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Fresno State Bulldogs baseball

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Fresno State Bulldogs baseball
2025 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team
Founded1922
UniversityCalifornia State University, Fresno
Head coachRyan Overland (3rd season)
ConferenceMountain West
(Pac-12 in 2026)
LocationFresno, California
Home stadiumPete Beiden Field
(Capacity: 5,422)
NicknameBulldogs
ColorsCardinal red and blue[1]
   
College World Series champions
2008
College World Series appearances
1959, 1988, 1991, 2008
NCAA regional champions
1988, 1991, 2008
NCAA tournament appearances
1954, 1955, 1959, 1961, 1962, 1966, 1967, 1977, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2024
Conference tournament champions
1993, 1995, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2019, 2024
Conference regular season champions
1988, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2016, 2019

The Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team represents Fresno State in NCAA Division I college baseball. Along with most other Fresno State athletic teams, the baseball team participates in the Mountain West Conference. The Bulldogs play their home games on campus at Pete Beiden Field, and they are currently coached by Ryan Overland.

History

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Established in 1922, the Fresno State baseball program has experienced numerous successes over the decades. A pinnacle moment came in 2008 when the Bulldogs clinched the NCAA Division I College World Series title. Entering the tournament as a fourth seed, they achieved a series of upsets, culminating in a championship victory over Georgia. This win was particularly remarkable, as it marked the first time a fourth seed secured the national title. ​

Stadium

The team plays its home games at Pete Beiden Field at Bob Bennett Stadium, located on the university's campus in Fresno, California. Opened in 1966, the stadium has undergone several renovations to enhance the fan experience and player facilities. It has a seating capacity of 3,575 and features modern amenities, including electronic scoreboards and a natural grass playing surface.

Fresno State in the NCAA Tournament

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Main article: 2008 Fresno State Bulldogs baseball team
  • The 2008 NCAA Division I College World Series Champions.
    • In one of the more improbable Cinderella stories in American sports history, the Bulldogs surmounted a daunting array of obstacles on their way to the NCAA title:[2][3]
    • Prior to winning the 2008 tournament, Fresno State's only championship in a men's sport was in 1968, when the men's tennis team won the national championship held in Fort Worth, Texas.[4]
    • Fresno State had previously won only two national championships in its school history, the 1968 NCAA College Division men's tennis championships and [5] the 1998 NCAA Women's College World Series.
    • The Bulldogs entered the Western Athletic Conference tournament at 33–27; they would likely not have made the NCAA tournament without winning the WAC tournament, which they did.
    • They were the #4 seed in their regional. Since only four teams play in each of 16 regionals, this is the equivalent of a team seeded #13 or lower in the NCAA basketball tournament. No #4 seed had advanced to the College World Series. By contrast, only one team #13 or lower seed has made the "Elite 8" of the men's basketball tournament, which is arguably equivalent to the eight-team College World Series.
    • Six times in the NCAA tournament, including three times in the College World Series, they faced elimination with a loss. They won all six times.
    • They won a total of 10 tournament games against six different teams ranked in the top 20. ESPN pointed out that in terms of the NCAA basketball tournament, Fresno State's run would be equivalent to a 13 seed beating a 4 seed in the first round, a 5 seed in the second round, a top seed in the Sweet 16, a second seed in the Elite 8, another top seed in the Final Four, and still another 2 seed for the championship.
    • The Bulldogs' stellar underdog journey to the CWS Championship was nominated for an ESPY.

Fresno State's 30+ NCAA tournament appearances is good enough to rank in the top 10 all-time.

College World Series

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  • 1959 College World Series – Third Place Finish

Under head coach Pete Beiden, the Bulldogs secured a third-place finish in the 1959 College World Series. They won games against Western Michigan and Arizona before being eliminated by Oklahoma State.

  • 1988 College World Series – Runner-Up

In 1988, Fresno State advanced to the College World Series under head coach Bob Bennett. They reached the championship game but were defeated by the University of Miami, earning a runner-up finish.

  • 1991 College World Series – Runner-Up

The Bulldogs returned to the College World Series in 1991, again under Bennett's leadership. They faced the University of Oklahoma in the finals and finished as runners-up after a competitive series.

  • 2008 College World Series – National Champions

Fresno State achieved its greatest success in 2008, winning the national championship under head coach Mike Batesole. Entering the tournament as a No. 4 regional seed, they defeated top-ranked teams, including Rice, North Carolina, and Georgia, to claim the national title. Right fielder Steve Detwiler drove in all six runs in the championship game, and third baseman Tommy Mendonca was named the Most Outstanding Player of the CWS.

Notable alumni

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  • Pat Doyle – Baseball coach.
  • Doug Fister – Pitcher, has been a fixture in the starting rotation for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, and the Houston Astros since his MLB debut in 2009. Signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in 2017.
  • Mark Gardner – Pitcher, 12-year MLB veteran drafted in 1989 by the Montreal Expos, Kansas City Royals, Florida Marlins and finished his career with the San Francisco Giants. Has been on the Giants coaching staff as their bullpen coach since 2003.
  • Matt Garza – Pitcher, starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers
  • Dan Gladden – outfielder with the Minnesota Twins for two World Series wins.
  • John Hoover – Set three career records and three Bulldogs single-season records, highlighted by his NCAA record of 42 career complete games and 19 complete games in a season, including 44 wins and 494 innings pitched in a career, and single-season marks of 18 wins and 205 strikeouts (Baltimore Orioles, first round, 25th pick, 1984 MLB draft).[6]
  • Bobby Jones – Pitcher, selected by the Mets with the 36th pick in the 1st round of the 1991 amateur draft.
  • Aaron Judge – All-Star outfielder drafted by the New York Yankees in 2013, made his major league debut in 2016. 2017 American League Rookie of the Year, 2017 Home Run Derby Champion, broke Mark McGwire's MLB rookie home run record of 49, by hitting 52. American League single season home run leader passing Roger Maris’s mark of 61 with 62 in 2022.
  • Terry Pendleton – 3B, former All-Star and World Series Champion with the Atlanta Braves. Currently the 3B coach for the Braves. Was a 3-time Gold Glover (1987, 1989, 1992) and 1-time Batting Champ (1991 as well as 1-time League MVP (1991.
  • Dick Ruthven – Pitcher, drafted in 1973 by the Philadelphia Phillies he spent 13 years in MLB spending time with the Phillies, Atlanta Braves and Chicago Cubs. Was twice named an All-Star (1976, 1981) and won a World Series with the Phillies in 1980.
  • Jeff Weaver – Pitcher, 2006 World Series champion (St. Louis Cardinals). Drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the first round of the 1998 amateur draft.
  • Jimy Williams – 1999 American League Manager of the Year (Boston Red Sox), 1995 World Series champion (third-base coach, Atlanta Braves), and 2008 World Series champion (bench coach, Philadelphia Phillies).
  • Austin Wynns - catcher for the San Francisco Giants
  • Taylor Ward - Outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels, was teammates with Aaron Judge in 2013.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Fresno State's Branding and Marketing - Color. April 11, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Fresno State reaches historic postseason heights". ESPN.com. June 23, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2008.
  3. ^ "Fresno State shocks Georgia for first CWS championship". ESPN.com. Associated Press. June 25, 2008. Retrieved June 25, 2008.
  4. ^ Reporter Bruce Farris, Fresno Bee
  5. ^ Fresno Bee, June 1968
  6. ^ Bulldog Blitz – Former Fresno State baseball ace John Hoover dead at age 51 Archived July 26, 2014, at the Wayback Machine
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