FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State baseball program and head coach Mike Batesole released the 2016 schedule on Tuesday.
The Bulldogs will get their 56-game schedule underway on Friday, February 19 when they host Big East opponent Creighton at Beiden Field for a three-game series. In total, the ‘Dogs will host 33 games against 16 different teams and will play 23 games on the road against 11 different opponents.
In addition to its five three-game series against Mountain West opponents at Beiden Field, the ‘Dogs will also host opponents from the Big East, Horizon, WAC, Big 12, Big West and West Coast conferences.
“Our 2016 schedule is solid,” said Batesole. “It gives us an opportunity to have an outstanding RPI and strength of schedule, which are two key components in the eyes of the NCAA Committee. Of course the most important elements are the Mountain West conference games and those are the games we need large crowds at Beiden Field! In all, our 2016 schedule sets us up, so that if we win enough games, we can host an NCAA Regional.”
After opening against the Blue Jays, the ‘Dogs take on Horizon league members Oakland (Mich.) for a midweek game (Feb. 23) and then play a four-game series with Youngstown State before wrapping up their season-opening nine-game homestand with CSU Bakersfield on Mar. 1.
Fresno State hits the road for its next seven games, their longest road stretch of the season, opening conference play with a three-game series at defending Mountain West Tournament champion San Diego State (Mar. 4-6). After a single game at Long Beach State (Mar. 7), the Bulldogs head to the Lone Star State to face SEC opponent Texas A&M on Mar. 11-13. The Aggies are coming off a 50-win season in 2015 and a trip to the NCAA Super Regionals where they fell in three games to TCU.
The ‘Dogs return home to host Oklahoma from the Big 12 on Mar. 15 before resuming MW play against UNLV. Fresno State will also face MW opponents Air Force, Nevada, San Jose State and San Diego State at home and travel for weekend series to San Jose State, New Mexico, Air Force and UNLV.
The Bulldogs will have home-and-home midweek contests with Saint Mary’s, LBSU, Pacific, Sacramento State, and Cal Poly. The regular season wraps up at home with a three-game non-conference series against West Coast foe San Francisco (May 19-21).
The 2016 Mountain West Championship will be hosted by New Mexico at Lobo Field on May 25-29.
2016 Fresno State Baseball Schedule
