SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team is making its first regional appearance since 2019 in the Santa Barbara Regional to open the 2024 NCAA Baseball Championship.
The Bulldogs earned an automatic bid to the championship after battling back in four straight elimination games to win the 2024 Mountain West championship in San Diego.
WE LOVE A GOOD UNDERDOG STORY
Fresno State won the MW Championship on Sunday as the four seed after winning four straight elimination games to claim the title.
The Bulldogs kicked off the tournament against top-seeded Air Force, who had swept Fresno State in the final regular season series.
Fresno State dropped the opening game, 3-1.
The Diamond 'Dogs came back swinging, defeating New Mexico the next day to advance in the tournament.
Fresno State had another opportunity against Air Force and sent the Falcons flying home with a 10-3 victory.
In a doubleheader for the 'Dogs, San Jose State had the chance to claim a title, but the Bulldogs extended the tournament to Sunday with a come-from-behind win over the Spartans.
Fresno State came back to Tony Gwynn Field with hot bats, accumulating 20 hits and 16 runs over San Jose State to win their first conference title since 2019.
FOUR IS MORE
Fresno State is at the bottom of the pack in the Santa Barbara Regional after being named the four seed in the double-elimination tournament.
The Bulldogs are no strangers to the four spot, as they won the MW Championship last week with the same seeding.
In 2008, the Bulldogs entered the Long Beach Regional as the four seed and went on to claim the program's only national title under former head coach Mike Batesole.
Current head coach Ryan Overland was a catcher on that Underdogs-to-Wonderdogs team and is leading the 'Dogs in a similar path as Fresno State enters the regional with the same overall record as the '08 team (33-27).
TOURNEY DREAM TEAM
Five Diamond 'Dogs landed on the 2024 MW All-Tournament team after they clawed their way back from the bottom.
Murf Gray, Jaykob Acosta, Noah Beal, Tommy Hopfe, Jake Riding and Justin Stransky all earned All-Tournament honors.
Reining MW Freshman of the Year Murf Gray was crowned tournament MVP after his standout performance with a .524 average, 11 hits, five doubles, two home runs and seven RBIs.
A MOMENT FOR THE MOUND
The Diamond 'Dogs ruled the mound in the MW Championship.
Fresno State's pitching staff recorded a tournament record 67 strikeouts, 18 more than the previous record of 49 set by San Diego State in 2001. Acosta, Jake Dixon and Noah Beal each accounted for 12 strikeouts.
Jake Dixon, Noah Beal and Jake Riding all tied or set new career highs in strikeouts.
Tommy Hopfe recorded the final out of the championship after playing first base for the first seven innings of the game.
The Bulldogs had a team ERA of 4.09 during the tournament compared to opponents' combined ERA of 8.20.
THE LAST TIME…
…Fresno State appeared in an NCAA regional was in 2019 after Fresno State claimed its first MW tournament title.
…the Bulldogs faced UCSB was in 2023 at home. Fresno State won the series over the then-ranked Gauchos 2-1.
…The 'Dogs faced UCSB in the NCA postseason was in 2019 and earned a 9-2 victory over the Gauchos.
…Oregon faced the Bulldogs in the postseason dates back to 1954.
…San Diego challenged Fresno State in a regional was in 2008. The Wonderdogs knocked San Diego out of contention with two wins and a loss.