Game 40: Fresno State (20-19) at San Francisco (14-21)
First Pitch: April 26, 2023, at 1 p.m. PT
Stadium: Benedetti Diamond
Surface: Turf
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 405 (CF), 300 (RF)
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated San Francisco 7-5 on March 1, 2023, in Fresno, Calif.
All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 82-22
Live Stats: bulldogslive.com
Watch Live: WCC Network
Twitter: @FresnoStateBSB
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Fresno State baseball team is hitting the road this week to face the University of San Francisco Dons on Wednesday at 1 p.m. PT at Benedetti Diamond.
Fresno State is coming off its seventh series win of 2023 after defeating the San Jose State Spartans in a doubleheader sweep last weekend.
The 'Dogs currently own a 20-19 overall record this season and are led at the plate by freshman Murf Gray with a .288 average.
MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK --- AGAIN!!!!!
Fresno State's Murf Gray has been named Mountain West Freshman of the Week for the fifth week in a row the conference announced Monday morning.
Gray is now only the second player to win a Mountain West Weekly Baseball Honor for five consecutive weeks, tied with Stephen Strasburg who won MW Pitcher of the Week five times in a row in 2008.
This past week, Gray owned a .250 average and .550 slugging percentage and crushed home runs in games against conference leader SJSU and Pacific. He also plated four runs and had six RBIs this week.
He currently leads the Bulldogs with a .288 average.
Defensively, Gray had several impressive defensive plays this week and earned four putouts and seven assists with a perfect fielding percentage.
TOM OF ALL TRADES
Junior Tommy Hopfe has started 35 games this season with the 'Dogs.
Hopfe has served as the designated hitter, first baseman, catcher and pitcher so far this season.
On the mound, Hopfe has earned eight saves, making him first in the Mountain West and ninth in the nation.
In the field, Hopfe has a perfect fielding percentage with 93 putouts and 13 assists.
At the plate, Hopfe is a clutch hitter, co-leading the team with six home runs, 22 RBIs and 63 total bases this season.
SKILLS SHOW
Living highlight reel Travis Welker is the only Bulldog to start in every game so far in 2023.
The senior has spent all 39 games at shortstop and owns a .968 fielding percentage with 76 putouts and a team-leading 107 assists.
At the plate, Welker has a .244 average with 30 hits and 13 runs this season.
With nine on the season, he sits eighth in the nation in sacrifice bunts.
He is currently the toughest batter to strike out in the Mountain West with only nine strikeouts over 123 at-bats.
A LOOK AT THE DONS
The Dons are struggling through a seven-game losing streak having just been swept by San Diego last week.
They own a season record of 14-21 and sit at 10-7 at home.
San Francisco is led at the plate by Mario Demera with a .375 average.
In Fresno State's last matchup with the Dons, the 'Dogs were victorious with a final score of 7-5 at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.