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'Dogs predicted to finish first in MW, Preseason All-MW Announced

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Fresno State Baseball team has been selected to finish at the top of the Mountain West standings by the league's eight head coaches, the conference announced Wednesday.

The Diamond 'Dogs received 43 points in the Preseason Coaches' Poll with six first-place votes.

Fresno State's Murf Gray, Eddie Saldivar, Jack Anker and Victor Arreola were named Preseason All-Mountain West. The Bulldogs had the most preseason all-conference selections out of the eight institutions.

The Bulldogs return to the diamond after winning the 2024 Mountain West Championship with a record of 33-29 (16-14 MW).

February 14 marks the start of the 2025 season as the Diamond 'Dogs host BYU at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium.

#15 Murf Gray, Jr., INF

In the 2024 season, Gray hit .296 in 61 games with 71 hits, including 18 doubles, a triple and 10 home runs, as well as 52 RBIs.

In the Bulldogs' championship season in 2024, Gray was named MW Championship MVP after owning a .524 average in the tournament with 11 hits, eight runs, five doubles, a pair of home runs and seven RBIs.

As a Bulldog, Gray has a .296 career batting average with 125 hits, 26 doubles, three triples and 18 home runs.

Gray spent the summer in the Cape Cod League as the third baseman for the Wareham Gatemen and was named the sixth-best prospect in the league by Baseball America. In his time "Guarding the Gate" in Wareham, Gray started in 31 games at third base, and four as the designated hitter.

Gray led the Gatemen in six stat categories: batting average (.329), at-bats (140), home runs (5), runs batted in (27), doubles (9) and hits (46).

#7 Eddie Saldivar, Sr., INF

Senior Eddie Saldivar returns to the Bulldog lineup in his second season at Fresno State after transferring from Long Beach State before the 2024 season.

Saldivar was named All-Mountain West Second Team after his first season in the conference.

Saldivar owned a .344 in conference play with 42 hits, 12 doubles, two triples and four home runs against MW opponents. He also crossed the plate 31 times and drove in 17 RBIs.

As the starting second baseman, Saldivar had 45 putouts and 62 assists for a .964 fielding percentage.

Saldivar hit .354 in his first season as a Bulldog in 26 games played. He totaled 40 hits with 10 doubles, a triple and a pair of home runs.

#5 Victor Arreola, R-Jr., RHP

Victor Arreola led the Bulldogs in 2024 with a 3.07 ERA in 23 appearances and 41.0 innings pitched.

He struck out 48 batters, averaging 1.17 strikeouts per inning, and only allowed 32 hits, 14 earned runs, and 15 walks.

Opponents hit only .212 against the right-hander.

Arreola has a career ERA of 4.17 in 77.2 total innings pitched and has struck out a total of 88 batters.

He was 6-2 on the season and is 9-3 overall as a Bulldog.

#39 Jack Anker, Jr. RHP

Jack Anker battled through adversity and injury in the 2024 season but prevailed with the highest ERA for Bulldog starting pitcher at 4.35.

Anker started in nine games and made 11 appearances on the mound, earning himself a 5-1 record.

He earned four straight wins to start the year, and five wins in his first six starts before earning his first loss of the season on his return to the mound against Pacific after a month and a half off the mound due to injury.

Anker struck out 44 batters in 2024 in 49.2 innings pitched, allowing only 10 walks and 24 earned runs.

In his Bulldog career, Anker has gone 8-5 with a 4.81 ERA And 78 total strikeouts.

2025 MOUNTAIN WEST BASEBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL

RANK TEAM (1st Place Votes) POINTS

1. Fresno State (6) 43

2. Nevada 35

3. Washington State (1) 30

4. UNLV (1) 27

4. New Mexico 27

4. San Diego State 27

7. Air Force 19

8. San José State 16

2025 MOUNTAIN WEST BASEBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

NAME CLASS POSITION INSTITUTION

Chase Spencer Sr. OF/P Air Force

Jack Anker Jr. P Fresno State

Victor Arreola Jr. P Fresno State

Murf Gray Jr. INF Fresno State

Eddie Saldivar Sr. INF Fresno State

Michael Ball Sr. INF Nevada

Taylor Holder Sr. OF Nevada

Ethan O'Neal Sr. P Nevada

Will Asby Gr. OF New Mexico

Khalil Walker Jr. OF New Mexico

Finley Bates So. INF San Diego State

Omar Serrano Sr. P San Diego State

Paul Myro IV Jr. INF UNLV

Max Hartman Jr. OF Washington State


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