Fresno State Bulldogs:

Dogs Marquee Mound Showdown

By Fresno State Athletics on March 11, 2011 11:46 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The Bulldogs are moments away from the first pitch against Nebraska and it's a game that is getting some attention at the national level. Baseball America does a weekly preview throughout the baseball season and this week their "Marquee Mound Showdown" is Fresno State's Derek Benny against Nebraska's Jon Keller. Click this link below to read the entire article on the mound match-up.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/weekend-preview/2011/2611402.html#marquee

Bulldogs in the Spotlight

By Fresno State Athletics on February 18, 2011 10:18 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Opening Day is upon us and the Fresno State baseball team is getting lots of attention both locally and nationally. Baseball websites and blogs are talking about the Dogs and the possibility of a postseason run. The Bulldogs begin the quest to the postseason tonight at 6:05 p.m. against Gonzaga.

ESPN named the Top 10 NCAA Baseball Places to be this weekend and Beiden Field was No. 8. ESPN writer Eric Sorenson said this about the Dogs:

8. The Fresno tournament

Teams involved: Fresno State, Oregon State, Gonzaga

The two Cinderella programs of the 2000s face off with another Northwest squad that should be much improved. All three teams will feature a handful of players who got drafted in June but decided not to go pro. Fresno's power lineup gives the Dogs a decided edge if the pitching is slow to get going.

Key matchup: Bulldog arms versus the bats of the Beavers and Zags. Fresno returns all four weekend starters (they play four in the WAC), and also get 14th-round draftee Tyler Linehan added to the arsenal. The Beavers hit a Pac-10-worst .267 last year and the Zags were a WCC-worst .282. Those two units must establish a better 2011. Log on to ESPN.com for its full season preview.

Many writers and bloggers are also talking about the Bulldogs playing Omaha again. Baseball America writer, Aaron Fitt picked the Dogs as his choice for Omaha Sleeper. Fit said this about the Bulldogs:

My Omaha sleeper is familiar to college baseball fans: Fresno State. We were high on the veteran-laden Bulldogs heading into 2008, ranking them No. 18 in the preseason, and they wound up winning the national title. The coaching staff believes this team is constructed similarly, with stars like Jordan Ribera and Dusty Robinson surrounded by an experienced core. That could be a recipe for a deep postseason run. Log on to baseballamerica.com for full season preview.

Don't miss any of the action at Beiden Field as the Dogs host Gonzaga on opening night Feb. 18. First pitch is at 6:05 p.m.

Ribera, Robinson Named in Top 100

By Fresno State Athletics on November 22, 2010 8:56 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The buzz around the 2011 baseball season is starting early and the talk includes a couple of Bulldogs. The College Baseball Blog began releasing its Top 100 baseball players for the 2011 and a couple of Fresno State players made the list. The 2010 home run king Jordan Ribera ranks No. 74 and Dusty Robinson comes in at No. 79.

Both have been named All-Americans in their careers at Fresno State. Each has also won numerous Western Athletic Conference titles. Ribera also has a National Title and WAC MVP trophy to add to his resume.

The 2011 season opens in late Feb. Look for complete schedule and roster details soon on GoBulldogs.com.

Former Bulldog Wins Sixth-Consecutive Championship

By Fresno State Athletics on September 24, 2010 8:19 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

Former Fresno State pitcher Justin Wilson won his second championship playing minor league ball in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization. The College World Series winning pitcher has one six championships in a row dating back to his days at Buchannan High School. Wilson won championships at Buchannan, Fresno State and with two different minor league affiliates of the Pirates. His most treasured championship is the 2008 National Championship with the Bulldogs.

Click here to see a highlight video of Justin Wilson win his 6th Championship!

ESPNU to Replay 2008 CWS Game

By Fresno State Athletics on June 17, 2010 2:44 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

As the 2010 College World Series is days away, many Bulldog fans think back and can remember that it was just two years ago that Fresno State was headed to Omaha, Neb. Everyone remembers the magical and historical run to the Bulldogs first national title in baseball. ESPNU has decided to share and relive the memories by replaying the 'Dogs third game of the CWS on Friday, June 18 at 5:00 p.m. PT.

The Bulldogs went 5-2 at the CWS in 2008 and won the national title for the first time in program history. Tom Mendonca tied a CWS record by hitting four home runs and was named the Most Outstanding Player. Steve Detwiler drove in all six runs in the championship game with two home runs and double. Detwiler also made the game-winning catch in right field.

All the action of the 2010 CWS series starts Saturday, June 19.

Fresno State Continues to Set Standard of Excellence

By Fresno State Athletics on June 1, 2010 11:54 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

By Stephen Trembley / Fresno State Athletics Communications

Over the past eight seasons, the Western Athletic Conference has tracked the performance of each of its member schools through a race for an annual Commissioner's Cup based on the collective achievements in each of the 18 WAC-sponsored sports.

The concept is simple: each sport contributes a designated number of points based on the ranking of the sport in conference contests and/or WAC tournament competition.

Throughout this period, Fresno State has consistently demonstrated their drive for excellence, with back-to-back first-place finishes in the 2007-08 and 2008-09 academic years and an average finish of 2.375, by far the highest of any current WAC institution. The next closest competitors, Boise State and Nevada, have placed an average of 3.63 and 3.88, respectively, in Cup rankings over the eight seasons. Overall, the 'Dogs own a WAC-best 679.5 points for a clip of 84.94 points per academic year.

Continue reading Fresno State Continues to Set Standard of Excellence.

Senior Salute

By Fresno State Athletics on May 23, 2010 12:40 PM | 1 Comment | No TrackBacks

At the end of each college sports season, fans and friends gather to say farewell to the outstanding senior class.

This weekend's commencement ceremonies on campus honored thousands of students. Graduation is a special time in the lives of young people. It's a time to celebrate a lot of hard work over the years, a chance to look back and reflect, and equally important, a chance to look ahead to the future.

It's fitting that this weekend includes "Senior Day" for five outstanding Bulldog baseball players.

College student-athletes are most often celebrated for the here and now. Their careers end after four years. Ask anyone of them and they will tell you it goes by fast.

For two of the seniors, it seems like yesterday they were in Omaha playing key roles in the Bulldogs winning the College World Series title. That was 2008, just two years ago. Today they are on Beiden Field for the last time.

Continue reading Senior Salute.

The Subtle Importance of Defense

By Fresno State Athletics on May 14, 2010 8:07 PM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The art of defending your position as a pitcher requires precision, skill and heart.

In the third inning of tonight's 10-0 victory over San Jose State in seven innings, Josh Poytress showed the Bulldog faithful at Beiden Field how the will to win can be exemplified in the fundamentals. With the Spartan's Nick Borg running at second base and nobody out, Poytress reeled in a quick chopper by SJSU's Jason Martin to the left side of the infield grass, made sure he was balanced and delivered perfect throw over Bulldog third baseman to Isaac Vivas, who applied the tag on Borg.

Yet, it was talented southpaw's impressive reach across his body to snag SJSU's Tim Quiery bullet up the middle and start a 1-6-3 double play that really energized the Red Wave. The crowd also came to its feet when Poytress used his cat-like reflexes again to snatch another Spartan hit to the first base side of the pitcher's mound, that Josh flipped to Jordan Ribera at first base to end the sixth inning.

"Josh was outstanding and had good movement within the zone and out of the zone," said Batesole. "When you can move the ball around like that and throw three balls for a strike, you give yourself a great chance."

While home runs and strikeouts are also critical and often garner the headlines and highlights of a box score, the importance of defense and a little extra effort is magnified as a difference maker at the end of the season.

Poytress' left arm produced a masterful four-hit, mercy-rule complete game shutout in one of his best outings of the year.

Fresno State continues their push for the 2010 WAC regular season championship with a Saturday doubleheader at Beiden Field that starts at 2:05 p.m. with tickets as low as $8 for adults.

'Dogs Control Destiny

By Fresno State Athletics on May 14, 2010 10:01 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The road to championship has no true beginning.

The drive, determination and passion must remain constant and focused. It is a process and a way of life - champions are battle tested and as powerful as the pureness of their heart.

The tradition and excellence of the Bulldog Baseball program is unmatched and the innate ability of Mike Batesole and his staff to create a culture of winning the right way sets the standard - through hard work, incredible athletic ability and academic performance in the classroom leading to the graduation of student-athletes.

The Bulldogs made significant progress on the field towards adding another championship chapter last weekend by sweeping the then first-place New Mexico State Aggies to catapult into Collegiate Baseball's Top 25.

The Fresno State baseball team returns home for the final eight games of the season and can sweep their way to their fourth regular season WAC title in five years and remain one of only four teams in the Western Region to make five consecutive NCAA appearances.

With Hawai'i downing New Mexico State 11-10 last night in walk-off style, Fresno State can secure the regular season crown by winning at least six of the next eight games and possibly fewer if New Mexico State and Nevada record any more losses in their final contests.

As the 'Dogs make their final push, which starts tonight against at 6:05 p.m. in Beiden Field against San Jose State, come on out to the ballpark for a beautiful Friday evening of Bulldog Baseball.

The Last Year at Rosenblatt

By Fresno State Athletics on May 13, 2010 9:37 AM | No Comments | No TrackBacks

The 2010 College World Series will be the last NCAA baseball tournament to be played in the famous Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium.

The stadium originally named Omaha Municipal Stadium was built in 1947 for the single-A Omaha Cardinals of the St. Louis Cardinals organization. A few years later it became the home of the Kansas City Royals triple-A team.

In 1964, the stadium was renamed to honor former Omaha mayor Johnny Rosenblatt, who was instrumental in bringing professional baseball as well as the College World Series to Omaha.

Rosenblatt Stadium has been home to the College World Series since 1950. Baseball is the only NCAA sport that has held their championship in the same venue year after year.

Currently, the NCAA and the city of Omaha have agreed to continue hosting the Men's College World Series in Omaha through the 2035 season.

Starting in 2011, the CWS will be played in a new stadium in down town Omaha.

Jonathan Stempel of Reuters wrote this great article "Baseball Coaches will miss Rosenblatt Stadium" and Fresno State head coach Mike Batesole is featured in the story with a quote on the Bulldogs time spent winning the national championship in the `Blatt in 2008.

Continue reading The Last Year at Rosenblatt.

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