The Diamond ‘Dogs ended the season last year with a 33–29 record and took home the Mountain West Conference (MWC) trophy and entered the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) tournament.
While the Diamond Dogs couldn’t find a footing in the tournament, they proved that they could swing with the best of them. They lost the first two games of the tournament 6-9 against the No. 1 seed, University of California, Santa Barbara, and a 5-7 loss against the No. 2 seed, University of San Diego.
This offseason saw the departure of some major pieces that played a pivotal role during the championship run.
Tommy Hopfe played multiple positions throughout his time as a Bulldog and was a main contributor on the mound and at the plate. He graduated in 2024 and was drafted by the Colorado Rockies and assigned to the Fresno Grizzlies.
Outfielder Rocco Peppi, who led the team in home runs last season, hit the transfer portal and made the switch to the Arkansas Razorbacks.
With these key departures, the Diamond ‘Dogs have a challenging season with high expectations ahead of them.
“Yeah obviously it’s exciting coming off a championship and regional team coming in next year,” said Head Coach Ryan Overland. “But it’s a brand new team. A lot of guys step into some different roles.”
Infielder Murf Gray has been one of the players that many people have their eyes on. He was a 2023 MWC Freshman of the Year and 2024 pre-season All-Mountain West honoree. Gray is projected to be selected in the 2025 MLB draft as well.
Last season he ended the final game against San Diego with a home run and a double for a total of four RBI’s.
This preseason he started off strong with a second-team All-American award and has emerged as one of the star players on the team.
Despite the high expectations and pressure that Gray is facing, he still keeps cool and trusts the program.
“You know Bulldog baseball is a collective thing,” Gray said. “You got alumni coming out to support but you also got Ryan Overland who made it to the College World Series. So it’s like the best person to listen to.”
The team will start the season with seven-straight home games. The first game is against Brigham Young University on Valentine’s Day, kicking off a four-game series followed by a three-game series against Cal State Fullerton that starts on Feb. 21.