Fresno State Athletics
Thursday, April 18
San Jose, CA
6:00 PM
Fresno State
at
San Jose State
Photo by: Kiel Maddox
Diamond 'Dogs set for Mountain West showdown at San Jose State [April 18-20]
4/17/2019 3:40:00 PM | Baseball
The Diamond 'Dogs travel to Mountain West-leading San Jose State for a three-game series starting Thursday.
FRESNO, Calif. - Winners of six of its last seven games, the Diamond 'Dogs travel to Mountain West-leading San Jose State for a three-game series starting Thursday.
Games 34-36:Â Fresno State (21-12, 8-6 MW) at San Jose State (18-19, 12-6 MW)
First Pitch:Â April 18-20 - Thu: 6 p.m.; Fri: 6 p.m.; Sat: 2 p.m.
Stadium:Â Excite Ballpark
Surface:Â Grass
Dimensions:Â 320 (LF), 390 (CF), 320 (RF)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 165-91
Last Meeting:Â San Jose State defeated Fresno State, 7-5 (March 24, 2019 in Fresno, Calif.)
Radio:Â 940 AM ESPN
Play-by-play:Â Paul Loeffler
Video:Â Mountain West Network
Live Stats:Â StatBroadcast
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Pitching Probables: Fresno State at San Jose State
Thursday: Jr. RHP Ryan Jensen (5-1, 3.04 ERA) vs. Sr. LHP Andrew Mitchel (3-4, 3.81)
Friday:  Jr. RHP Davis Moore (5-0, 3.99 ERA) vs. Sr. RHP Tevin Cadola (5-0, 4.03)
Saturday: TBAÂ vs. Fr. RHP Jonathan Clark (2-0, 4.62)
Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State is coming off winning its sixth game over its last seven contests on Tuesday at home with a 7-6 walk-off win over CSU Bakersfield thanks to a single by senior center fielder Zach Ashford.
• This will be the 'Dogs second series with the Spartans this season after San Jose State was able to take down the Bulldogs twice in Fresno in March. The Bulldogs won the series opener, 3-1 before narrowly losing the next two games, 2-1 and 7-5.
• Fresno State leads the all-time series over San Jose State, 165-91, but the Spartans have been able to win six of the last nine meetings over the last two seasons.
• Ashford leads the 'Dogs hitting .374 from the dish, third-best in the MW, and tops the team in hits (49), runs (40), walks (24), on-base percentage (.478), stolen bases (7) and multi-hit games (17).
• Junior pitcher Ryan Jensen earned his first career Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honor on Monday after a seven-inning complete game shutout over Air Force on April 12 and along with Davis Moore each have a team-high five wins.
Fresno State vs. San Jose State - The Series
• Fresno State and San Jose State have met 256 times on the baseball diamond.
• The Bulldogs lead the all-time series over the Spartans, 165-91.
• SJSU took two of three games in Fresno in March with the Bulldogs winning the series opener, 3-1 before narrowly losing the next two games, 2-1 and 7-5.
• The 'Dogs won one of three games at SJSU in 2018 winning the series finale, 6-3 on March 18.
• Head coach Mike Batesole is 49-31 against San Jose State while at Fresno State.
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Fresno State leads 165-91
Last Meeting: March 24, 2019 (Fresno, Calif.) - L, 7-5
Current Streak: L2
Last Fresno State Win: March 22, 2019 (3-1) - Fresno, Calif.
Last San Jose State Win: March 24, 2019 (7-5) - Fresno, Calif.
Where Fresno State Rank Offensively in the Mountain West/nation in 2019 (as of 4/17/19)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
• .289 Batting Average: No. 3 - 49th nationally
• .421 Slugging Pct: No. T-1
• .377 On base Pct: No. T-1
• 26 sacrifice bunts: No. T-2 - 27th nationally
• 214 Runs: No. 4
• 327 Hits: No. 4
• 184 RBI: No. 4
• 64 Doubles: No. T-5
• 5 Triples: No. T-6
• 25 Home Runs: No. T-2
Where Fresno State Rank Pitching in the Mountain West/nation in 2019 (as of 4/17/19) 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
• 3.71 ERA: No. 1 - 38th nationally
• .251 Opposing bat average: No. 1
• 11 saves: No. 1
• 301 strikeouts: No. 2
• 119 Earned runs allowed: No. 1
• 277 Hits allowed: No. 1
• 134 walks allowed: No. 3
• 41 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 2 triples allowed: No. 1
• 18 home runs allowed: No. 2
Where Fresno State Rank Fielding in the Mountain West/nation in 2019 (as of 4/17/19)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
• .967 Fielding Percentage: No. 6
• 321 Assists: No. 6
• 18 double plays: No. 7
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2019 (as of 4/17/19) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Batting average: Zach Ashford - 3rd (.374); McCarthy Tatum - Â 6th (.341)
Slugging percentage: Tatum - 3rd (.606)
On-base percentage: Zach Ashford - 3rd (.478)Â
Runs: Ashford - 3rd (40); Carter Bins - 5th (35)
RBI: Tatum - 1st (44)/RBI per game: 1.33 - 1st - 22nd/12th in nation
Home runs: Tatum - T-3rd (7); Zach Presno - T-6th (6)
Walks: Ashford - T-2nd (24)
Sacrifice bunts: Nolan Dempsey - 2nd (7) - 30th nationally
ERA: Ryan Jensen - 6th (3.04)
Opposing batting average: Jensen - 7th (.239)
Innings pitched: Jensen & Davis Moore - T-8th (47.1)
Strikeouts: Jensen - 3rd (53)
Wins: Jensen & Moore - 1st (5) - 58th nationally
Saves: Jaime Arias - T-3rd (7) - 32nd nationally
Fielding percentage: Ashford - T-1st (1.000)
A look at the San Jose State Spartans                       Â
San Jose State enters this weekend's series against the Bulldogs with a 18-19 overall record and currently sits atop the Mountain West standings in first place at 12-6. SJSU, who was picked to finish last in the MW preseason poll, has dropped four of its last five games and was topped twice last weekend at UNLV after winning the series opener on Friday, 7-3
The Spartans are 11-4 at home this year winning each of its four home series. SJSU is hitting .263 as a club to rank sixth in the MW while its offense is averaging 4.6 runs and 8.6 hits per game.
Junior outfielder Kellen Strahm leads the MW and ranks 20th in the nation with a .406 batting average and also sits atop the MW in on-base percentage at .500. Strahm leads the team in runs (36), hits (52), home runs (5), walks (23), RBI (25), total bases (74), slugging percentage (.578) and stolen bases (14).
On the mound, the Spartans enter the weekend with a 4.99 ERA as a staff, fifth in the MW, while opponents are hitting .267 off the staff and have a 1.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 259 strikeouts to 188 walks allowed.
Thursday night starter, senior left-hander Andrew Mitchel, the 2018 MW Co-Pitcher of the Year, sits at 3-4 on the season with a 3.81 ERA and has 76 strikeouts (15th in the nation) in 52.0 innings. Saturday starter Tevin Cadola is an unblemished 5-0 with a 4.03 ERA while the Sunday starter, freshman right-hander Jonathan Clark, is 2-0 with a 4.62 ERA.
Walk-off special
For the first time this season, the Bulldogs won a game in thrill walk-off fashion on Tuesday over CSU Bakersfield, 7-6 as senior center fielder Zach Ashford came through with a single to right-center to knock in Auston Chastain giving the 'Dogs a 7-6 comeback win over the Roadrunners.
Ryan Jensen earns Bulldogs first Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honor
Junior pitcher Ryan Jensen earned his first career MW Pitcher of the Week honor on Monday after putting together an outstanding performance on April 12 in the 'Dogs 6-0 win over Air Force.
The Salinas, Calif., native tossed a seven-inning complete game shutout limiting the Falcons to three singles in the contest. The right-hander faced only five batters over the minimum in the contest striking out a career-high 14 while allowing only seven Air Force baserunners in the game.
He becomes the first Bulldog to earn either the MW Player or Pitcher of the Week honor this season.
Bulldogs moving up the RPI rankings
The Diamond 'Dogs continue to move up the RPI rankings sitting atop the Mountain West with a league-best No. 51 ranking as of Wednesday.
The 'Dogs remaining opponents' RPI rankings for the remainder of the regular season are CSU Bakersfield (221), San Jose State (126), Pacific (117), New Mexico (171), Cal Poly (139), Nevada (138), San Diego State (71) and UNLV (109).
Bulldogs at San Jose State
Since the Spartans moved to the Mountain West in 2014, the 'Dogs have traveled to San Jose for four series going 6-6 in those 12 meetings.
2014: 1-2 [L, 3-2; W, 8-0; L, 5-2]
2015: 2-1 [W, 4-0; L, 7-3; W. 3-0]
2016: 2-1 [W, 13-4; W, 9-4; L, 3-2 (10)]
2017: Did not play in San Jose
2018: 1-2 [L, 4-1; L, 10-1; W, 6-3]
Bulldog pitching staff continues to dominant
The 'Dogs lead the MW in ERA (3.71), opposing batting average (.251), earned runs allowed (119), hits allowed (277), doubles allowed (41) and triples allowed (2).Â
In addition, the 'Dogs have given up three runs or less in 15 of its 33 games and are 13-2 in those contests.
Moore remains perfect on the season
Junior right-hander Davis Moore is one of six Mountain West pitchers with a league-leading five wins on the season is on one of 43 pitchers nationally with a 5-0 or better record and without a loss.
The Rancho Cucamonga native leads the team with 47.1 innings pitched and his 50 strikeouts rank second on the team and tied for fourth in the MW.
Bins named to Buster Posey Award Watch List
Junior catcher Carter Bins was named to the Buster Posey Award Watch List on April 2 which is given to the nation's top division one collegiate catcher by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
Ashford named a Senior CLASS Award Candidate
Senior outfielder Zach Ashford has been named a candidate for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award, the organization announced on March 22. Thirty NCAA baseball student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were selected as candidates for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate baseball.Â
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The 10 finalists for the award were named on April 10, but Ashford unfortunately did not make the cut.
Batesole reaches 800 career win milestone                              Â
Head coach Mike Batesole reached career win number 800 on Feb. 16 in the Bulldogs' 6-3 season-opening win over Utah Valley at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium. Now in his 17th season at the helm of the Bulldogs this season, Batesole has won 564 games at Fresno State and 256 at CSUN from 1996-2002 for a total of 820 career wins.
In his career, Batesole has won at least 30 games in 19 of his 23 years as a Division I head coach and in 13 of his 16 seasons at Fresno State.
Up Next
The Bulldogs return home next week for four games at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium hosting Pacific (20-16) on Tuesday for Pride of the Valley Night and New Mexico (16-20, 7-11 MW) for Legends 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.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostateathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Games 34-36:Â Fresno State (21-12, 8-6 MW) at San Jose State (18-19, 12-6 MW)
First Pitch:Â April 18-20 - Thu: 6 p.m.; Fri: 6 p.m.; Sat: 2 p.m.
Stadium:Â Excite Ballpark
Surface:Â Grass
Dimensions:Â 320 (LF), 390 (CF), 320 (RF)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 165-91
Last Meeting:Â San Jose State defeated Fresno State, 7-5 (March 24, 2019 in Fresno, Calif.)
Radio:Â 940 AM ESPN
Play-by-play:Â Paul Loeffler
Video:Â Mountain West Network
Live Stats:Â StatBroadcast
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Pitching Probables: Fresno State at San Jose State
Thursday: Jr. RHP Ryan Jensen (5-1, 3.04 ERA) vs. Sr. LHP Andrew Mitchel (3-4, 3.81)
Friday:  Jr. RHP Davis Moore (5-0, 3.99 ERA) vs. Sr. RHP Tevin Cadola (5-0, 4.03)
Saturday: TBAÂ vs. Fr. RHP Jonathan Clark (2-0, 4.62)
Bulldog Headlines
• Fresno State is coming off winning its sixth game over its last seven contests on Tuesday at home with a 7-6 walk-off win over CSU Bakersfield thanks to a single by senior center fielder Zach Ashford.
• This will be the 'Dogs second series with the Spartans this season after San Jose State was able to take down the Bulldogs twice in Fresno in March. The Bulldogs won the series opener, 3-1 before narrowly losing the next two games, 2-1 and 7-5.
• Fresno State leads the all-time series over San Jose State, 165-91, but the Spartans have been able to win six of the last nine meetings over the last two seasons.
• Ashford leads the 'Dogs hitting .374 from the dish, third-best in the MW, and tops the team in hits (49), runs (40), walks (24), on-base percentage (.478), stolen bases (7) and multi-hit games (17).
• Junior pitcher Ryan Jensen earned his first career Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honor on Monday after a seven-inning complete game shutout over Air Force on April 12 and along with Davis Moore each have a team-high five wins.
Fresno State vs. San Jose State - The Series
• Fresno State and San Jose State have met 256 times on the baseball diamond.
• The Bulldogs lead the all-time series over the Spartans, 165-91.
• SJSU took two of three games in Fresno in March with the Bulldogs winning the series opener, 3-1 before narrowly losing the next two games, 2-1 and 7-5.
• The 'Dogs won one of three games at SJSU in 2018 winning the series finale, 6-3 on March 18.
• Head coach Mike Batesole is 49-31 against San Jose State while at Fresno State.
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Fresno State leads 165-91
Last Meeting: March 24, 2019 (Fresno, Calif.) - L, 7-5
Current Streak: L2
Last Fresno State Win: March 22, 2019 (3-1) - Fresno, Calif.
Last San Jose State Win: March 24, 2019 (7-5) - Fresno, Calif.
Where Fresno State Rank Offensively in the Mountain West/nation in 2019 (as of 4/17/19)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
• .289 Batting Average: No. 3 - 49th nationally
• .421 Slugging Pct: No. T-1
• .377 On base Pct: No. T-1
• 26 sacrifice bunts: No. T-2 - 27th nationally
• 214 Runs: No. 4
• 327 Hits: No. 4
• 184 RBI: No. 4
• 64 Doubles: No. T-5
• 5 Triples: No. T-6
• 25 Home Runs: No. T-2
Where Fresno State Rank Pitching in the Mountain West/nation in 2019 (as of 4/17/19) 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
• 3.71 ERA: No. 1 - 38th nationally
• .251 Opposing bat average: No. 1
• 11 saves: No. 1
• 301 strikeouts: No. 2
• 119 Earned runs allowed: No. 1
• 277 Hits allowed: No. 1
• 134 walks allowed: No. 3
• 41 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 2 triples allowed: No. 1
• 18 home runs allowed: No. 2
Where Fresno State Rank Fielding in the Mountain West/nation in 2019 (as of 4/17/19)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
• .967 Fielding Percentage: No. 6
• 321 Assists: No. 6
• 18 double plays: No. 7
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2019 (as of 4/17/19) Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Batting average: Zach Ashford - 3rd (.374); McCarthy Tatum - Â 6th (.341)
Slugging percentage: Tatum - 3rd (.606)
On-base percentage: Zach Ashford - 3rd (.478)Â
Runs: Ashford - 3rd (40); Carter Bins - 5th (35)
RBI: Tatum - 1st (44)/RBI per game: 1.33 - 1st - 22nd/12th in nation
Home runs: Tatum - T-3rd (7); Zach Presno - T-6th (6)
Walks: Ashford - T-2nd (24)
Sacrifice bunts: Nolan Dempsey - 2nd (7) - 30th nationally
ERA: Ryan Jensen - 6th (3.04)
Opposing batting average: Jensen - 7th (.239)
Innings pitched: Jensen & Davis Moore - T-8th (47.1)
Strikeouts: Jensen - 3rd (53)
Wins: Jensen & Moore - 1st (5) - 58th nationally
Saves: Jaime Arias - T-3rd (7) - 32nd nationally
Fielding percentage: Ashford - T-1st (1.000)
A look at the San Jose State Spartans                       Â
San Jose State enters this weekend's series against the Bulldogs with a 18-19 overall record and currently sits atop the Mountain West standings in first place at 12-6. SJSU, who was picked to finish last in the MW preseason poll, has dropped four of its last five games and was topped twice last weekend at UNLV after winning the series opener on Friday, 7-3
The Spartans are 11-4 at home this year winning each of its four home series. SJSU is hitting .263 as a club to rank sixth in the MW while its offense is averaging 4.6 runs and 8.6 hits per game.
Junior outfielder Kellen Strahm leads the MW and ranks 20th in the nation with a .406 batting average and also sits atop the MW in on-base percentage at .500. Strahm leads the team in runs (36), hits (52), home runs (5), walks (23), RBI (25), total bases (74), slugging percentage (.578) and stolen bases (14).
On the mound, the Spartans enter the weekend with a 4.99 ERA as a staff, fifth in the MW, while opponents are hitting .267 off the staff and have a 1.38 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 259 strikeouts to 188 walks allowed.
Thursday night starter, senior left-hander Andrew Mitchel, the 2018 MW Co-Pitcher of the Year, sits at 3-4 on the season with a 3.81 ERA and has 76 strikeouts (15th in the nation) in 52.0 innings. Saturday starter Tevin Cadola is an unblemished 5-0 with a 4.03 ERA while the Sunday starter, freshman right-hander Jonathan Clark, is 2-0 with a 4.62 ERA.
Walk-off special
For the first time this season, the Bulldogs won a game in thrill walk-off fashion on Tuesday over CSU Bakersfield, 7-6 as senior center fielder Zach Ashford came through with a single to right-center to knock in Auston Chastain giving the 'Dogs a 7-6 comeback win over the Roadrunners.
Ryan Jensen earns Bulldogs first Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honor
Junior pitcher Ryan Jensen earned his first career MW Pitcher of the Week honor on Monday after putting together an outstanding performance on April 12 in the 'Dogs 6-0 win over Air Force.
The Salinas, Calif., native tossed a seven-inning complete game shutout limiting the Falcons to three singles in the contest. The right-hander faced only five batters over the minimum in the contest striking out a career-high 14 while allowing only seven Air Force baserunners in the game.
He becomes the first Bulldog to earn either the MW Player or Pitcher of the Week honor this season.
Bulldogs moving up the RPI rankings
The Diamond 'Dogs continue to move up the RPI rankings sitting atop the Mountain West with a league-best No. 51 ranking as of Wednesday.
The 'Dogs remaining opponents' RPI rankings for the remainder of the regular season are CSU Bakersfield (221), San Jose State (126), Pacific (117), New Mexico (171), Cal Poly (139), Nevada (138), San Diego State (71) and UNLV (109).
Bulldogs at San Jose State
Since the Spartans moved to the Mountain West in 2014, the 'Dogs have traveled to San Jose for four series going 6-6 in those 12 meetings.
2014: 1-2 [L, 3-2; W, 8-0; L, 5-2]
2015: 2-1 [W, 4-0; L, 7-3; W. 3-0]
2016: 2-1 [W, 13-4; W, 9-4; L, 3-2 (10)]
2017: Did not play in San Jose
2018: 1-2 [L, 4-1; L, 10-1; W, 6-3]
Bulldog pitching staff continues to dominant
The 'Dogs lead the MW in ERA (3.71), opposing batting average (.251), earned runs allowed (119), hits allowed (277), doubles allowed (41) and triples allowed (2).Â
In addition, the 'Dogs have given up three runs or less in 15 of its 33 games and are 13-2 in those contests.
Moore remains perfect on the season
Junior right-hander Davis Moore is one of six Mountain West pitchers with a league-leading five wins on the season is on one of 43 pitchers nationally with a 5-0 or better record and without a loss.
The Rancho Cucamonga native leads the team with 47.1 innings pitched and his 50 strikeouts rank second on the team and tied for fourth in the MW.
Bins named to Buster Posey Award Watch List
Junior catcher Carter Bins was named to the Buster Posey Award Watch List on April 2 which is given to the nation's top division one collegiate catcher by the Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission.
Ashford named a Senior CLASS Award Candidate
Senior outfielder Zach Ashford has been named a candidate for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award, the organization announced on March 22. Thirty NCAA baseball student-athletes who excel both on and off the field were selected as candidates for the 2019 Senior CLASS Award in collegiate baseball.Â
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence: community, classroom, character and competition. The 10 finalists for the award were named on April 10, but Ashford unfortunately did not make the cut.
Batesole reaches 800 career win milestone                              Â
Head coach Mike Batesole reached career win number 800 on Feb. 16 in the Bulldogs' 6-3 season-opening win over Utah Valley at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium. Now in his 17th season at the helm of the Bulldogs this season, Batesole has won 564 games at Fresno State and 256 at CSUN from 1996-2002 for a total of 820 career wins.
In his career, Batesole has won at least 30 games in 19 of his 23 years as a Division I head coach and in 13 of his 16 seasons at Fresno State.
Up Next
The Bulldogs return home next week for four games at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium hosting Pacific (20-16) on Tuesday for Pride of the Valley Night and New Mexico (16-20, 7-11 MW) for Legends 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.
Follow us on:Â
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram:Â fresnostateathletics
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
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