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'Dogs headed to Bakersfield for Valley matchup

GAME 28: Fresno State (19-8) at CSU Bakersfield (7-20)

THE GAME

Date: April 2, 2024

First Pitch: 6:05 p.m. PT

Stadium: Hardt Field

FOLLOW ALONG

Watch Live: ESPN+

Live Stats: Sidearm Stats

Listen Live: FOX Sports AM 1340

Twitter (X): @FresnoStateBSB

THE MATCHUP

All-Time: Fresno State leads 18-15 over CSU Bakersfield

Last Meeting: Fresno State defeated CSU Bakersfield 7-6 in Fresno, Calif.

Current Streak: Fresno State, W2

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball team is set for a matchup with Valley rival CSU Bakersfield at Hardt Field on Tuesday evening.

HOMETOWN KID

Tommy Hopfe is heading back to his hometown of Bakersfield, Calif. with the Bulldogs to face the Roadrunners for the fifth time since joining the squad in 2021.

The Bulldogs are 3-1 over CSU Bakersfield since Hopfe joined the team.

Hopfe serves primarily as the Bulldogs' first baseman but could be placed in any spot on the field, having also been an outfielder, pitcher and catcher in his time at Fresno State.

This season alone Hopfe has a .318 average and five saves.

MORGAN'S WORLD

Grady Morgan had a standout weekend in the Bulldogs' sweep over UNLV.

Morgan led with a .636 average, a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .714 on-base percentage against the Rebels.

This included a double, home run and three RBIs collected in the three-game series.

Morgan also had a stolen base and a 1.000 fielding percentage.

BEEP BEEP

Nearing the halfway mark of the season, the Roadrunners have had a slow start with a 7-20 overall record.

The Roadrunners are 0-3 against Mountain West opponents in 2024, having faced New Mexico twice and San Diego State once.

CSU Bakersfield is led at the plate by Jonah Shields who owns a .324 average in 23 games played.

The Roadrunners have a team batting average of .261, compared to Fresno State's average of .289.

In addition, the CSUB has a team ERA of 5.41, compared to Fresno State's 4.22 ERA

THE KIDS SHOVE

Fresno State has one of the best pitching staffs in the country with a team ERA of 4.22, the 30th best amongst DI programs, and the best in the Mountain West.

Jack Anker leads the pack with a 2.13 ERA over 38.0 innings pitched.

The Bulldogs combine for 251 strikeouts and only 69 walks in 237 innings pitched.

Fresno State has the third-best strikeout-to-walk ratio in the nation at 3.64 and leads the nation in least walks allowed per nine innings at 2.62.