Diamond 'Dogs open 2019 hosting WAC foe Utah Valley [Feb. 16-18]

Saturday, February 16

Fresno, CA

12:05 PM

Fresno State

Utah Valley

Diamond 'Dogs open 2019 hosting WAC foe Utah Valley [Feb. 16-18]

2/14/2019 12:00:00 PM | Baseball

Fresno State Notes (PDF)Utah Valley Notes (PDF)Mountain West Release (PDF)2019 Quick Facts (PDF)2019 Fact Book (PDF)

The Diamond 'Dogs look to get the 2019 season underway in historic fashion on Saturday afternoon at Bob Bennett Stadium helping head coach Mike Batesole pick up his 800th career win as they open up the season with a four-game series hosting WAC opponent Utah Valley.

By: Travis Blanshan / Assistant Director of Communications

FRESNO, Calif. - With Fresno State baseball head coach Mike Batesole sitting one win shy of career win No. 800, the Diamond 'Dogs look to get the 2019 season underway in historic fashion on Saturday afternoon hosting WAC foe Utah Valley to begin a four-game series at Bob Bennett Stadium.

Games 1-3: Utah Valley (0-0, 0-0 WAC) at Fresno State (0-0, 0-0 MW)

First Pitch: Feb. 16-18 - Sat: 12:05 p.m., Mon G1: 10:05 a.m., Mon. G2: 30 mins. following game one
Stadium: Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 2-1
Last Meeting: Utah Valley defeated Fresno State, 5-4 (Feb. 19, 2006 in Fresno, Calif.)

Radio: AM 940 ESPN (Mon.)
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler
Video: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Sidearm
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB

Pitching Probables: Fresno State vs. Utah Valley (2018 stats)
Saturday: Jr. RHP Ryan Jensen (2-6, 5.35 ERA) vs. Sr. RHP Jake Carr (4-1, 6.75)
Monday Game 1: So. LHP Nikoh Mitchell (4-3, 3.28) vs. Jr. RHP Paxton Schultz (1-5, 4.95)
Monday Game 2: Jr. RHP Davis Moore (4-3, 4.50) vs. Sr. RHP Walker Ramsey (2-8, 7.03)

Promotions
Friday: OPENING NIGHT!

Ticket Promotion: Youth Jersey Friday - All youth (12 and under) wearing a jersey get in for FREE!
First pitch: Director of Athletics Terry Tumey
Get loud during the game for an exclusive "Our Valley" shirt!

Saturday

First pitch: Fresno State women's tennis head coach Ric Mortera
Get loud for the chance to catch a Chevron Doers Shirt!
One lucky section will win a FREE entrée at the Old Spaghetti Factory

Monday: Japanese-American Baseball Tribute Day

Help us honor Fresno State Athletics legend Fibber Hirayama!
Kids Run the Bases Post Game!

Bulldog Headlines
• The Bulldogs open their 91st season as a program on the diamond this weekend against WAC opponent Utah Valley.
• Fresno State is coming off its fourth straight 30-win season in 2018 finishing with a 30-24 record and a fifth place finish in the Mountain West.
• Head Coach Mike Batesole enters his 17th season leading the Diamond 'Dogs & is on the brink of his 800th career win entering this spring with a 799-583-1 (.578) overall record and a 543-425 (.561) mark at Fresno State.
• This will be Batesole's 24th season overall as a Division I head coach and with one more win, he will join 23 active head coaches in reaching 800 career wins.
• The Bulldogs are 12-4 in season openers under Batesole and have won their last 10 season openers dating back to 2009. The 'Dogs topped Michigan State, 5-4 at home to start 2018 on a walk-off single by Joey Mendez.
• The 'Dogs are 11-5 in home openers under Batesole and have won their last 10 home openers as well last falling to UC Davis at home to open the 2008 season.

Fresno State vs. Utah Valley - The Series
• This will be Fresno State's second-ever series against Utah Valley.
• The 'Dogs won two of three games at home over the Wolverines in 2006 in their lone previous series winning the series opener 13-9 and 8-0 while losing the series finale, 5-4.
• Meeting for the fourth series of the 2006 season, second at home, the 'Dogs combined for 21 runs over the first two games of the series against the Wolverines, then in their third season as a Division I program, as Fresno State would go on to a 45-18 season winning both the WAC regular season and conference tournament titles.
• Fresno State is 175-56-1 (.755) against the 10 members of the WAC.

Where Fresno State Ranked Offensively in the Mountain West/nation in 2018
• .299 Batting Average: No. 4 - 18th nationally
• .457 Slugging Pct: No. 3 - 21st nationally
• .366 On base Pct: No. 6
• 45 sacrifice bunts: No. 1 - 29th nationally
• 315 Runs: No. 5
• 559 Hits: No. 4
• 290 RBI: No. 5
• 116 Doubles: No. 5 - 32nd nationally
• 14 Triples: No. T-5
• 51 Home Runs: No. 3

Where Fresno State Ranked Pitching in the Mountain West/nation in 2018
• 4.96 ERA: No. 2
• .268 Opposing bat average: No. 2
• 12 saves: No. 5
• 458 strikeouts: No. 2
• 265 Earned runs allowed: No. 2
• 500 Hits allowed: No. 1
• 218 walks allowed: No. 5
• 82 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 11 triples allowed: No. 3
• 38 home runs allowed: No. 3

Where Fresno State Ranked Fielding in the Mountain West/nation in 2018
• .969 Fielding Percentage: No. 5
• 563 Assists: No. 4
• 49 double plays: No. 6

Where Fresno State Players Ranked in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2018 (returning players in bold)
Batting average: Zach Ashford - 6th (.352)
Hits: Ashford - T-10th (77)
Doubles: Carter Bins & Ashford - T-6th (18)
Home runs: Jeremiah Burks - T-6th (9)
Sacrifice bunts: Korby Batesole - 1st (14) - 12th nationally

ERA: Edgar Gonzalez - 1st (2.84); Nikoh Mitchell - 2nd (3.28)
Opposing Batting Average: Mitchell - 1st (.197)
Innings pitched: Gonzalez - 1st (95.0)
Strikeouts: Gonzalez - 1st (110) - 37th nationally
Wins: Gonzalez - T-2nd (8)
Saves: Jamison Hill - T-7th (5)
Appearances: Hill - T-7th (25)
Earned runs allowed: Mitchell - 1st (21)
Hits allowed: Mitchell - 1st (40); Jaime Arias - 2nd (56)
Walks allowed: Jaime Arias - 2nd (12)
Doubles allowed: Mitchell - 2nd (8)

Bulldogs Selected Third in Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll
For a second consecutive season, the Fresno State baseball team was picked to finish third in the Mountain West preseason poll, as announced by the conference on Wednesday. The Bulldogs garnered one first-place vote and tallied 28 points overall falling shy four points shy of first-place San Diego State.

The Aztecs picked up 32 points and four first-place votes while Nevada got two first-place votes and 29 points to come in second. UNLV followed the Bulldogs in fourth while Air Force came in fifth and the poll was rounded out by New Mexico 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.

2019 MOUNTAIN WEST BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Rank     Team (1^st-place votes)    Points
1.         San Diego State (4) 32
2.         Nevada (2) 29
3.         Fresno State (1) 28
4.         UNLV                            24
5.         Air Force 14
6.         New Mexico 12
7.         San José State 8

Ashford & Bins selected to Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team
Senior outfielder Zach Ashford and junior catcher Carter Bins were each named to the 2019 Preseason All-Mountain West team on Wednesday.

A Second-Team All-Mountain West selection as a junior, Ashford started all 52 games he appeared in 2018 leading the team and ranking sixth in the MW with a .352 average from the plate. The Clovis native tied for 10th in the league in hits (77) & tied for sixth in doubles (18) while accumulating a team-leading 23 multi-hit games.

The 2017 Mountain West Co-Freshman of the Year, Bins had a stellar sophomore season hitting .301 from the plate with 52 hits while smacking 18 doubles to rank tied for sixth in the MW. The Fairfield, Calif., native was one of three 'Dogs to lead the team with 39 RBIs which tied for the 15th-most in the league while recording a .372 on-base percentage and a .526 slugging percentage. Defensively, Bins tied for 11th in the MW with a .991 fielding percentage while leading the team and ranking ninth in the league with 270 putouts. In addition, he threw out 16 would-be base stealers tossing out 39 percent of opponents.

Bulldogs look to extend Season-Opening Winning Streaks
Fresno State has won its last 10 season-openers dating back to 2009. The 'Dogs have also won their last 10 home-openers over that time frame. The 'Dogs opened 2018 with a wild 5-4 walk-off win over Michigan State at home as freshman Joey Mendez, in his first career at-bat, hit a game-winning single.

Date Opponent Result
Feb. 16, 2018      Michigan State          W, 5-4
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 Washington      W, 5-4

Batesole closing in on 800 career wins
Head coach Mike Batesole sits one win shy of reaching career win number 800 in his career. Beginning his 17th season at the helm of the Bulldogs, Batesole has won 543 games at Fresno State and 256 at CSUN from 1996-2002.

With one win over the Wolverines this weekend, Batesole will join 23 active head coaches in Division I to reach the 800 career win milestone and he will soon have company as five head coaches enter the season 13 wins or fewer shy of reaching that mark nationally.

In his career, Batesole has won at least 30 games in 19 of his 23 years as a Division I head coach while winning at least 30 games in 13 of his 16 seasons at Fresno State.

Mike Batesole, Fresno State - 799
Ed Blankmeyer, St. John's - 798
Loren Hibbs, Charlotte - 797
Rich Maloney - Ball State - 794
Tim Corbin, Vanderbilt - 787

Ten for Ten
The 'Dogs are 11-5 in home openers under Batesole and have won their last 10 home openers 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 16 of Batesole's home openers have come against different opponents. Since 1979, Fresno State is 24-16 in both season and home openers.

Fresno Home Openers Under Batesole
2018 - W, 5-4 vs. Michigan State
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

2019 Preseason Honors for five Bulldogs
In addition to being Ashford and Bins being named to the All-Mountain West Preseason Team, a number of publications had the 'Dogs on their preseason teams.

College Baseball Daily: 'Dogs picked 4th in MW; Ashford, JT Arruda & Jaime Arias - All-Mountain West; Bins - All-MW Honorable Mention
Baseball America: 'Dogs picked 2nd in MW; Bins ranked #2 MLB prospect for 2019 MLB Draft & Ashford ranked #10
D1Baseball: 'Dogs picked 3rd in MW
Perfect Game: 'Dogs picked 4th in MW; Ashford, Bins & Ryan Jensen named All-MW

A look at the Utah Valley Wolverines
Utah Valley enters the 2019 season picked to finish ninth in the 10-team WAC and are coming off a 15-37 season in 2018 that saw them finish 6-18 in conference to finish ninth. The Wolverines, who went 9-26 away from home a year ago, return 17 letter winners from 2018, including seven starting position players and two starting pitchers while welcoming 17 newcomers.

Leading the way offensively returning is senior outfielder Ryan Eastburn, a Torrance Calif., native, who hit .304 and ranked third on the team with 24 RBIs and fifth with 41 hits. On the pitching side, UVU only returns 34.6 percent (18/52) of its starts as senior RHP Walker Ramsey (13 starts) and junior RHP Paxton Schultz (5 starts) lead the way.

Fresno State vs. WAC Conference opponents
The 'Dogs have played seven of the 10 baseball-playing WAC teams and hold an all-time record of 175-56-2 (.755) in 233 contests. The last time the Bulldogs played a member of the WAC was in 2017 when the 'Dogs defeated Sacramento State at home, 9-2 on May 9.

Under Coach Batesole, the Bulldogs are 80-33-1 against the WAC as Batesole has defeated all six WAC opponents he has faced. He has picked up 33 wins over the Hornets of Sacramento State, 26 wins over New Mexico State, 13 over CSU Bakersfield, five against Chicago State, two over Utah Valley and one versus Grand Canyon.

Bulldogs All-Time Record vs. WAC opponents (years played)
California Baptist: Never played
Chicago State: 6-0 (1997, 2004, 2005)
CSU Bakersfield: 13-14 (2009-14, 2016)
Grand Canyon: 4-0 (1997 & 2014)
New Mexico State: 30-9-1 (1991, 1992, 2006-12)
Northern Colorado: Never played
Sacramento State: 118-32-1 (1951-52, 57, 59-61, 64-76, 85-86, 93-96, 98-02, 06-17)
Seattle: 2-0 (1952)
UT Rio Grande Valley: Never played
Utah Valley: 2-1 (2006)

'Dogs in plenty of close contests in 2018
The Bulldogs found themselves in plenty of close contests in 2018 posting a 10-7 record in one-run games and a 12-11 mark in one or two run games.
2018 2017   2016   2015   2014   2013
1-Run Games 10-7 5-7 11-9 8-12 7-10 5-7
1 or 2 Runs Games   12-11 8-10 16-13 13-12 14-15 12-14
- 17 of 54 games (31.5%) decided by one run.
- 23 of 54 games (42.6%) decided by one or two runs.

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