Andrew Riggs / The Collegian

The Fresno State baseball team is finally starting to look like the preseason top 25 club everyone thought they would be.

After poor offensive showings in their first two conference losses against Hawaii, the Bulldogs have won eight of their last nine games, including taking three out of four games from conference leader Nevada this past weekend and a 7-6 upset over No. 10 Long Beach State last night.

Fresno State was shut out in its first two games against Hawaii, but since then has scored double-digit runs in five of its past eight games.

Sophomore first baseman Alan Ahmady is the hottest hitter for the Diamond Dogs right now. He was named Western Athletic Conference (WAC) hitter of the week.

Ahmady was also honored by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association. He was named Pro-Line Athletic National Player of the Week for the period ending March 30.

“We’re clicking finally,â€Â Ahmady said. “Before we would pitch and we wouldn’t hit, or we would hit and wouldn’t pitch well. It’s a lot more fun now.â€Â

Ahmady belted three home runs against the Wolf Pack. In the four games this weekend, he hit .600, with 10 RBI. He also went 2 for 3 with two RBI last night against the Dirtbags.

Ahmady hits fifth in the order behind second baseman Erik Wetzel and left fielder Steve Susdorf. He said that they make his job a lot easier.

“When you get up to bat you know they’re going to be on base for you,â€Â Ahmady said. “Someone’s always going to pick me up.â€Â

One of Ahmady̢۪s teammates who has been picking up the pieces is freshman shortstop Danny Muno. He has played outfield, designated hitter and is now playing every day at shortstop for the Bulldogs.

Muno said that his new role doesn̢۪t really make him feel extra pressure out on the field.

“I just got to go out and keep doing what I’ve been doing,â€Â Muno said. “We just need to keep coming together and picking each other up.â€Â

Wetzel has also been put into a new role. He started the season as the team̢۪s leadoff hitter, but is now batting third in the Bulldog lineup.

“I don’t take any different approach,â€Â Wetzel said. “I’m not a power guy and all I know how to do is get on base. I just try and use the same mentality.â€Â

Wetzel̢۪s approach seems to be working well. He leads the WAC with 44 hits and ranks second with a .393 batting average.

It̢۪s not just the offense, though, that has been coming together for the Bulldogs.

Junior Justin Miller has become the unlikely ace of the Bulldog pitching staff. He has a 4-0 record with a 1.62 ERA.

Miller earned a complete game win Saturday against Nevada, while striking out eight and not allowing an earned run. For his efforts, Miller was named WAC Pitcher of the Week.

The former Bakersfield College star only had to throw seven innings due to the 10-run mercy rule.

“Beating them by 10 is good for our ego,â€Â Miller said. “I was able to locate my fastball real well and use my slider to keep the hitters off balance.â€Â

Fresno State is now tied for second place with Nevada and Sacramento State. New Mexico State leads the WAC, but did not play in conference this past weekend.

Coach Mike Batesole was pleased with his team̢۪s offensive output against the Wolf Pack. The Bulldogs won by the 10-run mercy rule in two of their games against Nevada.

“It feels good to be back,â€Â Batesole said. “We knew how important this weekend was and they swung the bats aggressively.â€Â

The Bulldogs will head to Berkeley today to take on No. 7 Cal. The Bears swept Fresno State̢۪s opponent last night, Long Beach State, 3-0 last weekend.

The last time Fresno State faced Cal was at the San Diego Tournament in February. The Bears beat the Bulldogs 14-4.

“The team who wins [WAC] is going to be the team that plays smart defense, wins the two-strike at-bats and gets the two-out RBI,â€Â Batesole said. “Early on we weren’t doing that and the last couple of weeks we have.â€Â

Sandell Quits

Senior shortstop Todd Sandell has quit the team according to coach Mike Batesole.

Sandell pinch ran in Friday night̢۪s game, but was not in the dugout for the remainder of the series and did not play.

Batesole said he has not spoken to Sandell since his departure and did not know if he would be allowed back on the team.