WAC opponent Sacramento State and Big Ten foe Michigan State.
• The 'Dogs posted their first shutout of 2017 with a 9-0 win over Sacramento State at John Smith Field on April 5. It was the 'Dogs first trip to the Hornets' on-campus stadium since 2011 as six pitchers combined to limit the Hornets to six hits.
• The Bulldogs took a break from MW play over the weekend to travel to Michigan to face the Spartans in Grand Rapids as the Spartans swept the 'Dogs. It was the 'Dogs first time facing a Big Ten opponent since 2014 and its first in Big Ten country since 2011.
• The 'Dogs and Dons will meet for the second time this season after Fresno State won 6-3 at Benedetti Diamond on March 15.
• The Bulldogs currently rank 7th in the nation in double plays (35), 20th in triples (12) and are 23rd in sacrifice bunts (26).
• Junior LHP Ricky Tyler Thomas leads the MW & ranks 28th in the nation in K's (62).
• Junior SS Korby Batesole leads the MW & ranks 25th nationally in sacrifice bunts (7).
Fresno State vs. San Francisco - The Series
• The Fresno State/San Francisco series dates back to 1957 with the Bulldogs leading 77-19.
• The two teams met on March 15, 2017 in San Francisco with a 6-3 win at Benedetti Diamond.
• Coach Batesole in 13-12 in 24 matchups all-time against the Dons with a 12-10 mark at home.
• The two teams met 46 times between 1977 and 1984 when both schools were members of the Northern California Baseball Association and were joined by Nevada, Pacific, Saint Mary's, Santa Clara and San Jose State.
Where Fresno State Ranks Offensively in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 4/10/17)
• .288 Batting Average: No. 5 [Leader, AFA - .336]
• .422 Slugging Pct: No. 5 [Leader, UNM .504]
• .360 On base Pct: No. 5 [Leader, UNM - .412]
• 26 sacrifice bunts: No. 2 [Leader, NEV - 33]
• 189 Runs: No. 5 [Leader, UNM - 259]
• 324 Hits: No. 5 [Leader, UNLV - 380]
• 173 RBI: No. 5 [Leader, UNM - 232]
• 64 Doubles: No. 5 [Leader, AFA - 87]
• 12 Triples: No. T-1 [20th nationally]
• 21 Home Runs: No. 4 [Leader, UNM- 30]
Where Fresno State Ranks Pitching in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 4/10/17)
• 5.47ERA: No. 3 [Leader, SDSU - 3.17]
• .270 Opposing bat average: No. 2 [Leader, SDSU - .254]
• 7 saves: No. 2 [Leader, SDSU - 11]
• 255 strikeouts: No. 1
• 174 Earned runs allowed: No. 4 [Leader, SDSU - 104]
• 298 Hits allowed: No. 3 [Leader, SDSU - 278]
• 170 walks allowed: No. 7 [Leader, UNM - 98]
• 48 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 5 triples allowed: No. 2 [Leader, SDSU - 4]
• 17 home runs allowed: No. 2 [Leader, UNM - 14]
Where Fresno State Ranks Fielding in the Mountain West in 2017 (as of 4/10/17)Â
• .963 Fielding Percentage: No. 7 [Leader, SDSU .981]
• 362 Assists: No. 3 [Leader, UNLV- 390]
• 39 double plays: No. 2 [Leader, SDSU 41]
Taking a look at the San Francisco Dons
San Francisco enters Tuesday's game with a 15-17 overall mark and a 3-9 start to WCC play. The Dons, who are 6-11 on the road, ended a six-game losing skid on Sunday with a 8-1 win at home over Saint Mary's. Since playing the 'Dogs at home on March 15, USF has dropped 11 of its last 16 games after starting the season 10-6.
Senior infielder Allen Smoot leads the team with a .328 average from the plate, 39 hits, 22 RBIs and a .409 on-base percentage. Junior infielder Ross Puskarich has started all 32 games and has 39 hits, 14 runs and 19 RBIs. Seniors Matt Sinatro and Nico Giarratano have also each started all 32 games as Sinatro leads the team with 26 runs scored and Giarratano has a team-leading 10 doubles.
On the mound, the Dons have a 3.60 ERA and are holding opponents to 4.5 runs per game and a .255 average from the dish. USF, who has not allowd a triple this season, has 236 strikeouts to only 107 walks for a 2.21 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The Dons Tuesday starter will be left-hander Sam Granoff who enters the game with a 1-3 record, 4.80 ERA and has tossed 30.0 innings and 14 strikeouts.
'Dogs blank Sacramento State 9-0
Picking up their first shutout of the season, the 'Dogs blanked Sacramento State on the road last Wednesday 9-0 as six pitchers combined to limit the Hornets to six hits. Senior Dominic Topoozian made only his second career start and retired the first eight hitters before bein pulled after a pair of singles. Junior Fred Schlichtholz came on in relief to work 3.1 innings picking up four strikeouts before Adam Medrano, Ryan Jensen, Rickey Ramirez and Ricky Tyler Thomas recorded the final nine outs.
The offense got started early with a season-high five runs in the first inning as the first five 'Dogs all recorded hits and all five came around to score. After adding three runs in the seventh, a solo home run by Scott Silva in the ninth gave the Bulldogs their final run. It was the most runs scored in a shutout since a 11-0 win at home over Youngstown State on Feb. 27, 2016.
Prior takes advantage of first extended action of season
Seeing his first significant action of the season, senior Joe Prior had a solid week from the plate hitting .429 going 3-for-7 in three games. He raised his average 142 points as he entered the week at .125 and is now sitting at .267.Â
Ryan Jensen set to make first start of season
Freshman right-hander Ryan Jensen will make his first start as a Bulldog on Tuesday against the Dons. Jensen has made a team-high 17 appearances on the season and a has a 0-0 record with a 3.00 ERA in 21.0 innings.
He is holding opponents to a .244 average from the plate with 14 strikeouts and has only allowed seven earned runs. His longest outings of the season came at home against Nevada (March 4) and at New Mexico (March 31) where he went 2.2 innings in each and had a season-high three strikeouts against the Wolf Pack.
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 jersey retired in a pregame ceremony. The Bulldogs will wear their retro Fresno Athletic Club jerseys against San Jose State in honor of Hirayama
Batesole within six wins of #500 at Fresno State
After Wednesday's win at Sacramento State, head coach Mike Batesole now sits at 494 wins at Fresno State and 750 in his career. He is six victories shy of his 500th at Fresno State and will become only the third coach to reach that milestone joining Pete Beiden and Bob Bennett.
Up next:Â The Bulldogs stay at home to host Air Force in a three-game series starting Thursday at 6:05 p.m. PT.
"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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