GAMES 1-3: Milwaukee (0-0) at Fresno State (0-0)
THE SERIES
Feb. 16-18, 2024
First Pitch: Friday, 6:05 p.m. PT | Saturday, 12:35 p.m. PT | Sunday, 1:05 p.m. PT
Stadium: Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
Surface: Grass
Dimensions: 330 (LF), 370 (LC), 400 (CF), 370 (RC), 330 (RF)
Tickets: Purchase
FOLLOW ALONG
Watch Live: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: StatBroadcast
Radio: FOX Sports AM 1340 (Friday & Sunday) & Power Talk 96.7 (AM 1400)
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateBSB
THE MATCHUP
Series: First meeting
FRESNO, Calif. – The Diamond 'Dogs are back in action as they kick off the 2024 season at home with three games against Milwaukee.
This will be the teams' first-ever matchup with the first game set for Friday at 6:05 p.m. PT. The weekend will continue with contests on Saturday at 12:35 p.m. and Sunday at 1:05 p.m.
THERE'S A FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING
The Fresno State Bulldogs will face the Milwaukee Panthers for the first time in program history.
Milwaukee is one of two first-time foes that the Bulldogs will face this season. Fresno State will also compete with Columbia for the first time in March.
A LOOK AT THE PANTHERS
The Panthers are coming off of a 25-32 season in 2023, where the Panthers earned the fifth seed in the Horizon League Tournament and eliminated both Youngstown State and Northern Kentucky before being eliminated by eventual champion Wright State.
A new era of Milwaukee baseball begins as Shaun Wegner takes over as head coach of the Milwaukee Panthers, becoming just the third head coach in the last 30 seasons, and the fifth head coach in the Division I era of the program.
Wegner had previously spent the last six years as an assistant.
PRESEASON LOOKS
Fresno State is slated to finish second in the Mountain West according to the 2024 Preseason Coaches' Poll. The Diamond 'Dogs received 28 votes in their favor with two first-place votes.
Three Bulldogs earned Mountain West Preseason All-Conference honors: LHP Jake Dixon, INF Murf Gray and RHP/UTL Tommy Hopfe.
WE GOT OUR GUY
2024 marks the beginning of Head Coach Ryan Overland's tenure without the interim tag as he was officially announced as the program's skipper after the 'Dogs Mountain West Championship Tournament run last season.
In 2023 the Bulldogs closed out the season with a 30-27 record, going 16-14 in conference play.
Overland is taking the reins from Mike Batesole, who had led the Bulldogs for 20 years, claiming one national championship and earning a pair of National Coach of the Year honors.
As only the fourth head coach of the program since the 1940s, Overland is no stranger to Pete Beiden Field as he became a Wonderdog as part of the historic 2008 championship season.
Before locking into the head coach position, Overland has served as an assistant coach for the Diamond 'Dogs since 2013 after short stints at Nevada and South Dakota State.
NEW FACES
Fresno State will introduce 18 new faces on the field in 2024.
The Dogs recruited eight freshmen, seven junior college pickups, and three Division I transfers.
HOMEGROWN
Out of the 38 players on the Diamond 'Dog roster, 19 of them call the Central Valley home.
Of those athletes, nine of them are homegrown here in Fresno and neighboring Clovis.
Transfers Eddie Saldivar and Noach Beal are returning to the Valley after spending time playing for D-I rivals Long Beach State and UNLV.
BACK AND BETTER
The Bulldog roster includes 20 returners, including reining Mountain West Freshman of the Year Murf Gray and two-way superstar Tommy Hopfe.
The squad has solid experience on the field with eight seniors and graduate students.