2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team

2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball
NCAA Champions
WAC Champions
WAC Tournament Champions
Conference Western Athletic Conference
2008 record 33-27 (21-11 WAC)
Head coach Mike Batesole
Home stadium Beiden Field

The 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team represented California State University, Fresno in the NCAA Division I baseball season of 2008. They played their home games at Beiden Field in Fresno, California. The team was coached by Mike Batesole who was in his fifth season at Fresno State. Under Batesole, Fresno State has won three Western Athletic Conference Championships in a row, and he has a 172-134 record with the Bulldogs.

In a Cinderella run through the postseason, the Fresno State Bulldogs defeated the Georgia Bulldogs in the 2008 College World Series finals to win its first NCAA Division I Championship in baseball. This led to their 3rd national championship in the NCAA organization, adding to their championships in Softball (1998) and Men's Track & Field (1964-Division II).

Regular Season

Before the season occurred, Fresno State entered the season ranked in the Collegiate Baseball newspaper's Fabulous 40 for the third consecutive season, at #21.[1] Fresno State was also ranked #21 by the preseason magazine Baseball America.[2] Fresno State also was preseason pick of the WAC coaches as the favorite to win the 2008 season; additionally, seven players were selected to the Preseason All-WAC Team, including the preseason Player of the Year Steve Susdorf and Pitcher of the Year Clayton Allison[3]

# Date Opponent Location Result
1 February 22nd, 2008 University of California—Davis Fresno, CA L 4-2
2 February 23rd, 2008 University of California—Davis Fresno, CA L 3-1
3 February 23rd, 2008 University of California—Davis Fresno, CA W 7-0
4 February 24th, 2008 University of California—Davis Fresno, CA W 6-3
5 February 28th, 2008 University of California—Berkeley San Diego, CA L 14-4
6 February 29th, 2008 University of San Diego San Diego, CA L 5-2
7 March 1st, 2008 California Polytechnic State University San Diego, CA L 2-1
8 March 2nd, 2008 San Diego State University San Diego, CA W 9-2
9 March 4th, 2008 Santa Clara University Santa Clara, CA L 6-5 OT (10)
10 March 8th, 2008 Indiana University—Bloomington Fresno, CA W 6-2
11 March 9th, 2008 Indiana University—Bloomington Fresno, CA W 9-4
12 March 10th, 2008 New Mexico State University Fresno, CA L 13-8
13 March 11th, 2008 University of Portland Fresno, CA L 3-2
14 March 12th, 2008 Indiana University—Bloomington Fresno, CA L 11-1
15 March 13th, 2008 Gonzaga University Fresno, CA W 10-1
16 March 14th, 2008 University of Utah Fresno, CA W 10-0
17 March 15th, 2008 University of Portland Fresno, CA W 12-3
18 March 18th, 2008 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA L 13-8
19 March 20th, 2008 University of Hawaii—Manoa Honolulu, HI L 4-0
20 March 21st, 2008 University of Hawaii—Manoa Honolulu, HI L 2-0
21 March 22nd, 2008 University of Hawaii—Manoa Honolulu, HI W 5-0
22 March 22nd, 2008 University of Hawaii—Manoa Honolulu, HI W 4-2 OT (10)
23 March 25th, 2008 California Polytechnic State University Fresno, CA W 10-9
24 March 26th, 2008 California Polytechnic State University Fresno, CA W 13-11
25 March 28th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Fresno, CA W 12-4
26 March 29th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Fresno, CA W 11-1 Mercy (7)
27 March 29th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Fresno, CA L 4-1
28 March 30th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Fresno, CA W 13-3 Mercy (7)
29 April 1st, 2008 Long Beach State University Fresno, CA W 7-6
30 April 2nd, 2008 University of California—Berkeley Berkeley, CA L 5-4
31 April 9th, 2008 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA L 8-5
32 April 11th, 2008 Louisiana Institute of Technology Fresno, CA W 14-5
33 April 12th, 2008 Louisiana Institute of Technology Fresno, CA W 9-8
34 April 12th, 2008 Louisiana Institute of Technology Fresno, CA W 11-1 Mercy (7)
35 April 13th, 2008 Louisiana Institute of Technology Fresno, CA W 8-0
36 April 15th, 2008 California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, CA L 10-7
37 April 18th, 2008 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM W 13-10
38 April 19th, 2008 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM W 9-5
39 April 19th, 2008 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM W 13-1 Mercy (7)
40 April 20th, 2008 New Mexico State University Las Cruces, NM W 24-6 Mercy (7)
41 April 22nd, 2008 Santa Clara University Fresno, CA L 10-8
42 April 23rd, 2008 University of San Francisco Fresno, CA W 5-4
43 April 25th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Reno, NV W 9-3
44 April 26th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Reno, NV L 4-1
45 April 26th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Reno, NV L 7-3
46 April 27th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Reno, NV L 12-11
47 April 30th, 2008 University of San Francisco San Francisco, CA L 7-6
48 May 2nd, 2008 New Mexico State University Fresno, CA W 11-8
49 May 3rd, 2008 New Mexico State University Fresno, CA L 9-2
50 May 3rd, 2008 New Mexico State University Fresno, CA L 12-7
51 May 4th, 2008 New Mexico State University Fresno, CA W 6-4
52 May 6th, 2008 Long Beach State University Long Beach, CA L 2-1
53 May 9th, 2008 San Jose State University Fresno, CA W 11-3
54 May 10th, 2008 San Jose State University Fresno, CA W 9-8
55 May 10th, 2008 San Jose State University Fresno, CA W 5-3
56 May 11th, 2008 San Jose State University Fresno, CA L 2-1
57 May 16th, 2008 Sacramento State University Sacramento, CA L 9-8
58 May 17th, 2008 Sacramento State University Sacramento, CA L 4-0
59 May 17th, 2008 Sacramento State University Sacramento, CA W 6-4
60 May 18th, 2008 Sacramento State University Sacramento, CA W 13-6

Postseason

Western Athletic Conference Tournament

Round Date Opponent Location Result
1st May 22nd, 2008 Sacramento State University Ruston, LA W 3-2
Quarterfinal May 23rd, 2008 San Jose State University Ruston, LA W 7-3
Semifinal May 24th, 2008 University of Hawaii—Manoa Ruston, LA W 11-4
Final May 25th, 2008 University of Nevada—Reno Ruston, LA W 6-4

NCAA Tournament

Regionals

# Date Opponent Location Result
1 May 30th, 2008 Long Beach State University Long Beach, CA W 7-3
2 May 31st, 2008 University of San Diego Long Beach, CA W 6-0
3 June 1st, 2008 University of San Diego Long Beach, CA L 15-1
4 June 2nd, 2008 University of San Diego Long Beach, CA W 5-1

Super Regionals

# Date Opponent Location Result
1 June 7th, 2008 Arizona State University Tempe, AZ L 12-4
2 June 8th, 2008 Arizona State University Tempe, AZ W 8-6
3 June 9th, 2008 Arizona State University Tempe, AZ W 12-9

College World Series

# Date Opponent Location Result
1 June 15th, 2008 Rice University Omaha, NE W 17-5
2 June 17th, 2008 University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Omaha, NE W 5-3
3 June 21st, 2008 University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Omaha, NE L 4-3
4 June 22nd, 2008 University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Omaha, NE W 6-1
5 June 23rd, 2008 University of Georgia Omaha, NE L 7-6
6 June 24th, 2008 University of Georgia Omaha, NE W 19-10
7 June 25th, 2008 University of Georgia Omaha, NE W 6-1

Roster

Coaches

Name Title First Season at Fresno State Alma Mater
Mike Batesole[4] Head Coach 2003 Fullerton State University (1990)
Pat Waer[5] Assistant Coach 2006 Washington State University (1995)
Matt Curtis[6] Assistant Coach 2002 Fresno State University (1996)
Mike Mayne[7] Assistant Coach 2007 University of California—Riverside (1968)

Players

No. Players Position Year Ht/Wt Bats/Throws Hometown (Last School)
3 Eric Wetzel INF JR 6-1/180 R/R Chino, CA (Don Lugo HS)
4 Danny Grubb C JR 5-11/185 R/R Orange, CA (Orange Lutheran HS)
5 Trent Soares OF FR 6-0/180 L/R Fresno, CA (San Joaquin Memorial High School)
7 Nick Hom INF FR 6-0/180 R/R Benicia, CA (De La Salle HS)
9 Alan Ahmady INF SO 5-11/195 R/R Fresno, CA (Clovis West HS)
10 Jason Breckley RHP SR 6-1/220 R/R Moorpark, CA (Moorpark HS)
11 Todd Sandell INF SR 6-2/190 R/R Somis, CA (Camarillo HS)
14 Tanner Scheppers RHP JR 6-4/220 R/R Laguna Niguel, CA (Dana Hills HS)
15 Steve Detwiler OF SO 6-1/220 R/R Forest Knolls, CA (San Rafael HS)
16 Danny Muno INF FR 5-11/170 S/R Thousand Oaks, CA (Loyola HS)
19 Jordan Ribera INF FR 6-0/220 L/R Fresno, CA (Clovis West HS)
21 Justin Wilson LHP JR 6-3/210 L/L Clovis, CA (Buchanan HS)
24 Ryan Overland C SR 6-2/200 L/R Atascadero, CA (Atascadero HS)
25 Brandon Burke RHP SR 6-3/200 R/R San Diego, CA (Rancho Bernardo HS)
27 Steve Susdorf OF SR 6-1/195 L/L Newhall, CA (Hart HS)
29 Gavin Hedstrom OF JR 6-1/190 R/R Irvine, CA (Woodbridge HS)
30 Blake Amador OF SR 6-0/190 L/L Turlock, CA (Modesto JC/UNLV)
32 Tommy Mendonca INF SO 6-1/200 L/R Turlock, CA (Turlock HS)
33 Justin Miller RHP JR 6-5/195 R/R Bakersfield, CA (Bakersfield College)
34 Jake Johnson C FR 6-2/205 R/R La Mirada, CA (La Mirada HS)
37 Sean Bonesteele RHP SO 6-5/220 R/R Santa Ana, CA (Foothill HS)
38 Jake Floethe RHP FR 6-3/195 R/R Lafayette, CA (Acalanes HS)
40 Clayton Allison RHP SR 6-5/230 R/R Visalia, CA (College of the Sequoias)
42 Gene Escat RHP FR 6-5/190 R/R Hanford, CA (Hanford HS)
43 Kris Tomlinson LHP JR 6-0/180 L/L Visalia, CA (Golden West HS)
47 Holden Sprague RHP JR 6-2/210 R/R Fresno, CA (Bullard HS)
50 Jake Hower RHP SR 6-4/190 R/R Roseville, CA (American River CC)

Awards and honors

Player Award/Honor
Clayton Allison WAC Pitcher of the Week (April 16 - April 27)[8]
Alan Ahmady WAC Player of the Week and National Player of the Week (March 24 - March 30)
Steve Susdorf WAC Player of the Week (April 16 - April 27),[8] WAC Player of the Year 2008,[9] ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American[10]
Justin Wilson WAC Pitcher of the Week (May 7 - May 13)[11]
Mike Batesole NCBWA National Coach of the Year Award[12]

2008 Major League Baseball Draft

The following members of the 2008 Fresno State baseball team were drafted in the 2008 MLB Draft.

Player Position Overall MLB Team
Justin Wilson LHP 144 Pittsburgh Pirates
Erik Wetzel 2B 407 Colorado Rockies
Justin Miller RHP 483 Texas Rangers
Steven Susdorf OF 586 Philadelphia Phillies
Clayton Allison RHP 817 Los Angeles Dodgers

References

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