Fresno State Athletics
Friday, March 9
Fresno, CA
6:05 PM
Fresno State
vs
New Mexico
Photo by: Keith Kountz/Fresno St
Diamond 'Dogs face Lobos in MW home-opening series with altered schedule [March 9-11]
3/8/2018 3:00:00 PM | Baseball
The Diamond 'Dogs Mountain West home opening series against New Mexico has been shifted slightly due to forecasted wet weather in the Frenso area this weekend. First pitch on Friday will be 6:05 p.m. followed by Saturday at 12:05 p.m. and Sunday at 3:05 p.m.
FRESNO, Calif. - Winners of four of its five Mountain West home-opening series, the Fresno State baseball team will look to make it five of six this weekend welcoming New Mexico for a three-game series starting Friday night at Bob Bennett Stadium.
Friday: So. RHP Ryan Jensen (0-1, 3.38) vs. So. RHP Justin Slaten (1-2, 3.52)
Saturday: Jr. RHP Edgar Gonzalez (2-0, 2.14) vs. Fr. LHP Robert Gasser (1-0, 2.93)
Sunday: RFr. RHP Oscar Carvajal (1-1, 4.50) vs. So. RHP Cody Dye (0-2, 10.38)
• The 'Dogs open their Mountain West home slate this weekend with a three-game series against 2017 MW regular season champion New Mexico.
• Fresno State opened its sixth season of Mountain West play at UNLV last weekend traveling to Las Vegas falling in three one-run games as the Rebels won a walk-off Saturday and were unable to rally back from deficits on Friday and Sunday.
• The Bulldogs are coming off a hard-fought 3-2 win over San Francisco at home on Tuesday night as a single by Korby Batesole in the 7th inning knocked in Auston Chastain for the winning run.
• Fresno St. has played one or two run games in 10 of its 14 games and has a 6-4 record in those games.
• The 'Dogs currently lead the Mountain West in sacrifice bunts (15) while ranking second in slugging percentage (.422), hits (128), doubles (27), home runs (10), strikeouts (139).Â
• Sophomore catcher Carter Bins ranks second in the MW and third in the nation in doubles with eight. He is only one shy of matching his season total of nine from 2017.
• The Bulldogs are off to their fourth 9-1 start after 10 home games in Coach Batesole's 16-year tenure.
• Junior OF Zach Ashford leads the MW with a .467 batting average & .510 on-base pct.
Fresno State vs. New Mexico - The Series
• Fresno State and New Mexico have played 44 games all-time against one another.
• New Mexico leads the series 25-19, but the 'Dogs own a 16-9 advantage in Fresno.
• The Bulldogs won five of the seven meetings over the Lobos in 2017 with a sweep over New Mexico at home on Senior Weekend and a 11-5 win in the Mountain West Tournament.
• The 'Dogs are 9-20 against UNM since joining the MW in 2013 with a 6-6 mark at home.
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: New Mexico 25-19
Last Meeting: May 27, 2017 (Albuquerque, N.M.) - W, 11-5
Current Streak: W4
Last Fresno State Win: May 27, 2017 (11-5) - Albuquerque, N.M.
Last New Mexico Win: April 2, 2017 Â (6-2) - Albuquerque, N.M.
Where Fresno State Ranks Offensively in the Mountain West/nation in 2018 (as of 3/8/18) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• .277 Batting Average: No. 3
• .422 Slugging Pct: No. 2Â
• .336 On base Pct: No. 6
• 15 sacrifice bunts: No. 1 - 2nd nationally
• 62 Runs: No. 4
• 128 Hits: No. 2
• 56 RBI: No. 4
• 27 Doubles: No. 2 - 31st nationally
• 5 Triples: No. 3
• 10 Home Runs: No. 2Â
Where Fresno State Ranks Pitching in the Mountain West/nation in 2018 (as of 3/8/18) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• 3.27 ERA: No. 3
• .210 Opposing bat average: No. 2
• 5 saves: No. 1
• 139 strikeouts: No. 2
• 45 Earned runs allowed: No. 4
• 95 Hits allowed: No. 3
• 52 walks allowed: No. 5
• 15 doubles allowed: No. 4
• 0 triples allowed: No. T-1
• 8 home runs allowed: No. 6
Where Fresno State Ranks Fielding in the Mountain West/nation in 2018 (as of 3/5/18) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• .972 Fielding Percentage: No. 6
• 142 Assists: No. 1
• 9 double plays: No. 6
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2018 (as of 3/8/18)Â Â Â
Batting average - Zach Ashford - 1st (.467) - 20th nationally
On-base percentage - Ashford - 1st (.510)
RBI: JTArruda & Carter Bins - T-4th (13)Â
Hits: Ashford & Bins - T-5th (21)
Doubles: Bins- Â 2nd (8) - 3rd nationally
Home runs: Arruda & Bins - T-4th (3)
Sacrifice bunts: Â Korby Batesole - 1st (5) - 3rd nationally
Innings pitched: Edgar Gonzalez - 1st (21.0)
Strikeouts: Gonzalez - 1st (32) - 6th nationally
Wins: Gonzalez - T-1st (2)
Saves: Jamison Hill - 2nd (3)
A look at the New Mexico Lobos
New Mexico, the 2017 Mountain West regular season champions, enters this weekend's series with a 5-6-1 overall record in 2018 and a 1-2 mark in MW play after only winning one of three at home against Nevada last weekend.
Coming off a 7-2 loss at No. 3 Texas Tech on Wednesday afternoon in their first true road game of the season are hitting .289 from the dish as a team to rank second in the Mountain West and are also second in scoring (6.2), sacrifice bunts (7) and are third in hits (120) and fourth in doubles (25).
On the mound, the Lobos have a staff ERA of 5.55 and are holding opponents to a .272 average and 6.75 runs per game.Â
The Dons allow an average of 9.8 hits per game and have 103 strikeouts while only allowing 25 walks.
This weekend's starting rotation of Justin Slaten, Robert Gasser & Cody Dye will feature two right-handers and one southpaw in Gasser, a freshman out of El Dorado Hills, Calif., who has a 1-0 record with a 2.93 ERA and has 12 strikeouts in 15.1 innings.
Fresno State in Mountain West home-opening series
The Bulldogs are also 4-1 in Mountain West home-opening series sweeping Nevada in 2014, UNLV in 2015, before winning two of three against the Rebels and Nevada the last two seasons. The only series they dropped was in 2013 falling to San Diego State.
• 2013 - vs. San Diego State (W, 1-0, L, 11-6, L, 4-2)
• 2014 - vs. Nevada (W, 4-1, W, 5-3, W, 11-9)
• 2015 - vs. UNLV (W, 10-5, W, 2-1, W, 4-0)
• 2016 - vs. UNLV (L, 4-2, W, 6-2, W, 4-3)
• 2017 - vs. Nevada (W, 3-2, L, 8-10, W, 9-5)
'Dogs against the Lobos in Fresno                                      Â
The Bulldogs are 6-6 against the Lobos at home since moving into the Mountain West in 2013 winning one game that year, won two of three games in 2015 and swept a three-game series on Senior Weekend in 2017 outscoring the Lobos, 40-14.
May 10-12, 2013 - L, 0-9; L, 2-7; W, 9-8
April 11-13, 2014 - L, 4-5; L, 6-11; L, 1-4
May 15-16, 2015 - W, 4-3; L, 0-4; W, 11-2
May 12-14, 2017 - W, 9-3; W, 16-2; W, 15-9
Carter Bins named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List
Sophomore catcher Carter Bins was named to the 2018 Johnny Bench Award Watch List on Tuesday given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher.
A Freshman All-American and the Co-Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2017, Bins is off to a great start to his sophomore season starting all 14 games hitting .344 from the plate leading the team in at-bats (61), hits (21), doubles (8), runs (12), home runs (3), RBI (13) and total bases (38).
Diamond 'Dogs off to a strong home start
The 'Dogs are off to a 9-1 start at home after 10 games, the fourth time under Coach Batesole the 'Dogs have started 9-1 in his tenure. 2003 -3-7; 04 - 4-6; 05 - 6-4; 06 - 6-4; 07 - 6-4; 08 - 4-6; 09 - 7-3; 10 - 5-5; 11 - 9-1; 12 - 6-4; 13 - 4-6; 14 - 9-1; 15 - 8-2; 16 - 9-1; 17 - 5-5
'Dogs in plenty of close contests so far in 2018
The Bulldogs have found themselves in plenty of close contests so far in 2018 posting a 6-3 record in one-run games and a 6-4 mark in one or two run games.Â
                 2017   2016   2015   2014   2013
1-Run Games      5-7    11-9   8-12   7-10   5-7
1 or 2 Runs Games  8-10   16-13  13-12  14-15  12-14
Ashford off to a blazing hot start from the plate
Junior outfielder Zach Ashford has collected a hit in all 12 games he has played this season and is hitting a scorching .467 from the plate with 21 hits in 45 at-bats.Â
The Clovis native has four doubles, one triple, three RBIs, six runs scored and a stolen base.
First RPI rankings released
On Monday, the first RPI rankings of the season were released and the Diamond 'Dogs checked in No. 96. As of Thursday, Fresno State sits as the fourth-highest ranked Mountain West team after UNLV (22), Nevada (80) and San Diego State (82). Non-conference foes Long Beach State (34) and Saint Mary's (39) rank in the top 40.
'Dogs leading the nation in sacrifice bunts
Playing a National League style of play this season, the 'Dogs have to manufacture runs in creative ways and one of those ways is through sacrifice bunts as the 'Dogs have 15 on the season to ranks second in the nation. Senior shortstop Korby Batesole leads the club and Mountain West with five, ranking third in the country.
Double trouble
Carter Bins is on an early-season offensive tear from the plate already smacking eight doubles, third-best in the nation, as he is only one shy of matching his entire 2017 season total.
Ten-year anniversary of the 2008 National Championship Team
On Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, Fresno State Athletics will honor the 2008 National Championship Wonderdogs prior to the Bulldogs' game vs. San Jose State as we encourage fans to help come out and honor one of Fresno State Athletics greatest team accomplishments in school history.
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.
Up next
The 'Dogs hit the road next week for four road games traveling to Saint Mary's (7-3) on Wednesday afternoon before starting a three-game series at San Jose State (6-6, 0-2 MW) on Friday, March 16.
"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.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnoathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
Game 15-17: New Mexico (5-6-1, 1-2 MW) at Fresno State (9-5, 0-3 MW)
First Pitch:Â March 9-11Â - Fri: 6:05 p.m., Sat:Â 12:05 p.m., Sun: 3:05Â 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: New Mexico leads 25-19
Last Meeting: Fresno State won 11-5 on May 27, 2017 at the Mountain West Tournament in Albuquerque, N.M.
Radio (Sun. Only):Â AM 940 ESPN
Play-by-play:Â Paul Loeffler
Video:Â Mountain West Network
Live Stats:Â Sidearm
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Friday: So. RHP Ryan Jensen (0-1, 3.38) vs. So. RHP Justin Slaten (1-2, 3.52)
Saturday: Jr. RHP Edgar Gonzalez (2-0, 2.14) vs. Fr. LHP Robert Gasser (1-0, 2.93)
Sunday: RFr. RHP Oscar Carvajal (1-1, 4.50) vs. So. RHP Cody Dye (0-2, 10.38)
Promotions: STUDENT WEEK!
Friday: International Night
- Join us in recognizing our University's International groups
Saturday: Greek Night
- Greek Night! The house with the most attendance will win a cash prize!
- Youth Jersey Saturday – All kids wearing their youth team jersey get in FREE!
- Join us in recognizing on campus student organizations and clubs
- Salute To Sunday's – All military and veterans get in FREE with ID
- Post-Game: Kids will be welcomed to run the bases
• The 'Dogs open their Mountain West home slate this weekend with a three-game series against 2017 MW regular season champion New Mexico.
• Fresno State opened its sixth season of Mountain West play at UNLV last weekend traveling to Las Vegas falling in three one-run games as the Rebels won a walk-off Saturday and were unable to rally back from deficits on Friday and Sunday.
• The Bulldogs are coming off a hard-fought 3-2 win over San Francisco at home on Tuesday night as a single by Korby Batesole in the 7th inning knocked in Auston Chastain for the winning run.
• Fresno St. has played one or two run games in 10 of its 14 games and has a 6-4 record in those games.
• The 'Dogs currently lead the Mountain West in sacrifice bunts (15) while ranking second in slugging percentage (.422), hits (128), doubles (27), home runs (10), strikeouts (139).Â
• Sophomore catcher Carter Bins ranks second in the MW and third in the nation in doubles with eight. He is only one shy of matching his season total of nine from 2017.
• The Bulldogs are off to their fourth 9-1 start after 10 home games in Coach Batesole's 16-year tenure.
• Junior OF Zach Ashford leads the MW with a .467 batting average & .510 on-base pct.
Fresno State vs. New Mexico - The Series
• Fresno State and New Mexico have played 44 games all-time against one another.
• New Mexico leads the series 25-19, but the 'Dogs own a 16-9 advantage in Fresno.
• The Bulldogs won five of the seven meetings over the Lobos in 2017 with a sweep over New Mexico at home on Senior Weekend and a 11-5 win in the Mountain West Tournament.
• The 'Dogs are 9-20 against UNM since joining the MW in 2013 with a 6-6 mark at home.
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: New Mexico 25-19
Last Meeting: May 27, 2017 (Albuquerque, N.M.) - W, 11-5
Current Streak: W4
Last Fresno State Win: May 27, 2017 (11-5) - Albuquerque, N.M.
Last New Mexico Win: April 2, 2017 Â (6-2) - Albuquerque, N.M.
Where Fresno State Ranks Offensively in the Mountain West/nation in 2018 (as of 3/8/18) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• .277 Batting Average: No. 3
• .422 Slugging Pct: No. 2Â
• .336 On base Pct: No. 6
• 15 sacrifice bunts: No. 1 - 2nd nationally
• 62 Runs: No. 4
• 128 Hits: No. 2
• 56 RBI: No. 4
• 27 Doubles: No. 2 - 31st nationally
• 5 Triples: No. 3
• 10 Home Runs: No. 2Â
Where Fresno State Ranks Pitching in the Mountain West/nation in 2018 (as of 3/8/18) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• 3.27 ERA: No. 3
• .210 Opposing bat average: No. 2
• 5 saves: No. 1
• 139 strikeouts: No. 2
• 45 Earned runs allowed: No. 4
• 95 Hits allowed: No. 3
• 52 walks allowed: No. 5
• 15 doubles allowed: No. 4
• 0 triples allowed: No. T-1
• 8 home runs allowed: No. 6
Where Fresno State Ranks Fielding in the Mountain West/nation in 2018 (as of 3/5/18) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
• .972 Fielding Percentage: No. 6
• 142 Assists: No. 1
• 9 double plays: No. 6
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2018 (as of 3/8/18)Â Â Â
Batting average - Zach Ashford - 1st (.467) - 20th nationally
On-base percentage - Ashford - 1st (.510)
RBI: JTArruda & Carter Bins - T-4th (13)Â
Hits: Ashford & Bins - T-5th (21)
Doubles: Bins- Â 2nd (8) - 3rd nationally
Home runs: Arruda & Bins - T-4th (3)
Sacrifice bunts: Â Korby Batesole - 1st (5) - 3rd nationally
Innings pitched: Edgar Gonzalez - 1st (21.0)
Strikeouts: Gonzalez - 1st (32) - 6th nationally
Wins: Gonzalez - T-1st (2)
Saves: Jamison Hill - 2nd (3)
A look at the New Mexico Lobos
New Mexico, the 2017 Mountain West regular season champions, enters this weekend's series with a 5-6-1 overall record in 2018 and a 1-2 mark in MW play after only winning one of three at home against Nevada last weekend.
Coming off a 7-2 loss at No. 3 Texas Tech on Wednesday afternoon in their first true road game of the season are hitting .289 from the dish as a team to rank second in the Mountain West and are also second in scoring (6.2), sacrifice bunts (7) and are third in hits (120) and fourth in doubles (25).
On the mound, the Lobos have a staff ERA of 5.55 and are holding opponents to a .272 average and 6.75 runs per game.Â
The Dons allow an average of 9.8 hits per game and have 103 strikeouts while only allowing 25 walks.
This weekend's starting rotation of Justin Slaten, Robert Gasser & Cody Dye will feature two right-handers and one southpaw in Gasser, a freshman out of El Dorado Hills, Calif., who has a 1-0 record with a 2.93 ERA and has 12 strikeouts in 15.1 innings.
Fresno State in Mountain West home-opening series
The Bulldogs are also 4-1 in Mountain West home-opening series sweeping Nevada in 2014, UNLV in 2015, before winning two of three against the Rebels and Nevada the last two seasons. The only series they dropped was in 2013 falling to San Diego State.
• 2013 - vs. San Diego State (W, 1-0, L, 11-6, L, 4-2)
• 2014 - vs. Nevada (W, 4-1, W, 5-3, W, 11-9)
• 2015 - vs. UNLV (W, 10-5, W, 2-1, W, 4-0)
• 2016 - vs. UNLV (L, 4-2, W, 6-2, W, 4-3)
• 2017 - vs. Nevada (W, 3-2, L, 8-10, W, 9-5)
'Dogs against the Lobos in Fresno                                      Â
The Bulldogs are 6-6 against the Lobos at home since moving into the Mountain West in 2013 winning one game that year, won two of three games in 2015 and swept a three-game series on Senior Weekend in 2017 outscoring the Lobos, 40-14.
May 10-12, 2013 - L, 0-9; L, 2-7; W, 9-8
April 11-13, 2014 - L, 4-5; L, 6-11; L, 1-4
May 15-16, 2015 - W, 4-3; L, 0-4; W, 11-2
May 12-14, 2017 - W, 9-3; W, 16-2; W, 15-9
Carter Bins named to Johnny Bench Award Watch List
Sophomore catcher Carter Bins was named to the 2018 Johnny Bench Award Watch List on Tuesday given annually to the top Division I collegiate catcher.
A Freshman All-American and the Co-Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2017, Bins is off to a great start to his sophomore season starting all 14 games hitting .344 from the plate leading the team in at-bats (61), hits (21), doubles (8), runs (12), home runs (3), RBI (13) and total bases (38).
Diamond 'Dogs off to a strong home start
The 'Dogs are off to a 9-1 start at home after 10 games, the fourth time under Coach Batesole the 'Dogs have started 9-1 in his tenure. 2003 -3-7; 04 - 4-6; 05 - 6-4; 06 - 6-4; 07 - 6-4; 08 - 4-6; 09 - 7-3; 10 - 5-5; 11 - 9-1; 12 - 6-4; 13 - 4-6; 14 - 9-1; 15 - 8-2; 16 - 9-1; 17 - 5-5
'Dogs in plenty of close contests so far in 2018
The Bulldogs have found themselves in plenty of close contests so far in 2018 posting a 6-3 record in one-run games and a 6-4 mark in one or two run games.Â
                 2017   2016   2015   2014   2013
1-Run Games      5-7    11-9   8-12   7-10   5-7
1 or 2 Runs Games  8-10   16-13  13-12  14-15  12-14
Ashford off to a blazing hot start from the plate
Junior outfielder Zach Ashford has collected a hit in all 12 games he has played this season and is hitting a scorching .467 from the plate with 21 hits in 45 at-bats.Â
The Clovis native has four doubles, one triple, three RBIs, six runs scored and a stolen base.
First RPI rankings released
On Monday, the first RPI rankings of the season were released and the Diamond 'Dogs checked in No. 96. As of Thursday, Fresno State sits as the fourth-highest ranked Mountain West team after UNLV (22), Nevada (80) and San Diego State (82). Non-conference foes Long Beach State (34) and Saint Mary's (39) rank in the top 40.
'Dogs leading the nation in sacrifice bunts
Playing a National League style of play this season, the 'Dogs have to manufacture runs in creative ways and one of those ways is through sacrifice bunts as the 'Dogs have 15 on the season to ranks second in the nation. Senior shortstop Korby Batesole leads the club and Mountain West with five, ranking third in the country.
Double trouble
Carter Bins is on an early-season offensive tear from the plate already smacking eight doubles, third-best in the nation, as he is only one shy of matching his entire 2017 season total.
Ten-year anniversary of the 2008 National Championship Team
On Saturday, April 14 and Sunday, April 15, Fresno State Athletics will honor the 2008 National Championship Wonderdogs prior to the Bulldogs' game vs. San Jose State as we encourage fans to help come out and honor one of Fresno State Athletics greatest team accomplishments in school history.
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.
Up next
The 'Dogs hit the road next week for four road games traveling to Saint Mary's (7-3) on Wednesday afternoon before starting a three-game series at San Jose State (6-6, 0-2 MW) on Friday, March 16.
"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.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @Fresno StateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnoathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Snap Chat:Â FSAthletics
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