GAMES 49-51: UNLV (25-22, 11-16 MW) at Fresno State (27-18, 14-10 MW)
THE SERIES
Dates: May 10-12
First Pitch: Fri., May 10 at 6:05 p.m. PT | Sat., May 11 at 3:05 p.m. PT | Sun., May 12 at 1:05 p.m. PT
Stadium: Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium
FOLLOW ALONG
Watch Live:Mountain West Network
Live Stats:StatBroadcast
Twitter (X):@FresnoStateBSB
THE MATCHUP
All-Time: Fresno State leads 72-46 over UNLV
Last Meeting: Fresno State swept UNLV for the third straight series in March in Las Vegas, Nev.
Current Streak: Fresno State, W9
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team is kicking off its final homestand of the season with the last home series of the year, hosting UNLV.
The Diamond 'Dogs will honor the legacy of former Head Coach Mike Batesole in the pregame ceremony on Saturday and will celebrate this year's senior class before the series finale on Sunday.
WELCOMING BACK AN ICON
Mike Batesole, Bulldog legend and former skipper for the Diamond 'Dogs, will make his return to Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium for the first time since his jersey number 44 on November 19, 2023.
Batesole, a two-time National Coach of the Year, guided the Diamond 'Dogs to the 2008 national championship by winning the College World Series at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha.
In his 20-year tenure at Fresno State, Batesole produced 89 players who were selected in the annual Major League Baseball draft, including five First-Round draft picks.
SENIORS IN THE OUTFIELD
Michael McKernan and Grady Morgan are both being honored for their Bulldog careers on senior day.
Both outfielders spend two seasons in Bulldog uniform.
Morgan has made over 100 starts for the Diamond 'Dogs with a .292 average and 112 total hits.
McKernan became the Bulldogs' starting centerfielder this season with a total of 70 games played for Fresno State.
ONE LAST GO FOR THE BATTERY
Seven Bulldog pitchers, Jake Dixon, Noah Beal, Bryce Armstrong, Jaykob Acosta, Cooper Bergman, Zach Statzer and Tommy Hopfe, are preparing for their final homestand at Fresno State.
Jake Dixon has been on the Bulldog squad for five seasons and has been the starting pitcher for 50 games, accumulating 15 wins and dealing 245 strikeouts.
Noah Beal transferred to Fresno State for his senior season and quickly became the Bulldogs' Saturday starter with 68 total strikeouts in 60.1 innings pitched.
Bryce Armstrong is a two-year Bulldog and has appeared in 29 games for the 'Dogs with eight starts, striking out 47 batters.
Jaykob Acosta became a Bulldog in 2023 and has started on the mound in seven games with 64.0 innings pitched over 33 appearances.
After four years with the Bulldogs, Cooper Bergman is stepping off the mound, having pitched in 47 games for Fresno State. In that time, he pitched in 59.1 innings and earned seven career saves.
Zach Statzer transferred to Fresno State from Delta Junior College in 2022 and spent three years as a Bulldog. Statzer pitched in 62 games for 88.0 innings and has struck out over 100 batters.
Utilityman Tommy Hopfe is celebrating the end of his Bulldog career with 65 appearances on the mound and 20 career saves.
Catcher Tyler Davis will wrap up a four-year Bulldog career this season, with a .275 career average in 284 at-bats in nearly 100 games.
THE INFIELD IS OUT
Bulldog seniors Ben Newton, Marco Pirruccello and Tommy Hopfe will all be honored in Sunday's senior ceremony as their collegiate careers close.
Newton has been part of the Bulldog squad since 2021 and in those four years, he started in 151 games and appeared in 178. He has hit 40 doubles in a Bulldog uniform, over half of them in his senior season.
Marco Pirruccello spent four years in a Bulldog uniform and played in over 90 games. He has driven in 26 runs and scored 31 of his own with 37 career hits.
Tommy Hopfe's time as a Bulldog is nearing an end after four years, 132 starts and 161 games played. He has earned a .326 career batting average with 175 hits, 110 RBIs, and a .536 career slugging percentage.
THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Mountain West play is concluding with only six conference games left in the regular season.
Fresno State will play UNLV at home this weekend and travel to Air Force for the final conference series of 2024.
The Bulldogs are currently in first place in the conference standings, with a 14-10 record, tied with New Mexico.