GAMES 37-39: San Jose State (13-23, 8-10 MW) at Fresno State (25-11, 14-4 MW)
THE GAMES
Dates: April 19-21, 2024
First Pitch: Fri., April 19 at 6:05 p.m. | Sat., April 20 at 3:05 p.m. | Sun., April 21 at 1:05 p.m.
Stadium: Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
FOLLOW ALONG
Watch Live: Mountain West Network
Live Stats: Stat Broadcast
Listen Live: FOX Sports Radio AM 1340 (Friday); PowerTalk 96.7 FM (Saturday & Sunday)
Twitter (X): @FresnoStateBSB
THE MATCHUP
All-Time: Fresno State leads 176-101 over San Jose State
Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated San Jose State, 6-2 on March 17, 2024 in San Jose, Calif.
Current Streak: Fresno State, W1
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team is back at home for a Mountain West Series against the San Jose State Spartans this weekend.
OUR HOUSE
The last time the Spartans were at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium, the Spartans dogpiled to celebrate winning the Mountain West Championship tournament in 2023.
This season, the script is flipped, and the Bulldogs are at the top of the Mountain West.
Fresno State has already defeated San Jose State on the road in two games, the series opener and series finale.
TOM OF ALL TRADES
Tommy Hopfe is back leading the Bulldogs with a .366 batting average with 53 hits on the season to lead the Mountain West
Hopfe's .366 average ranks third in the Mountain West.
On the mound, Hopfe has accumulated seven saves, the most in the conference and seventh in the country.
The two-way player has closed in 11 games, accumulating 10.2 innings pitched allowing only 5 walks and striking out 15 batters.
"TAKING THE MOUND FOR THE DIAMOND 'DOGS…"
Fresno State is leading the Mountain West with a 4.76 ERA, 1.27 runs lower than second-ranked UNLV (6.03).
Despite spending time out with injury, Jack Anker leads the conference in ERA with 2.13, opposing batting average at .201 and wins with a 5-0 record on the season.
Starting pitchers Jake Dixon (55) and Noah Beal (54) are in the top five in the conference for total strikeouts.
DOUBLE TROUBLE
The Diamond 'Dogs put the wheels on this season, topping the Mountain West with 93 doubles, ninth in the country.
Ben Newton is leading the pack (and the conference) with 17 two-baggers this season, the eighth most in the country.
IT'S A GREAT DAY TO BE A BULLDOG
The Diamond 'Dogs will celebrate the life of longtime fan and cheerleader Inman Perkins before and during Friday's game.
Inman began his legacy at Fresno State in the 1960s, cheering for the football team at Ratcliffe Stadium as a member of the Fresno State pep squad.
In 1977, Inman was approached by three baseball players who urged him to attend the next home game.
From that game on, Inman's presence was known, and loved by Bulldog fans across generations.
Fresno State will honor Inman with a moment of silence, as well as a moment of cheer.
BULLDOG LEGEND.
Fresno State will honor the legacy of Coach Bob Bennett on Saturday with a pregame ceremony.
Bob Bennett was the Bulldogs' winningest coach with 34 years at the helm.
The Diamond 'Dogs made two trips to Omaha in the Bennett era, in 1988 and 1991.
Under Bennett, the Bulldogs won a program record 56 games with an outstanding 32-game winning streak in 1988.
Before becoming a record-holding coach for the Diamond 'Dogs, Bennett played for the club from 1952 to 1955 under Pete Beiden.
On May 7, 2016, Pete Beiden Field officially became Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium as the stadium was dedicated in his name in a pregame on-field ceremony.