Games 1-3: Fresno State (0-0, 0-0 MW) at MLB Desert Invitational
vs. Michigan - Friday, 10 a.m. PT, Sloan Park, Mesa, Ariz.
vs. Arizona - Saturday, 12 p.m. PT, Sloan Park, Mesa, Ariz.
vs. Michigan State - Sunday, 12 p.m. PT, Salt River Field, Scottsdale, Ariz.
Video: MLB.com
Live Stats (Fri. & Sun.): StatBroadcast
Live Stats (Sat.): StatBroadcast
Radio (Fri.): Bulldog Sports Network
Twitter:@FresnoStateBSB
Tickets:Purchase
Bulldog Headlines
The Diamond 'Dogs open their 101st season on the diamond this weekend at the MLB Desert Invitational in Arizona.
The 'Dogs are coming off a 27-28 record in 2021 and tied for fourth in the Mountain West with Air Force with a 15-15 mark.
This will be the 'Dogs fifth meeting against Michigan, 12th against Arizona and ninth versus Michigan State.
The Bulldogs were picked to finish fourth in the Mountain West preseason poll released on Feb. 9 and junior left-handed pitcher Ixan Henderson was tabbed preseason All-MW.
The Diamond 'Dogs ranked 22nd in the nation in batting average (.306), 36th in sacrifice bunts (33) and 53rd in hits (604) in 2022.
On the pitching side, the 'Dogs led the MW and ranked 26th nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (2.73). The Bulldogs also ranked second in the conference in walks allowed per nine innings (3.30) and strikeouts per nine innings (9.0).
Henderson led the 'Dogs in wins (7) and strikeouts (98) while fellow junior lefty Jake Dixon led the team with 79.0 innings pitched and added 84 strikeouts.
Offensively, junior Ben Newton (.307) and senior Payton Allen (.303) each return to the lineup after hitting over .300 in 2022.
Fresno State vs. UM/ARZ/MSU - The Series
Fresno State and Michigan have met four times on the baseball diamond with the 'Dogs leading 3-1 with their last meeting in 1992.
The 'Dogs are 4-7 all-time against Arizona with their last meeting against the Wildcats in 1993.
The Bulldogs are 5-3 versus Michigan State with seven of their eight meetings coming in 2017 & 2018.
SERIES HISTORY vs. Michigan
All-Time: Fresno State leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: March 14, 1992 - W, 6-0
Current Streak: W3
Last Fresno State Win: March 14, 1992 (6-0) - Fresno, Calif.
Last Michigan Win: May 27, 1989 (5-3) - Fresno, Calif.
SERIES HISTORY vs. Arizona
All-Time: Arizona leads, 7-4
Last Meeting: March 15, 1993 - L, 19-9
Current Streak: L4
Last Fresno State Win: 1961 (9-2)
Last Arizona Win: March 15, 1993 (19-9) - Fresno, Calif.
SERIES HISTORY vs. Michigan State
All-Time: Fresno State leads, 5-3
Last Meeting: Feb. 18, 2018 - W, 5-4
Current Streak: W4
Last Fresno State Win: Feb. 18, 2018 (5-4) - Fresno, Calif.
Last Michigan State Win: April 9, 2017 (8-2) - Grand Rapids, Mich.
Bulldogs Selected Fourth in Mountain West Preseason Coaches Poll
The Diamond 'Dogs were selected fourth in the Mountain West preseason poll tallying 24 points and one first-place vote in the MW preseason poll released on Feb. 9.
UNLV, who won the MW regular season title last season, was selected to win the conference garnering four first-place votes and 33 points while San Jose State and San Diego State were picked second and third, respectively.
Air Force, Nevada and New Mexico rounded out the poll.
Henderson selected to Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team
A first-team All-Mountain West selection last spring, Henderson made 14 starts on the season leading the Mountain West with 98 strikeouts.
The Clovis West graduate led the team and ranked fourth in the MW with seven wins while his 78.2 innings pitched ranked third in the conference.
Henderson earned three Mountain West Pitcher of the Week honors and he threw over six innings in seven games striking out a season-high 12 against UC Riverside while hitting 11 in two other contests.
Bulldogs look to extend Season-Opening Winning Streaks
Fresno State has won its last 14 season-openers dating back to 2009.
Date Opponent Result
Feb. 18, 2022 UC Riverside W, 5-3
Feb. 26, 2021 CSU Bakersfield W, 13-2
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
2023 Preseason Honors
D1Baseball: Picked second in the MW
Henderson (3), Nikoh Mitchell (10), Dixon (12), Roman Angelo (16) & Grady Morgan (20) - 2023 MLB Draft MW prospects
Triston "Murf" Gray (3), Jack Anker (9) - Impact MW Freshmen
Henderson ranked No. 79 starting pitcher - Top 200
Perfect Game: Henderson & Jake Dixon - Preseason All-MW selections
A look at the Michigan Wolverines
Michigan is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022 after winning the Big Ten Tournament. The Wolverines posted a 34-28 overall record last season going 12-12 in the conference to finish fifth. The Wolverines will be led by first-year head coach Tracy Smith, who arrives in Ann Arbor with 805 career victories. Junior left-hander Connor O'Halloran is the Wolverines' top returning pitcher after leading Michigan with 104 strikeouts in 92.2 innings last season. The Ontario, Canada native started 18 games, earned five wins and held opponents to a .269 average. Offensively, Jimmy Obertop returns as Michigan's top returning hitter after hitting .278 adding 15 home runs and 54 RBI.
A look at the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona is also coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2022 after going 39-25 in 2022. The Wildcats, led by second-year head coach Chip Hale, went 16-14 in the Pac-12 to finish fifth in the conference. Sophomore infielder Garen Caulfield is the Wildcats' leading returning hitter at .292 with 18 of his 64 hits going for extra bases, including 12 doubles. On the mound, TJ Nichols and Trevor Long each return after the pair each won six games a year ago with Nichols tossing 88.1 innings striking out 84. Long made 31 relief appearances leading the team with seven saves.
A look at the Michigan State Spartans
Michigan State went 24-30 in 2022 with an 8-16 mark in the Big Ten to finish 12th. The Spartans return junior infielder Mitch Jebb who hit .356 from the plate last season adding 20 stolen bases. On the mound, right-hander Adam Berghorst will make the start on Sunday after redshirting the 2022 season.
'Dogs all-time vs. Big Ten opponents (last time played) - 33-17 (.660)
Illinois: 1-0 (2001)
Indiana: 2-1 (2008)
Iowa: 3-1 (2007)
Maryland: N/A
Michigan: 3-1 (1992)
Michigan State: 5-3 (2018)
Minnesota: 4-1 (2007)
Nebraska: 10-9 (2011)
Northwestern: 0-1 (1999)
Ohio State: 1-0 (2011)
Penn State: 3-0 (2014)
Purdue: 1-0 (1998)
Rutgers: N/A
'Dogs vs. Pac-12 opponents (last time played) - 254-304 (.455)
Arizona: 4-7 (1993)
Arizona State: 7-15 (2020)
Cal: 62-69 (2015)
Oregon: 9-13 (2019)
Oregon State: 28-13 (2015)
Stanford: 51-91 (2021)
UCLA: 28-30 (2011)
USC: 29-43 (2021)
Utah: 7-3 (2022)
Washington: 9-11 (2020)
Washington State: 20-9 (2011)
New 'Dogs in action
The Bulldogs will welcome 18 newcomers to the team this season with seven transfers and 11 freshman set to make their debuts at Fresno State.
Joining the 'Dogs from the Division I ranks are pitchers Jaykob Acosta (CSU Bakersfield) and Bryce Armstrong (Washington).
From the junior college ranks are infielder Jaden Sheppard (Ohlone College), outfielders Michael McKernan (College of the Sequoias), Grady Morgan (Butte JC) & Sammy Augustine (Modesto JC) and catcher Thomas Takayoshi (Pierce College).
Nearby high school talent joins the 'Dogs in infielder Jett Ruby (Buchanan), pitcher Jack Anker (Tulare Western), infielder Triston "Murf" Gray (Madera) and pitcher Nathan Baeza (Clovis West).
Other newcomers include infielders Nick Miller (Ventura) & Aidan Cremarosa (Burbank), catcher Matt Gonsalves (San Ramon), outfielders Wyatt Davis (Petaluma) & Derek Bartram (Novato) and pitchers Carson Revay (Stockton), Noah Zirkle
(Oakland).