Fresno State Athletics
Friday, March 6
Phoenix, AZ
5:30 PM
Fresno State
at
No. 10 Arizona State
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Bulldogs head to desert for series vs. Sun Devils [March 6-8]
3/5/2020 1:00:00 PM | Baseball
FRESNO, Calif. - The Diamond 'Dogs will travel to No. 10 Arizona State for the first time since 2008 for their first road series of the season this weekend.
Games 13-15: Fresno State (8-4, 0-0 MW) at No. 10 Arizona State (10-4, 0-0 Pac-12)
First Pitch: March 6-8 - Fri: 5:30 p.m. PT, Sat: 5:30 p.m. PT, Sun: 11:30 a.m. PT
Stadium: Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 333 (LF), 395 (CF), 334 (RF)
All-Time Series: Arizona State leads 12-7
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated Arizona State, 12-9 (June 9, 2008 in Tempe. Ariz.)
Radio: AM 940 ESPN
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler
Video: Pac-12 Live Stream
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Pitching Probables: Fresno State at Arizona State
Friday: Jr. LHP Jaime Arias (2-1, 3.50) vs. Fr. LHP Cooper Benson (1-1, 3.71)
Saturday: Jr. RHP Jamison Hill (1-0, 3.00) vs. So. RHP Tyler Thornton (2-0, 2.41)
Sunday: RJr. RHP Oscar Carvajal (1-1, 3.71) vs. Jr. LHP Justin Fall (0-0, 6.92)
Bulldog Headlines
• .287 Batting Average: No. 1 - 47th nationally
• .514 Slugging Pct: No. 1 - 10th nationally
• .377 On base Pct: No. 1
• 6 sacrifice bunts: No. 2
• 85 Runs: No. 1 - 54th nationally
• 117 Hits: No. 2 - 53rd nationally
• 77 RBI: No. 1
• 24 Doubles: No. 1 - 46th nationally
• 4 Triples: No. 3
• 20 Home Runs: No. 1 - 5th nationally
Where Fresno State Rank Pitching in the Mountain West/nation in 2020 (as of 3/5/20)
• 4.25 ERA: No. 4
• .266 Opposing bat average: No. 5
• 2 saves: No. T-3
• 89 strikeouts: No. 5
• 52 Earned runs allowed: No. 4
• 115 Hits allowed: No. 5
• 34 walks allowed: No. 1
• 9 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 0 triples allowed: No. 1
• 6 home runs allowed: No. 4
Where Fresno State Rank Fielding in the Mountain West/nation in 2020 (as of 3/5/20)
• .975 Fielding Percentage: No. T-2
• 129 Assists: No. 2
• 8 double plays: No. T-2
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2020 (as of 3/5/20)
Batting average: Zach Presno - 3rd (.381)
Slugging pct.: Presno - 2nd (.881); Nate Thimjon - 4th (.674)
On-base pct.: Presno - 3rd (.490)
Runs scored: Thimjon - 1st (14); Presno -T-2nd (13)
RBIs: Presno - 1st (14); Thimjon - 2nd (11)
Doubles: Ryan Higgins - T-2nd (5)
Home Runs: Presno - 1st (6)- 6th nationally
Total bases: Presno - 1st (37)
Wins: Jaime Arias - T-2nd (2)
Innings pitched: Arias - 2nd (18.0)
Walks allowed: Jamison Hill - 2nd (1)
A look at the No. 10 Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State is off to a 10-4 start to the season with a 8-4 mark at home and are coming a two-game midweek sweep at Cal State Fullerton.
The Sun Devils were selected first in the Pac-12 preseason coaches poll and are led by two-time All-American Spencer Torkelson, a junior infielder, who was named the Preseason National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball News.
Junior infielder Drew Swift leads ASU with a .405 average and 23 hits while Torkelson is hitting .325 with six home runs, 20 runs scored and a .603 on-base percentage.
On the mound, the Sun Devils have a 3.69 ERA and the starting rotation of LHP Cooper Benson, RHP Tyler Thornton and LHP Justin Fall have a combined 48 strikeouts. ASU is holding opponents to a .229 batting average and has a 2.53 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Fresno State vs. Pac-12 opponents
Having played at least eight games against all 11 baseball-playing Pac-12 programs, the 'Dogs are 252-295 (.461) all-time against the conference with winning records against three. The Bulldogs played four games against Oregon and Stanford in 2019 posting a 3-5 mark and fell in three games at home against Washington earlier this season and host Stanford in April.
Bulldogs All-Time Record vs. Pac-12 opponents (year teams last played)
Arizona: 4-7 (1993)
Arizona State: 7-12 (2008)
Cal: 62-69 (2015)
Oregon: 9-13 (2019)
Oregon State: 28-13 (2015)
Stanford 51-89 (2019)
UCLA: 28-30 (2011)
USC: 27-41 (2015)
Utah: 7-1 (2008)
Washington: 9-11 (2020)
Washington State: 20-9 (2011)
Bulldogs All-Time Record from the state of Arizona (year teams last played)
Arizona: 4-7 (1993)
Arizona State: 7-12 (2008)
Grand Canyon: 4-0 (2014)
Northern Arizona: 1-0 (1961) - discontinued in 1981
Presno earns second Mountain West Player of the Week honors
The Clovis native put together a strong start to the season at the plate hitting .571 (8-14) smacking three home runs, a double, scored seven runs, drove in eight RBIs and slugged 1.286. After collecting a pair of hits on Tuesday in a 13-0 win over Cal Poly, the junior followed it up on Friday with another pair of hits and two RBIs in a 9-1 win against Columbia.
Presno was just getting warmed up for a doubleheader on Saturday against the Lions where he went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in a 7-4 game one win and followed it up in game two with a three-run home run and a pair of runs scored. His week concluded on Sunday with his sixth home run of the season, two runs scored and three walks in a 12-3 win over the Lions.
Fresno State in road openers under Coach Batesole
The 'Dogs are 4-13 in road openers under Batesole and have won two of their last six after only winning two of the previous 11.The 'Dogs have only opened up road action outside the state of Californaia under Batesole three times in Oregon (2009), Washington (2010) and Nevada (2015). The Sun Devils will be seventh time overall under coach Batesole the Bulldogs have started road action against a Power Five program.
Fresno State Road Openers Under Batesole
2019 - L, 8-3 at No. 25 Tennessee
2018 - L, 7-2 at UC Santa Barbara
2017 - L, 8-7 (12) at Pepperdine
2016 - W, 3-2 (10) at San Diego State
2015 - L, 9-8 (10) at Nevada
2014 - W, 2-0 (10) at UC Irvine
2013 - L, 3-1 at Stanford
2012 - L, 4-0 at Bakersfield
2011 - W, 12-4 at UC Davis
2010 - L, 10-9 at Washington
2009 - L, 1-0 at Oregon
2008 - L, 5-2 at San Diego
2007 - L, 6-3 at Cal Poly
2006 - L, 6-3 at Cal Poly
2005 - L, 12-1 at Stanford
2004 - L, 6-2 at UCLA
2003 - W, 1-0 at UC Irvine
Home run power
The Diamond 'Dogs continue to pound the ball out of the yard smacking 20 home runs on the season to rank third in the country. The 'Dogs 1.67 home runs per game is sixth nationally.
Zach Presno leads the Mountain West and ranks sixth in the nation with six home runs, Nate Thimjon has added five home runs while Andrew Kachel, Jeff Jamison & Ryan Higgins each have a pair. Three other 'Dogs have one home run apiece.
Up next
The Bulldogs return home on Tuesday to host Pacific (7-6) at 6:05 p.m. for Two for Tuesday where two tickets are the price of one.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram: fresnostateathletics
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
Games 13-15: Fresno State (8-4, 0-0 MW) at No. 10 Arizona State (10-4, 0-0 Pac-12)
First Pitch: March 6-8 - Fri: 5:30 p.m. PT, Sat: 5:30 p.m. PT, Sun: 11:30 a.m. PT
Stadium: Phoenix Municipal Stadium
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 333 (LF), 395 (CF), 334 (RF)
All-Time Series: Arizona State leads 12-7
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated Arizona State, 12-9 (June 9, 2008 in Tempe. Ariz.)
Radio: AM 940 ESPN
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler
Video: Pac-12 Live Stream
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Pitching Probables: Fresno State at Arizona State
Friday: Jr. LHP Jaime Arias (2-1, 3.50) vs. Fr. LHP Cooper Benson (1-1, 3.71)
Saturday: Jr. RHP Jamison Hill (1-0, 3.00) vs. So. RHP Tyler Thornton (2-0, 2.41)
Sunday: RJr. RHP Oscar Carvajal (1-1, 3.71) vs. Jr. LHP Justin Fall (0-0, 6.92)
Bulldog Headlines
- Fresno State enters this weekend's series with the Sun Devils on a six-game winning streak after closing out its 12-game homestand with a 5-4 win over Seton Hall in 11 innings on Tuesday.
- The Bulldogs head out on the road for the first time in 2020 traveling to No. 10 Arizona State in their first game with the Sun Devils since 2008.
- The Sun Devils lead the all-time series over the Bulldogs, 12-7.
- The 'Dogs are 4-13 all-time in road openers under head coach Mike Batesole.
- Junior catcher/infielder Zach Presno earned his second Mountain West Player of the Week honors on Tuesday after hitting .571 (8-14) with three home runs, eight RBI and seven runs scored in five games last week.
- The Bulldogs currently rank fifth in the nation as a team with 20 home runs and are sixth in the country at 1.67 home runs per game.
- Fresno State ranks 10th in the country in slugging percentage at .514.
- The 'Dogs lead the MW and rank 19th in the nation in walks allowed per 9 innings (2.78).
- The Bulldogs & Sun Devils have met 19 times in program history.
- The last meeting between the two programs came in the 2008 NCAA Tournament as the teams met in the Super Regional round with the 'Dogs winning the final two games to advance to the College World Series.
- Arizona State leads the overall series, 12-7.
- The Bulldogs are 4-12 at ASU and Coach Batesole is 2-1 against the Sun Devils.
- All-Time: Arizona State leads 12-7
- Last Meeting: June 9, 2008 (Tempe, Ariz.) - W, 12-9
- Current Streak: W2
- Last Fresno State Win: June 9, 2008 (12-9)
- Last Arizona State Win: June 7, 2008 (12-4)
• .287 Batting Average: No. 1 - 47th nationally
• .514 Slugging Pct: No. 1 - 10th nationally
• .377 On base Pct: No. 1
• 6 sacrifice bunts: No. 2
• 85 Runs: No. 1 - 54th nationally
• 117 Hits: No. 2 - 53rd nationally
• 77 RBI: No. 1
• 24 Doubles: No. 1 - 46th nationally
• 4 Triples: No. 3
• 20 Home Runs: No. 1 - 5th nationally
Where Fresno State Rank Pitching in the Mountain West/nation in 2020 (as of 3/5/20)
• 4.25 ERA: No. 4
• .266 Opposing bat average: No. 5
• 2 saves: No. T-3
• 89 strikeouts: No. 5
• 52 Earned runs allowed: No. 4
• 115 Hits allowed: No. 5
• 34 walks allowed: No. 1
• 9 doubles allowed: No. 1
• 0 triples allowed: No. 1
• 6 home runs allowed: No. 4
Where Fresno State Rank Fielding in the Mountain West/nation in 2020 (as of 3/5/20)
• .975 Fielding Percentage: No. T-2
• 129 Assists: No. 2
• 8 double plays: No. T-2
Where Fresno State Players Rank in the Mountain West/NCAA in 2020 (as of 3/5/20)
Batting average: Zach Presno - 3rd (.381)
Slugging pct.: Presno - 2nd (.881); Nate Thimjon - 4th (.674)
On-base pct.: Presno - 3rd (.490)
Runs scored: Thimjon - 1st (14); Presno -T-2nd (13)
RBIs: Presno - 1st (14); Thimjon - 2nd (11)
Doubles: Ryan Higgins - T-2nd (5)
Home Runs: Presno - 1st (6)- 6th nationally
Total bases: Presno - 1st (37)
Wins: Jaime Arias - T-2nd (2)
Innings pitched: Arias - 2nd (18.0)
Walks allowed: Jamison Hill - 2nd (1)
A look at the No. 10 Arizona State Sun Devils
Arizona State is off to a 10-4 start to the season with a 8-4 mark at home and are coming a two-game midweek sweep at Cal State Fullerton.
The Sun Devils were selected first in the Pac-12 preseason coaches poll and are led by two-time All-American Spencer Torkelson, a junior infielder, who was named the Preseason National Player of the Year by Collegiate Baseball News.
Junior infielder Drew Swift leads ASU with a .405 average and 23 hits while Torkelson is hitting .325 with six home runs, 20 runs scored and a .603 on-base percentage.
On the mound, the Sun Devils have a 3.69 ERA and the starting rotation of LHP Cooper Benson, RHP Tyler Thornton and LHP Justin Fall have a combined 48 strikeouts. ASU is holding opponents to a .229 batting average and has a 2.53 strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Fresno State vs. Pac-12 opponents
Having played at least eight games against all 11 baseball-playing Pac-12 programs, the 'Dogs are 252-295 (.461) all-time against the conference with winning records against three. The Bulldogs played four games against Oregon and Stanford in 2019 posting a 3-5 mark and fell in three games at home against Washington earlier this season and host Stanford in April.
Bulldogs All-Time Record vs. Pac-12 opponents (year teams last played)
Arizona: 4-7 (1993)
Arizona State: 7-12 (2008)
Cal: 62-69 (2015)
Oregon: 9-13 (2019)
Oregon State: 28-13 (2015)
Stanford 51-89 (2019)
UCLA: 28-30 (2011)
USC: 27-41 (2015)
Utah: 7-1 (2008)
Washington: 9-11 (2020)
Washington State: 20-9 (2011)
Bulldogs All-Time Record from the state of Arizona (year teams last played)
Arizona: 4-7 (1993)
Arizona State: 7-12 (2008)
Grand Canyon: 4-0 (2014)
Northern Arizona: 1-0 (1961) - discontinued in 1981
Presno earns second Mountain West Player of the Week honors
The Clovis native put together a strong start to the season at the plate hitting .571 (8-14) smacking three home runs, a double, scored seven runs, drove in eight RBIs and slugged 1.286. After collecting a pair of hits on Tuesday in a 13-0 win over Cal Poly, the junior followed it up on Friday with another pair of hits and two RBIs in a 9-1 win against Columbia.
Presno was just getting warmed up for a doubleheader on Saturday against the Lions where he went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs in a 7-4 game one win and followed it up in game two with a three-run home run and a pair of runs scored. His week concluded on Sunday with his sixth home run of the season, two runs scored and three walks in a 12-3 win over the Lions.
Fresno State in road openers under Coach Batesole
The 'Dogs are 4-13 in road openers under Batesole and have won two of their last six after only winning two of the previous 11.The 'Dogs have only opened up road action outside the state of Californaia under Batesole three times in Oregon (2009), Washington (2010) and Nevada (2015). The Sun Devils will be seventh time overall under coach Batesole the Bulldogs have started road action against a Power Five program.
Fresno State Road Openers Under Batesole
2019 - L, 8-3 at No. 25 Tennessee
2018 - L, 7-2 at UC Santa Barbara
2017 - L, 8-7 (12) at Pepperdine
2016 - W, 3-2 (10) at San Diego State
2015 - L, 9-8 (10) at Nevada
2014 - W, 2-0 (10) at UC Irvine
2013 - L, 3-1 at Stanford
2012 - L, 4-0 at Bakersfield
2011 - W, 12-4 at UC Davis
2010 - L, 10-9 at Washington
2009 - L, 1-0 at Oregon
2008 - L, 5-2 at San Diego
2007 - L, 6-3 at Cal Poly
2006 - L, 6-3 at Cal Poly
2005 - L, 12-1 at Stanford
2004 - L, 6-2 at UCLA
2003 - W, 1-0 at UC Irvine
Home run power
The Diamond 'Dogs continue to pound the ball out of the yard smacking 20 home runs on the season to rank third in the country. The 'Dogs 1.67 home runs per game is sixth nationally.
Zach Presno leads the Mountain West and ranks sixth in the nation with six home runs, Nate Thimjon has added five home runs while Andrew Kachel, Jeff Jamison & Ryan Higgins each have a pair. Three other 'Dogs have one home run apiece.
Up next
The Bulldogs return home on Tuesday to host Pacific (7-6) at 6:05 p.m. for Two for Tuesday where two tickets are the price of one.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
Instagram: fresnostateathletics
Facebook: FresnoStateAthletics
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