Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo
Spring break has arrived and Bulldog athletics are going to be kicking it off at home for a big spring break weekend.
Starting today, the Bulldog softball team, and men̢۪s tennis team will be hosting WAC rival Hawaii. The Baseball team will begin their home weekend series with Cal State Bakersfield.
On Saturday, the lacrosse team will be hosting its second home game and women̢۪s tennis will take on San Jose State.
The women̢۪s softball team will be working on improving its 5-1 WAC record with its two-game series with Hawaii.
Sophomore ace Morgan Melloh continues to chase the school strikeout record, coming off a 15-strikeout, one-hit performance against Pacific in a 3-0 win on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs are now 22-14 overall.
Hawaii softball will be trying to improve its 15-19 record and even more importantly, its 3-3 WAC record.
Today at 4:30 p.m. the men̢۪s tennis team will face off with WAC opponent Hawaii. This will be a rematch of last year̢۪s WAC championship, where the Bulldogs lost 4-2.
The WAC competition will continue through the weekend as the men̢۪s tennis team will face Utah State on Saturday at 9:30 a.m, followed by a 3 p.m. match against Idaho.
Men̢۪s tennis is currently 10-6 and on a four-game winning streak.
Women̢۪s tennis will be playing the San Jose State Spartans and Nevada Wolf Pack in Reno starting at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday.
The women̢۪s tennis team has won eight of its last nine matches.
The lacrosse team will be back home this weekend for the first time since its inaugural game back in February.
The Bulldogs take on Saint Mary̢۪s, which is currently 1-8. Fresno State scored a season-high eight goals in their last game against Presbyterian. Heather Jack scored five of the eight goals in the loss to Presbyterian.
The Diamond ̢۪Dogs will be hosting Cal State Bakersfield on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
The ̢۪Dogs are coming off of a 4-2, walk-off win over UC Davis on Wednesday where Junior third basemen Tom Mendonca ended the game with a two-run homer.
According to Mendonca, the Bulldogs do not look at the next team coming up any better than the team behind them.
He said that they cannot underestimate them and that if they do, Bakersfield will play a better ball game.
“We just have to go out there and stick to the plan we’ve been doing,â€Â Mendonca said.
“We are very confident about our series with CSU Bakersfield, they’re a good team we already know,â€Â said junior right fielder Steve Detwiler. “We’ve played them already so we know lots of stuff about how they play and we’re just gonna go out there and play our game.â€Â
With the Cal State Bakersfield series being the last before WAC play, players have to get ready.
“We’re ready to rock n’ roll, we’re a good team and it’s gonna be fun this year,â€Â Detwiler said.
Mendonca explained that the team started off pretty slow.
“We rebounded in [the Pepsi-Johnny Quik Tourney] and then traveled to Loyola and kind of got down again, but I think we have pushed it through and are at the tail end of that,â€Â Mendonca said.
In response to the beginning of WAC play Mendonca said “It is the same game, but just conference play, we have to come out hot. On Friday we’ll play Bakersfield and,when the day comes, New Mexico State.â€Â
Coach Mike Batesole explained that the team will have to scramble to put some things together on the mound, seeing as how some players are out.
“We’re down a couple of guys and are going to have some TBA starts and try to set it up for league weekend,â€Â Batesole said.
In order to do well, Coach Batesole says the team has to clean up the defense a bit. “If we clean up our defense I think our bats will come around.â€Â
No Fresno State fan has an excuse this weekend to be bored as there are sporting events happening all over campus. Whether it be softball, baseball, lacrosse, or men̢۪s and women̢۪s tennis; they are all at home, and are all good options, to kick off your spring break.