FROM CBB NEWS SOURCE
FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State baseball head coach Mike Batesole announced the 2010 schedule Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs have 35 home games at Pete Beiden Field and hit the road for 20 games. The `Dogs host various schools from conferences like the Big 12, Big West and Pac-10.
"Our non-conference schedule is outstanding with 21 games against Big 12, Big West and Pac-10 opponents leading into league games," said Batesole. "If we play well, it gives us the opportunity to be in a solid position to have a great RPI headed into WAC play. This schedule is difficult enough to give us the ability to do something we haven’t done at Beiden Field in 15 years – host an NCAA Regional."
Fresno State opens the 2010 season with a four-game series on Feb. 19 against Huskers of Nebraska. The Huskers went 25-28-1 in 2009 and the last time the teams met was in 2002 in Fresno, Calif.
The first road trip of the season for the Bulldogs is in Seattle, Wash., against first-year head coach Lindsay Meggs and University of Washington. The Huskies visited Beiden Field last season for the 2009 home opener.
The Bulldogs host second year program Oregon in March. George Horton and the Ducks were 14-42 last season. The Ducks are one of three Pac-10 teams the Bulldogs face in 2010.
The `Dogs head South for the San Diego State Invitational Tournament. Fresno State faces Cal State Fullerton, San Diego, San Diego State and San Francisco. Three of the five teams in the tournament made it to an NCAA regional last season and Fullerton made an appearance in the College World Series in 2009.
"The San Diego Tournament is a great chance for us to experience a Regional atmosphere," said Batesole. "Several teams invited participated in a Regional last year – and that is how we will approach it."
Fresno State begins Western Athletic Conference play in April and hosts three WAC series at Beiden Field. The `Dogs look to win their fifth-consecutive WAC championship. The Bulldogs have won four-straight conference championships and are one of four teams west of Texas to make four-consecutive NCAA Regional appearances.
"The WAC will be the toughest it has been in five years," said Batesole. "I would anticipate we will be a two or three team bid league in 2010."
