Fresno State Athletics
Friday, February 16
Fresno, CA
6:05 PM
Fresno State
vs
Michigan State
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
Diamond 'Dogs begin 2018 season hosting Big Ten foe Michigan State [Feb. 16-18]
2/15/2018 11:35:00 AM | Baseball
Fresno State Baseball Notes (PDF)Michigan State Notes (PDF)2018 Quick Facts (PDF)2018 Fresno State Baseball Fact Book
The Fresno State baseball team gets its 2018 season underway on Friday night hosting Big Ten foe Michigan State in a four-game series at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team gets its 2018 season underway on Friday night hosting Big Ten foe Michigan State in a four-game series at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Games 1-4: Michigan State (0-0, 0-0 Big 10) at Fresno State (0-0, 0-0 MW)
First Pitch: Feb. 16-18 - Fri: 6:05 p.m., Sat (DH): 2:05 p.m. & 6:05 p.m., Sun: 10:30 a.m.
Stadium: Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
All-Time Series: Michigan State leads 3-1
Last Meeting: Michigan State defeated Fresno State, 8-2 (April 9, 2017 in Grand Rapids, Mich.)
Radio: AM 940 ESPN (Fri. & Sun.)
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler
Video: FloSports (All four games)
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Pitching Probables: Fresno State vs. Michigan State (2017 stats)
Friday: So. RHP Ryan Jensen (3-0, 6.60) vs. Jr. RHP Riley McCauley (1-0, 2.10)
Saturday Game 1: Jr. Edgar Gonzalez (6-4, 4.83) vs. RSr. RHP Jake Lowery (2-4, 3.71)
Saturday Game 2: RFr. RHP Oscar Carvajal (First career app.) vs. RSr. RHP Ethan Landon (2-2, 6.29)
Sunday: TBA vs. RFr. RHP Mason Erla (0-1, 7.04)
Promotions
Friday: HOME OPENER!
- DIAMOND DOG'S FINEST WEEKEND - Help us honor several great baseball players from Fresno State
- It's an Aaron Judge Teaser Day - Get loud for a sneak peak of the Aaron Judge shirts that will be thrown out on May 12th!
- Make some noise for the year long celebration of "Underdog to Wonder Dog" shirts!
- DIAMOND DOG'S FINEST WEEKEND - Help us honor several great baseball players from Fresno State
- Help us celebrate Satoshi "Fibber" Hirayama Birthday by wearing his number "#3" and also get in for FREE!
- Watch Fibber throw out the First Pitch!
- Get loud for a Fibber T-shirt Toss
- DIAMOND DOG'S FINEST WEEKEND - Help us honor several great baseball players from Fresno State
- Let's Give a Warm Welcome to the 1988 Baseball Alums!
- Watch the Alumni throw out the First Pitch
- Salute to Sunday! All military and veterans get into the game for free with ID
- Kids Are Welcome To Run The Bases After The Game!
• The Bulldogs open their 90th season as a program on the diamond this weekend against Big Ten opponent Michigan State.
• Fresno State is coming off a 35-25 record in 2017 while finishing runners-up at the Mountain West Tournament. The 'Dogs finished third in the regular season for its third-straight top three finish in the MW as Fresno State is the lone program to be able to make that claim.
• Head Coach Mike Batesole enters his 16th season at the helm of the Bulldogs with a 513-401 (.561) overall record at Fresno State.
• This will be Batesole's 23rd season overall as a Division I head coach as he enters 2018 holding a career record of 769-559-1 (.579).
• The Bulldogs are 11-4 in season openers under Batesole and have won their last nine season openers dating back to 2009. The 'Dogs topped Oregon 9-1 at home to start 2017 behind six innings of work from Ricky Tyler Thomas as the junior limited the Ducks to two hits while striking out nine.
• The 'Dogs are 10-5 in home openers under Batesole and have won their last nine home openers as well last falling to UC Davis at home to open the 2008 season.
• This will be the sixth time in the Batesole era the 'Dogs have opened up the season with a Power 5 conference team. The Bulldogs have a 4-1 record in such games with wins at home over Stanford (2004), Washington (2009), Nebraska (2010) and Oregon (2017) and a loss at Stanford (2005).
Fresno State vs. Michigan State - The Series
• This weekend's series will be the second series in as many years between the Bulldogs and Spartans as the two teams met last season in Grand Rapids, Mich. with the Spartans sweeping the 'Dogs.
• The Spartans outscored the 'Dogs 27-11 in the three games as it was the only time all season the Bulldogs were swept.
• Fresno State won the teams' first meeting between the two programs in the 2012 NCAA Tournament winning an elimination game 8-2 at Stanford.
• The 'Dogs are 29-17 all-time against the 13-baseball playing programs in the Big Ten.
Where Fresno State Ranked Offensively in the Mountain West/nation in 2017
• .317 Batting Average: No. 3 - 10th nationally
• .503 Slugging Pct: No. 2 - 6th nationally
• .386 On base Pct: No. 4 - 36th nationally
• 47 sacrifice bunts: No. 2 - 28th nationally
• 455 Runs: No. 3 - 16th nationally
• 700 Hits: No. 1 - 6th nationally
• 423 RBI: No. 2
• 136 Doubles: No. 3 - 9th nationally
• 23 Triples: No. 1 - 10th nationally
• 76 Home Runs: No. 1 - 17th nationally
Where Fresno State Ranked Pitching in the Mountain West/nation in 2017
• 5.64 ERA: No. 2
• .282 Opposing bat average: No. 2
• 15 saves: No. 2
• 464 strikeouts: No. 1/ 7.8 Strikeouts per 9 innings: No. 1
• 330 Earned runs allowed: No. 3
• 589 Hits allowed: No. 4
• 294 walks allowed: No. 7
• 105 doubles allowed: No. 2
• 12 triples allowed: No. 1
• 43 home runs allowed: No. T-1
Where Fresno State Ranked Fielding in the Mountain West/nation in 2017
• .972 Fielding Percentage: No. 4
• 660 Assists: No. 2
• 73 double plays: No. 1 - 1st nationally
Where Fresno State Players Ranked in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2017 (bold represents returning in 2018)
Batting Average: Aaron Arruda - 4th (.373)
Slugging percentage: Arruda - 6th (.643)
RBI: Arruda - 2nd (67)
Hits: Arruda - 1st (91) - 12th nationally
Doubles: Jared Akins - 1st (23) - 14th nationally
Triples: Austin Guibor - T-1st (5)
Home runs: Arruda - 2nd (15)
Total bases: Arruda - 1st (157) - 15th nationally
Sacrifice bunts: Korby Batesole - 1st (13) - 13th nationally
Opposing batting average: Thomas - 2nd (.245)
Schlichtholz (.247) - 3rd
Innings pitched: Thomas - 5th (90.2)
Strikeouts: Thomas - 2nd (100)
Wins: Thomas - 2nd (8)
Hits allowed: Fred Schlichtholz - 1st (57)
Earned runs allowed: Schlichtholz - 1st (33); Topoozian - 2nd (35); Edgar Gonzalez - 3rd (39)
Saves: Gonzalez - T-4th (5)
Bulldogs Selected Third in Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll
The Fresno State baseball team was picked to finish third in the Mountain West preseason poll, announced by the conference on Tuesday. The Bulldogs garnered one first-place vote and tallied 24 points overall falling shy seven of first-place New Mexico. The Lobos picked up 31 votes and three first-place votes to repeat as MW preseason favorites for the third straight year. San Diego State came in second and was followed by Nevada in fourth, UNLV in fifth and rounded out by Air Force in sixth and San Jose State in seventh. All selections were based on votes by MW coaches - coaches could not vote on their own team or players.
2018 MOUNTAIN WEST COACHES PRESEASON POLL
Team Rank (1st-place votes) Points
1. New Mexico (3) - 31
2. San Diego State (2) - 29
3. Fresno State - (1) - 24
4. Nevada - 22
5. UNLV - (1) - 21
6. Air Force - 11
7. San José State - 9
Gonzalez selected to Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team
Junior right-handed pitcher Edgar Gonzalez was named to the 2018 Preseason All-Mountain West team on Tuesday.
Gonzalez earned his first career All-MW postseason honor in 2017 as a sophomore being named Second-Team All-Mountain West after posting a 6-4 record with a 4.83 ERA on the mound making 21 appearances on the season with seven starts. He led the 'Dogs with five saves and averaged nearly a strikeout per inning with 72 strikeouts in 72.2 innings while holding opponents to a .279 batting average.
In 12 appearances against Mountain West competition, Gonzalez went 6-3 record with a 5.05 ERA tossing 57.0 innings while striking out 54. The Newark, Calif., native returns this spring as the Mountain West leader in wins (6), ERA (4.83), opposing batting average (.279), strikeouts (72) and is second in saves (5).
Bulldogs look to extend Season-Opening Winning Streaks
Fresno State has won its last nine season-openers dating back to 2009. The 'Dogs have also won their last nine home-openers over that time frame. The 'Dogs opened 2017 with a impressive 9-1 win at home over Oregon behind a six-inning, two-hit pitching performance by Ricky Tyler Thomas.
Date Opponent Result
Feb. 18, 2017 Oregon W, 9-1
Feb. 19, 2016 Creighton W, 2-1
Feb. 13, 2015 UC Irvine W, 5-4
Feb. 14, 2014 at UC Irvine W, 2-0 (10)
Feb. 15, 2013 UC Santa Barbara W, 8-1
Feb. 17, 2012 Butler W, 3-0
Feb. 19, 2011 Gonzaga W, 10-4
Feb. 19, 2010 Nebraska W, 7-5
Feb. 20, 2009 at Washington W, 5-4
How many freshman?
Nearly half of this year's Bulldogs will be freshman or redshirt freshman as 17 of the 36 student-athletes on the roster are in their first or second year in the program. With over 1,200 career games played departing with the loss of eight position players and over 250 career appearances and 600 innings of work by five departing pitchers, there will be plenty of opportunities for newcomers to make their mark this season.
Nine for Nine
The 'Dogs are 10-5 in home openers under Batesole and have won their last nine home openers at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium. The last time the Bulldogs lost a home opener was on February 22, 2008, falling 4-2 to UC Davis. The skipper picked up just one victory in his first six home openers (after joining the 'Dogs prior to the 2003 season) before enjoying the recent success string of victories. All 15 of Batesole's home openers have come against different opponents. Since 1979, Fresno State is 23-16 in both season and home openers.
Fresno Home Openers Under Batesole
2017 - W, 9-1 vs. Oregon
2016 - W, 2-1 vs. Creighton
2015 - W, 5-4 vs. UC Irvine
2014 - W, 10-1 vs. Grand Canyon
2013 - W, 8-1 vs. UC Santa Barbara
2012 - W, 3-0 vs. Butler
2011 - W, 10-4 vs. Gonzaga
2010 - W, 7-5 vs. Nebraska
2009 - W, 5-4 vs. Washington
2008 - L, 4-2 vs. UC Davis
2007 - L, 6-2 vs. San Francisco
2006 - L, 7-2 vs. Pepperdine
2005 - L, 7-4 vs. UCLA
2004 - W, 3-1 vs. Stanford
2003 - L, 12-0 vs. CS Fullerton
2018 Preseason Honors for Gonzalez & Carter Bins
In addition to being named to the All-Mountain West Preseason Team, Gonzalez has also been named the Mountain West Preseason Pitcher of the Year by D1Baseball.com. Baseball America and Perfect Game. Gonzalez was also named the top prospect in the MW for the 2018 MLB Draft by Baseball America.
Joining Gonzalez on the Preseason All-Mountain West Team by Perfect Game was 2017 Co-Mountain West Freshman of the Year and Freshman All-American Carter Bins.
A look at the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State is coming off a 29-23 season in 2017 that saw them finish 10-14 in Big Ten play finishing ninth in the league just missing out on the Big Ten Tournament.
The Spartans return six position player starters and five returning starting pitchers from last year's squad as MSU went 14-13 on the road a year ago with series wins series wins at Abilene Christian, UNC Greensboro, Illinois and Northwestern.
Michigan State, who did not appear in the Big Ten Preseason Poll that only ranks the top six teams, hit .290 as a team in 2017 led by freshman outfielder Bryce Kelley who ranked third in the Big Ten in average hitting .353.
The Rockford, Mich., native is one of the top returning offensive threats for the Spartans and was one of three Michigan State players named to the Big Ten Players to Watch List for this season.
On the mound, the Spartans had a pair of starters on the Big Ten Players to Watch List in redshirt senior right-handed pitcher Jake Lowery and junior right-hander Riley McCauley.
The duo primarily came out of the bullpen a year ago, but will move into the starting rotation this season. Redshirt senior Ethan Landon and redshirt freshman Mason Erla, both right-handers, will get the start for the Spartans in the other two games.
Fresno State vs. Big Ten Conference opponents
The 'Dogs have played 11 of the 13 baseball-playing Big Ten conference teams and hold an all-time record of 29-17 in 46 contests. The last time the Bulldogs played a member of the Big Ten was last season when the 'Dogs were swept by the Spartans in a series in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Under Coach Batesole, the Bulldogs are 19-8 against the Big Ten as Batesole has defeated all six Big Ten opponents he has faced. He has defeated Michigan State, Indiana, Minnesota, Ohio State, Nebraska, Iowa and Penn State and has never faced Maryland, Rutgers, Michigan, Northwestern, Purdue or Illinois.
Bulldogs All-Time Record vs. Big Ten opponents (last time playing)
Michigan State: 1-3 (2017)
Michigan: 3-1 (1989, 1992)
Northwestern: 0-1 (1999)
Purdue: 1-0 (1998)
Indiana: 2-1 (2008)
Minnesota: 4-1 (1988, 2003, 2007)
Ohio State: 1-0 (2011)
Rutgers: Never played
Maryland: Never played
Nebraska: 10-9 (1986, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2010, 2011)
Iowa: 3-1 (2007)
Illinois: 1-0 (2001)
Penn State:3-0 (2003, 2014)
Ten-year anniversary of the 2008 National Championship Team
On Saturday, April 14, Fresno State Athletics will honor the 2008 National Championship Wonderdogs prior to the Bulldogs' game vs. San Jose State.
The first No. 4 regional seed ever to advance to the College World Series, the 'Dogs proved all the doubters wrong and upset a talented field and came back from a 1-0 deficit to defeat the Georgia Bulldogs in the final two games of the championship series for the title. Please plan to join us as we honor one of Fresno State Athletics greatest team accomplishment.
"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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