Fresno State will put its five-game winning streak on the line against the UC Riverside Highlanders (6-9) today at 6:05 p.m. The three-game series will continue Saturday, also set for 6:05 p.m., and Sunday’s game will be at 2:05 p.m.
The Bulldog offense has been on the rise in recent games, scoring more than five runs in three straight games, a feat it was only able to accomplish twice in the nine games prior.
The ‘Dogs (12-9) have demonstrated that they have threats along the base paths with Aaron Judge, Patrick Hutcheson and Jordan Luplow all stealing at least fives bases. Judge leads the team with seven. They have also shown patience behind the plate, amassing walks with Hutcheson collecting 17 and Judge adding 14.
Kenny Wise, Chris Mariscal, Austin Wynns and Judge all have double-digit RBI totals on the year with Hutcheson close behind with nine. As a team the Bulldogs have totaled 40 extra base hits, six of those being home runs.
An early lead will bode well for the Bulldogs. The Highlanders have not had a comeback win this season. They have also not won a game when they have given up more than five runs. They are a perfect 5-0 when they give up three or fewer runs. They have also outscored opponents 25-14 in the first two innings.
The Highlanders’ offensive players that the Bulldogs will need to watch out for are juniors Eddie Young and Phil Holinsworth. Currently Young leads the team with a .373 batting average. Holinsworth holds a .536 slugging percentage and his two home runs are the only Highlander home runs this season. Both players are tied for the team lead in RBIs with 10. As a team the Highlanders have a combined 24 extra-base hits.
The pitching staff has been a strength for the Bulldogs, holding a 3.37 ERA. Starters Tyler Linehan and Tom Harlan both have sub-2 ERAs while closer Taylor Garrison and starter/reliever Justin Haley have sub-3 ERAs. As a team they have held opponents to a .261 batting average.
Highlander pitcher Eddie Orozco has already been named one of the Louisville Slugger’s National Players Week, a Big West Baseball Pitcher of the Week and College Baseball Insider West Region Pitcher of the Week. He also made the College Baseball Hall of Fame and Diamond Sports weekly National All-Star Lineup for his performance on March 10. Orozco pitched the Highlanders to a 1-0 shutout and tied a UC Riverside Division I record with 15 strikeouts. He also didn’t allow a single walk in the game. His perfect game was broken up in the seventh inning. He has a 0.78 ERA over his last three games.
The series projected starters for the Bulldogs are Linehan (3-1, 1.51 ERA) on Friday, Haley (2-1, 2.57 ERA) on Saturday and Harlan (3-3, 1.89 ERA) on Sunday. The Highlanders are likely to start Dylan Stuart (2-2, 4.85 ERA) on Friday, Orozco (3-1, 1.65 ERA) Saturday and Trevor Frank (0-3, 4.50) on Sunday.
Today’s game will be number 1,001 of Batesole’s career. The Bulldogs earned a win in his 1,000th game Wednesday with a 5-2 victory over Kent State.
