THIS WEEK IN WAC BASEBALL
Conference play heads into its second week of action. San Jose State hosts New Mexico State, Louisiana Tech travels to Fresno State and Sacramento State hosts Hawai‘i.
WAC TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Fresno State Bulldogs (20-13, 3-1 WAC)
Fresno State won three of four games on the road against Hawai’i to open WAC play last week ... junior Greg Gonzalez made history becoming the seventh Bulldog pitcher to throw a no-hitter in a 1-0 shutout at UH, pitching a 7.0 inning complete game shutout ... the pitching staff had a combined ERA of 4.09 and struck out 28 batters ... Josh Poytress had a great outing on the mound with career-high eight strikeouts ... the offense hit .264 and tallied 10 more hits in three of the four games ... Jordan Ribera and Dusty Robinson hit home runs last week in Honolulu ... the Bulldogs will travel to play Cal State Bakersfield on Aug. 13 before returning home to host Louisiana Tech in a four-game series, starting on Friday.
Hawai‘i Rainbows (17-15, 1-3 WAC)
The Rainbows opened conference play with a four-game series at home against Fresno State ... UH dropped three of the four contests ... Christian Johnson led UH as he went 5-for-10 last week in a four-game series against Fresno State, recording three RBI and two runs with a double and a home run … Johnson also went 2-for-3 with three RBI, a home run and a double in the first game of the doubleheader on Apr. 10 … Alex Capaul pitched a complete-game shutout in the victory over Fresno State (Apr. 11) … Capaul scattered seven hits while being aided by three double plays and two caught stealings, facing just 30 batters in the game, only three over the minimum … this week, Hawai‘i travels to take on Sacramento State in a four-game WAC series.
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (17-14, 2-2 WAC)
After dropping a mid-week game to LSUS in Shreveport the Bulldogs bounced back to split their opening WAC series with San Jose State ... heading into the series the Spartans were on a nine game winning streak over Tech as they had swept the Bulldogs over the past two years as well as knocking Tech out of the conference tournament last year ... Tech took the opener over the Spartans, 14-1 in seven innings before dropping the double header games, 8-2 and 12-6 ... LA Tech then won the series finale 10-2 ... Clint Ewing led LA Tech, batting .500 over five games with an impressive 1.111 slugging percentage … five of Ewing’s nine hits were extra bases as the junior recorded three homerun and two doubles.
Nevada Wolf Pack (16-13-1, 1-2-1 WAC)
Nevada opened WAC play at New Mexico State, going 1-2-1 against the Aggies on the road last week ... Sunday’s tie with NM State was the first for Nevada since a 1-1 tie with Santa Clara during the 1993 season ... Shaun Kort led the Pack, hitting .571(8-for-14) with 7 runs scored, two doubles, a home run and 6 RBI ... Kort also collected hits in all four games and had multiple hits in three of the contests driving in a run in each game ... Kort’s 64 career doubles is tied for 10th WAC history and his 205 RBI is 11th ... Kort ranks in seven career categories at Nevada: games played(205,6th), at bats(764,,6th), uns(154,9th), hits(269,5th), doubles(64,2nd), RBI(205,5th), walks(116,T4th).
New Mexico State Aggies (24-11-1, 2-1-1 WAC)
New Mexico State went 2-1-1 last week against Nevada at home in the team’s conference-opening series ... Nate Shaver led the Aggies at the plate, batting .714 with 10 hits, six runs, two doubles, one triple, three RBI and a pair of walks ... Mike Sodders was also impressive at the plate, hitting .615 with eight hits, seven runs scored, one double, three home runs and nine RBI ... Jared Jordan led NM State on the mount, pitching 4.0 innings without giving up a run ... Jordan picked up the win while striking out four and only allowing three hits ... this week, NM State heads out on its first WAC road trip of the season, playing a four-game series at San Jose State.
Sacramento State Hornets (11-16-1, 0-0 WAC)
Sacramento State played just two games last week as it had its bye-week from WAC action ... the Hornets went 1-1 with a 10-3 victory over San Francisco State at home and a 5-4 loss at San Francisco ... Trevor Bloom helped the Hornets at the plate, batting .600 with three hits and one runs scored ... Andrew Ayers hit .444 last week with four hits, two runs scored, one double and three RBI ... Kirby Young led Sacramento State with a team-high five RBI last week with a pair of doubles ... on the mound, Robert Butler picked up the lone victory for the Hornets, going 8.0 innings while giving up only four hits with six strikeouts ... Sacramento State opens WAC play this week at home as the team hosts Hawai‘i in a four-game series starting on Friday.
San Jose State Spartans (13-17, 2-2 WAC)
San Jose State went 3-2 during five road contests last week, and conclude a season-long six-game road stretch at UC Davis on Wednesday afternoon, April 14 ... the past week saw the 2009 Western Athletic Conference champion Spartans open their title defense by splitting a four-game set at LA Tech ... San Jose State swept the Saturday doubleheader by final scores of 8-2 and 12-6, the opener behind a third nine-inning, complete-game victory already this year by junior right-hander Blake McFarland ... the Spartans welcome New Mexico State to open the home portion of their league slate, Friday through Monday, April 16-19 ... they went 3-2 against the Aggies in 2009.
WAC NOTES
NEW MEXICO STATE’S SHAVER NAMED VERIZON WAC HITTER OF THE WEEK
New Mexico State’s Nate Shaver has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Baseball Hitter of the Week for April 5-11.
Shaver, a senior outfielder from The Dalles, Ore. (Mount Hood CC), hit .714 (10-for-14) to lead New Mexico State to a 2-1-1 record versus Nevada last week. Shaver was errorless in the outfield for NM State and he led the team at the plate with a consistent bat as he went 10-for-14 without a strikeout. Shaver posted two doubles, a triple, three RBI and six runs. He recorded a .765 on-base percentage against Nevada and added two walks. He was also hit by a pitch.
The other hitter of the week nominations: Fresno State junior Garrett Weber … Hawai‘i senior Christian Johnson … Louisiana Tech junior Clint Ewing … Nevada senior Shaun Kort … San Jose State freshman Tim Quiery.
FRESNO STATE’S GONZALEZ NAMED VERIZON WAC PITCHER OF THE WEEK
Fresno State’s Greg Gonzalez has been named the Verizon Western Athletic Conference Baseball Pitcher of the Week for April 5-11.
Gonzalez, a junior from San Bruno, Calif. (Skyline JC), recorded a 7.0 inning complete game no-hit performance last week, helping the Bulldogs to a 1-0 shutout victory at Hawai‘i. Gonzalez became the seventh Bulldog to pitch a no-hitter and the first in 34 years to achieve the feat. The performance marked his first collegiate start as a Bulldog as he faced 22 batters, just one over the minimum of 21. Gonzalez sat down 17 consecutive batters and the only blemish to his near perfect game was a pair of walks. He also registered seven strikeouts on the night.
The other pitcher of the week nominations: Hawai‘i junior Alex Capaul … Louisiana Tech senior Jamey Bradshaw … Nevada junior Brock Stassi … San Jose State junior Blake McFarland.
FRESNO STATE’S GONZALEZ THROWS NO-HITTER, EARNS LOUISVILLE SLUGGERS AND NCBWA PRO-LINE NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Greg Gonzalez was lifted into the limelight after throwing a no-hitter Saturday night. He was named the Louisville Sluggers and the NCBWA Pro-Line National Player of the Week. Gonzalez made history at Les Murakami Stadium, becoming the seventh Bulldog in Fresno State history to throw a no-hitter. In his first career start, the junior threw a complete game shutout over Hawai’i. Gonzalez silenced the Rainbow batters throwing his first career no-hitter. The last no-hitter by a Bulldog pitcher was in 1976 by Rob Cruess against Sacramento State. Gonzalez tied his career-high of seven strikeouts and threw seven innings, his longest outing of the season. Two walks stood between Gonzalez and a perfect game. The righty-handed pitcher faced just over the minimum of 22 batters and sat down 17 in order. He was named Baseball America’s Pitcher of the Night.
FRESNO STATE BREAKS INTO COLLEGIATE BASEBALL NEWSPAPER NATIONAL BASEBALL POLL, NM STATE AND FRESNO STATE RECEIVING VOTES IN USA TODAY POLL
For the second time this season, a WAC team has broken into the national polls. Fresno State makes its national poll debut this week, entering the Collegeiate Baseball Newspaper Top-30 poll at No. 27. The Bulldogs enter the poll with 430 points, just three points behind No. 25 Virginia Tech and only two points behind No. 26 Virginia Military Institute. New Mexico State, which entered the same poll at No. 20 last week, dropped out of the poll this week. Both Fresno State and New Mexico State are receiving votes in the USA Today/Coaches Poll Top-25.
NEW MEXICO STATE LEADS NATION IN HOME RUNS, SIX OTHER NCAA STAT CATEGORIES
Teams from the WAC rank in the top-10 nationally in 14 team statistical categories and nine individual catergories. New Mexico State leads the WAC, ranking first in the nation in seven team categories. The Aggies rank first in the nation in runs (416), hits (500), doubles (99), home runs (77), slugging percentage (.630) and walks (260). Individually, NM State’s Ryan Aguayo leads the nation in runs with 55.
SAN JOSE STATE’S PIRARO REACHES 1,000 WINS
Now in his 36th season, Sam Piraro achieved his latest milestone of 1,000 career head-coaching wins with a 5-3 home decision over BYU on Saturday, April 3. Piraro produced a 74-43 mark with the San Jose State junior varsity squad in three seasons (1974-76). In seven seasons (1980-86) at Mission College in Santa Clara, Calif., he went 190-70. In 23 campaigns as the Spartan head coach, Piraro is 737-555-6.
SAN JOSE STATE TIES NCAA SINGLE GAME DOUBLE PLAYS RECORD
San Jose State and Pacific combined to tie the NCAA Division I record for most double plays by two teams in a single game, when they turned a total of 10, five apiece, on Sunday, March 28, at UOP’s Klein Family Field. The teams now share the record that was originally set more than 20 years ago, when Georgetown (6) and George Mason (4) accomplished it on April 4, 1989. A 3-6-3 twin killing, from first baseman Breyon Canez, to shortstop Zack Jones, and back to Canez, ended the 10th and tied the mark.
LOUISIANA TECH SETS NUMEROUS MARKS AGAINST MINNESOTA IN FIRST-EVER GAME PLAYED AT TARGET FIELD
Louisiana Tech’s match-up against Minnesota on Saturday March 27 was the first ever game played at the Minnesota Twin’s brand new Major League Baseball Stadium, Target Field. Louisiana Tech set numerous Target Field firsts, including the first win, hit, home run, triple, double, RBI, run, walk, double-play, and hit-by-pitch. The game at Target Field was the second-largest crowd ever to attend a college baseball game at 36,056.
NEVADA’S STASSI NAMED COLLEGEBASEBALLINSIDER.COM WEST REGION PLAYER OF THE WEEK FOR SECOND TIME THIS SEASON
Nevada junior designated hitter Brock Stassi has added another honor being named the Collegebaseballinsider.com West Region Player of the Week in addition to his Western Athletic Conference Hitter of the Week honor announced on Monday. It marks the second time this season Stassi has earned both honors as he was selected the opening weekend of the season, Feb. 15-21.
NEW MEXICO STATE’S AGUAYO NAMED TO NATIONAL SHORTSTOP OF THE YEAR WATCH LIST
New Mexico State shortstop Ryan Aguayo was named to the 2010 Brooks Wallace Award watch list, Tuesday, March 23, which was released by the College Baseball Foundation. The Wallace Award, sponsored by Mizuno, goes to the nation’s top shortstop and will be presented on July 2, 2010, in Lubbock, Texas as a part of the College Baseball Awards show. Aguayo (Pico Rivera, Calif.) is currently second on the team with a .414 batting average, while he is currently on an eight-game hitting streak. His play on defense is just as good as he has come up with 80 assists while committing just nine errors to come up with a fielding percentage of .929. He has played in all 23 games this season and has started 21 of those 23 games.
THREE WAC PLAYERS NAMED CANDIDATES FOR LOWES SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Louisiana Tech’s Devon Dageford, New Mexico State’s Mike Sodders and San Jose State’s Corey Valine have been selected as three of just thirty student-athletes in the nation to be a candidate for the 2010 baseball Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School™, the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award honors the attributes of senior student-athletes in four areas: classroom, community, character and competition. The award program is designed exclusively for college seniors who are utilizing their complete athletic eligibility, remaining committed to their university and pursuing the many rewards that a senior season can bring.
ROCKY WARD BECOMES ALL-TIME WINNINGEST COACH AT NM STATE
New Mexico State head baseball coach Rocky Ward recently became the all-time winningest coach at NM State surpassing Jim Kwasny who tallied 300 wins from 1969-82. Ward, who is in his 12th season as Aggie head coach, picked up win No. 301 when his team defeated Akron 8-3 in game one of a doubleheader, Saturday, Feb. 27 at Presley Askew Field.
HAWAI‘I’S LINSKY REGISTERS THREE SAVES IN THREE STRAIGHT GAMES
Lenny Linsky posted three saves in three consecutive games during the weekend series vs. Oregon (Feb. 25, 26, 28), becoming the first player in program history to accomplish that feat. Linsky pitched two perfect innings in the series opener, striking out three for the save. He then allowed a hit in a one-inning save on Feb. 26 before retiring the final two batters in the first game of the doubleheader on Feb. 28. Linsky currently ranks 12th nationally with six saves this season.
THREE WAC PLAYERS ON 2010 NCBWA PRESEASON TEAM
Three WAC baseball players have been named to the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pro-Line Athletic Preseason All-America team. Louisiana Tech’s Devon Dageford and New Mexico State’s Mike Sodders each earned fi rst team honors, while Fresno State’s Dusty Robinson was named to the third team.
SACRAMENTO STATE’S JOHN SMITH TO STEP DOWN AS HEAD BASEBALL COACH FOLLOWING 2010 SEASON
Sacramento State head baseball coach John Smith has announced that he will be retiring at the end of the 2010 season, which will be his 32nd season at the helm of the program. In his 31 years as the head coach at Sacramento State, Smith has compiled 861 victories in the Green and Gold. Since taking over the program in November of 1978, Smith has produced 16 winning seasons, including 11 years with at least 30 wins and four years with at least 40 victories. A two-time American Baseball Coaches Association West Region Coach of the Year, Smith led the Hornets to the Division II College World Series in 1986 and 1988. The 1986 club defeated Cal State Dominguez Hills in the West Regional before posting a 2-2 record at the CWS. The 1988 team made it to the doorstep of the National Championship, before falling in the title game to Florida Southern, 5-4.
2010 WAC TOURNAMENT HEADS TO MESA’S HOHOKAM STADIUM
The WAC has awarded the City of Mesa the WAC Baseball Tournament for 2010, 2011 and 2012, WAC Commissioner Karl Benson announced this past May. The event will be played at Mesa’s Hohokam Stadium, the Chicago Cubs Spring Training home. The City of Mesa, Mesa Convention & Visitors Bureau and Phoenix Regional Sports Commission worked in tandem to secure the event which features Hawai‘i, Fresno State, Louisiana Tech, Sacramento State, Nevada, New Mexico State and San Jose State. Starting in 2010, the City of Mesa will host the double-elimination tournament with the winner earning the WAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The top six teams from the WAC’s regular season standings will advance to the tournament. The WAC Baseball Tournament is no stranger to the state of Arizona and the City of Mesa. The league’s championship has been played in Arizona nine times (1963, 65, 67, 69, 71, 73, 75, 76, 78) and the event was held in Mesa in 1971 and 1973. Mesa has fast become the third largest metropolitan city in the state of Arizona off ering a variety of lifestyle and leisure pursuits that are in high demand by visitors and residents alike. Now boasting 460,000 residents, Mesa’s population is greater than such well-known cities as Minneapolis, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and Miami. Mesa is unique among cities in the Phoenix area as it is embraced by the Sonoran Desert – a playground for sought-after outdoor recreation and one-of-a-kind attractions. As a sports destination, Mesa shines off ering some of the nation’s best training facilities for field sports paired with unbeatable year-round weather and award-winning hotels. Mesa has been recognized as one of the country’s most desirable destinations for hosting dynamic sporting events and athletic competitions on all levels: amateur, youth, collegiate, and professional. Hohokam Stadium is best known as the winter home of the Chicago Cubs and is major league baseball’s most popular spring training venue. Boasting one of the largest capacities in the Cactus League, more than 240,000 attendees pass through its gates each March. In addition to hosting Cactus League Spring Training, Hohokam Stadium is also the home of the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. Hohokam Stadium and adjacent training facility opened in February 1997. The stadium seats 13,030 and includes one practice field and one practice infield.