THIS WEEK
Games #54-56
USF (20-33, 14-13 WCC) at Fresno State (35-18, 21-9 MW)
Thursday, May 19 - Saturday, May 21
Pete Beiden Field | Fresno, Calif.
Live stats: GoBulldogs.com
Audio/Video: The Mountain West Network
PROBABLE STARTERS
Thursday, May 19 | 6:05 p.m.
USF: RHP
Anthony Shew (4-6, 4.38) FS: LHP Ricky Tyler Thomas (8-4, 1.97)
Friday, May 20 | 6:05 p.m.
USF: RHP
Thomas Ponticelli (3-5, 5.62) FS: RHP Jimmy Lambert (10-0, 2.22)
Saturday, May 21 | 2:05 p.m.
USF: RHP
James Kannenberg (6-4, 3.48) FS: RHP Tim Borst (3-2, 1.58)
SAN FRANCISCO – The USF baseball team travels to take on the Fresno State Bulldogs this weekend in nonconference action to conclude the 2016 campaign. The three-game series will begin on Thursday with a 6:05 p.m. first pitch and will wrap up with a 2:05 p.m. contest on Saturday at Pete Beiden Field.
The Dons (20-33, 14-13 WCC) were eliminated from West Coast Conference championship contention after dropping two of three to BYU this past weekend at Benedetti Diamond, however USF finishes with a winning record in conference play for the fifth time in the last six seasons.
Senior right-hander
Anthony Shew (4-6, 4.38) will take the mound for his final time in a USF uniform when he gets the start in the series opener on Thursday. He'll matchup with Fresno State lefty Ricky Tyler Thomas (8-4, 1.97).
All of this week's action can be followed via live stats on GoBulldogs.com and a live video stream on the Mountain West Network.
NOTABLES
Head coach
Nino Giarratano won his 500th career game with this past Thursday's 6-5 win over BYU at Benedetti Diamond… Giarratano becomes just the third coach in West Coast Conference history to tally at least 500 wins… 1B
Ross Puskarich extended his hitting streak to a team-best 14 games… he is hitting at a .415 clip (22-53) with two home runs, 14 RBI and 11 runs scored during his streak... Puskarich has driven in runs in each of his past six games entering the weekend... SS
Nico Giarratano has hit safely in his last eight games, his longest streak of the season… the Dons rank third overall in the conference with a .974 fielding pct.... they lead the pack in WCC games alone, sporting a .982 fielding pct.... Giarratano leads the WCC in defensive assists (167) coming into the week... he has also moved into the top-10 among USF single-season assists leaders... senior catcher
Ryan Matranga has done his part behind the plate in helping the Dons boast one of the conference's best defenses by throwing out 45% (19 of 42) of the baserunners attempting to steal off him this year... his 19 runners caught stealing are 4th-most in the WCC… OF/IF
Matt Sinatro leads the WCC and ranks 18th in the NCAA in stolen bases this year with 26 thefts in 33 attempts... he moved into the top-10 among USF single-season stolen base leaders tied with Rich Herbert (1984) at No. 8.
ABOUT FRESNO STATE
The Bulldogs come into the week at 35-18 overall and have secured at least a share of the Mountain West title after taking two of three from UNLV this past weekend in Las Vegas. Fresno State has won nine of their last 11 entering the series with USF.
Outfielder Brody Russell leads the Bulldogs at the plate, hitting .415 with four home runs and 35 RBI. Outfielder Aaron Arruda has supplied the power, leading Fresno State with 10 home runs and 42 RBI.
As a team, Fresno State is hitting .289, while their pitching staff holds a collective ERA of 3.22 with a .254 batting average against.
THE SERIES – USF vs. FRESNO STATE
The Dons are 14-64 against Fresno State since 1976 (the first year records are available), including an 10-40 record on the road against the Bulldogs. The Dons and Bulldogs split the last meeting, a four-game series in Fresno in 2012.
