Bryan Cole / Collegian File Photo
Fresno State Bulldogs (10-9, 0-0 WAC) vs. Lipscomb Bison (12-10, 8-1 Atlantic Sun)
FRIDAY, SATURDAY (DOUBLEHEADER), SUNDAY, MARCH 27-29, AT PETE BEIDEN FIELD
After a four-game sweep last weekend, Diamond ̢۪Dogs look to rebound
Coming off a 5-1 showing at the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Classic, the Bulldogs seemed to have everything under control.
But after an 0-4 sweep at the hands of the Loyola Marymount Lions last weekend the Bulldogs are back to square one and barely over-.500.
Poor outings by Fresno State̢۪s relief pitchers have been the reason for Fresno State̢۪s recent four-game skid.
The Bulldogs blew the lead late in three out of four games last weekend.
Fresno State̢۪s starting rotation has yet to take form either.
While senior Holden Sprague and sophomore Jake Floethe have been consistent, no one else has quite stepped up to fill those final two spots.
Usually the Friday night starter, Sprague will be pushed to Saturday to give the Bulldogs an extra boost in the doubleheader.
Offensively, Danny Muno continues to rack up numbers in his sophomore season.
The defending WAC Freshman of the Year is leading the team with a .389 batting average and has knocked in 14 runs.
Junior third baseman Tom Mendonca is six homers shy of Giuseppe Chiaramonte̢۪s school record of 43 home runs.
A series win would be a much-needed lift for the Bulldogs as they inch closer to conference play.
Projected Starters
Tonight, 6 p.m.:
Jake Floethe (3-1, 1.67) vs. Rex Brothers (4-1, 2.60)
Saturday (Game 1), 2:05 p.m.:
Holden Sprague (2-0, 2.02) vs. Brandon McClurg (2-1, 2.12)
Saturday (Game 2), 5:35 p.m.:
Josh Poytress (1-0, 0.00) vs. Josh Smith (3-0, 2.97)
Sunday, 1:05 p.m.:
Derek Benny (1-1, 4.95) vs. Charles Williams (1-4, 8.06)
WAC Standings
1) New Mexico State 22-3 .880 @ Texas-Pan American
2) San Jose State 16-5 .762 Cal St. Bakersfield
3) Louisiana Tech 12-7 .632 @ Dallas Baptist
4) Hawaii 13-8 .619 Coastal Carolina
5) Sacramento State 12-9 .571 Menlo
6) Fresno State 10-9 .526 Lipscomb
7) Nevada 8-13 .381 Utah Valley State
jackson • Mar 27, 2009 at 12:39 am
Thank God Bonesteele got the hell out of the rotation. Pitching his way out of a starting spot in only three starts must be some kind of record. The rotation of Floethe, Sprague, Poytress, and Benny is solid. Poytress and Benny have a ton of talent as freshman and will only get better as the year goes on. Hopefully the bullpen can get sorted out as they were putrid in the LMU series. Bonesteele please step up and pitch like a veteran, not the worst pitcher on the staff. Thank you from all of the Bulldog fans.
jackson • Mar 27, 2009 at 7:39 am
Thank God Bonesteele got the hell out of the rotation. Pitching his way out of a starting spot in only three starts must be some kind of record. The rotation of Floethe, Sprague, Poytress, and Benny is solid. Poytress and Benny have a ton of talent as freshman and will only get better as the year goes on. Hopefully the bullpen can get sorted out as they were putrid in the LMU series. Bonesteele please step up and pitch like a veteran, not the worst pitcher on the staff. Thank you from all of the Bulldog fans.