Diamond 'Dogs open season vs. CSUB

FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State baseball team will open the 2021 season on Friday with the start of a three-game series against CSU Bakersfield at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.

The Diamond 'Dogs and Roadrunners will kick action off with games on Friday and Saturday at 3:05 p.m. with the series finale on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. All three games can be heard on 940 AM ESPN.

The Bulldogs will get their 93rd season as a program underway and have won the last four meetings against the Roadrunners.

Due to current state guidelines, fans are not able to attend home games at the Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium during the 2021 season.

Games 1-3: CSU Bakersfield (0-0, 0-0 WAC) at Fresno State (0-0, 0-0 MW)

First Pitch: Feb. 26-28 - Fri: 3:05 p.m., Sat: 3:05 p.m., Sun: 2:05 p.m.
Stadium: Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 400 (CF), 330 (RF)
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 15-14
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated CSU Bakersfield, 7-6 (April 16, 2019 in Fresno, Calif.)

Radio: AM 940 ESPN
Play-by-play: Paul Loeffler
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB

Bulldog Headlines
• The Bulldogs open their 93rd season as a program on the diamond this weekend against WAC opponent CSU Bakersfield.
• Fresno State is coming off a 9-7 campaign in 2020 that was shortened to 16 games after the COVID-19 pandemic saw the season halted on March 12.
• Head Coach Mike Batesole enters his 19th season leading the Diamond 'Dogs and enters this spring with a 848-606-2 (.583) overall record and a 592-448-1 (.569) mark at Fresno State.
• The Bulldogs are 14-4 in season openers under Batesole and have won their last 12 season openers dating back to 2009. The 'Dogs topped UC Irvine, 3-1 at home to start 2020.
• The 'Dogs are 13-5 in home openers under Batesole and have won their last 12 home openers as well last falling to UC Davis at home to open the 2008 season.

Fresno State vs. CSU Bakersfield - The Series
• Fresno State and CSU Bakersfield have met 29 times on the baseball diamond.
• The Bulldogs lead the all-time series 15-14 after the 'Dogs won both pair of meetings in 2019 winning 9-3 in Bakersfield and 7-6 at home.
• Head coach Mike Batesole is 15-14 against the Roadrunners as all 29 meetings have come since March 10, 2009.

SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: FS leads 15-14
Last Meeting: April 16, 2019 (Fresno, Calif.) - W, 7-6
Current Streak: W4
Last Fresno State Win: April 16, 2019 (7-6) - Fresno, Calif.

Bulldogs Selected Second in Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll
The Fresno State baseball team was picked to finish second in the Mountain West preseason poll released on Feb. 11.

The Bulldogs garnered one first-place votes and tallied 29 points overall falling seven points shy of first-place San Diego State.

The Aztecs picked up 36 points and six first-place votes while New Mexico and UNLV came in third with 23 votes apiece. Nevada, Air Force and San Jose State rounded out the poll.

2021 MOUNTAIN WEST BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL
Rank Team (1^st-place votes) Points
1.         San Diego State (6) 36
2.         Fresno State (1) 29
3.         New Mexico 23
UNLV                            23
5.         Nevada 16
6.         Air Force 11
7. San José State 9

Trio of Bulldogs named Preseason All-Mountain West
Senior catcher Zach Presno, senior pitcher Nikoh Mitchell and junior infielder/outfielder Ryan Higgins represented the 'Dogs on the 13-member team.

Presno was one of the top hitters in the MW a season ago leading the conference in home runs (8) and slugging percentage (.804) to rank third and 10^th in the nation, respectively. The Clovis native ranked second in the MW and 23^rd in the country with 45 total bases and led the 'Dogs with a .441 on-base percentage. Behind the plate, Presno started 13 games at catcher with a .992 fielding percentage.

Higgins was off to a tear at the plate in his second season as a Bulldog leading the team and ranking sixth in the MW with a .350 average from the plate. He appeared in 15 games while making six starts, four in left field and two at third base, along with nine appearances in the designated hitter spot.

Finally, Mitchell is coming off making four relief appearances on the mound in the 'Dogs COVID-19 shortened season posting a 1-0 record with a 0.93 ERA. In 9.2 innings of work, he ranked third on the team with 15 strikeouts, only issued three walks and held opponents to eight hits, one earned run and a .235 average from the plate.

Bulldogs look to extend Season-Opening Winning Streaks
Fresno State has won its last 12 season-openers dating back to 2009. The 'Dogs have also won their last 12 home-openers over that time frame. The 'Dogs opened 2020 with 3-1 win at home over UC Irvine.

Date Opponent Result
Feb. 14, 2020 UC Irvine W, 3-1
Feb. 16, 2019 Utah Valley W, 6-3
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

12 For 12
The 'Dogs are 13-5 in home openers under Batesole and have won their last 12 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.

Batesole 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 but one of Batesole's home openers have come against different opponents as this will be the 'Dogs seventh straight season opening at home. Since 1979, Fresno State is 26-16 in both season and home openers.

Fresno State Home Openers Under Batesole
2020 - W, 3-1 vs. UC Irvine
2019 - W, 6-3 vs. Utah Valley
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

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Diamond 'Dogs open season vs. CSUB

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Players Mentioned

Ryan Higgins

Nikoh Mitchell

Zach Presno

Fresno State Athletics