FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno Pacific baseball team begins the 2018 campaign this week, travelling north for a three-game series with defending CCAA champion Chico State.  

QUOTABLE
"Chico State is a perennial power in this region, and our guys have been working hard. It will be a great road test to start the season. There is no substitute for live innings, so more than anything, we are just looking forward to getting on the field and seeing some competition. We will be trying to establish roles, and the faster we can do that, the better. I'm excited about the guys we have, and I'm eager to see how it all plays out."  – head coach Oscar Hirschkorn
 
SCHEDULE
Series 1 – vs. Chico State

Friday, Feb. 2 • Noon/3:00 p.m.
Chico, Calif. • Nettleton Stadium
Live Stats • Audio • Video
 
Saturday, Feb. 3 • Noon
Chico, Calif. • Nettleton Stadium
Live Stats • Audio • Video
 
About Fresno Pacific
As a freshman last season, Reedley native Michael Warkentin turned in 15 multi-hit games and finished as the team's leading hitter with a .333 average. A .417 average over a late seven-game hitting streak helped Warkentin land as an All-PacWest Third Team selection, and he is likely to move from left to center this spring.
 
Fellow outfielder Eddie Sievers will look for another big season after reaching base safely in 38 of his 41 games as a junior, while shortstop Tristen Alvarez aims for a second consecutive PacWest Defensive Player of the Year award. All-PacWest Second Team backstop Braden Frankfort is the team's leading returner in runs driven in, while senior Hunter Villanueva led the Sunbirds in doubles and home runs last season.  
 
Returning Sunbird Leaders
• Batting average: Michael Warkentin, .333
• RBI: Braden Frankfort, 33
• Steals: Eddie Sievers, 12
• Doubles: Hunter Villanueva, 15
• Triples: three players tied, 1
• Home runs: Hunter Villanueva, 5
• Wins: Nic Boatman, 4
• ERA: Josue Mendivil, 4.24
• Strikeouts: Josue Mendivil, 29
 
About Chico State
The Wildcats finished last season with a 45-11 overall record and the best win percentage in the history of the CCAA en route to winning the conference tournament. The 2017 season saw Chico State set program records for fielding percentage (.983), stolen bases (111) and sacrifice hits (82), while their winning percentage (.804) is fourth best in the program's history.
 
Casey Costello, the first ever Wildcat to win his first 12 games on the mound, was named an ABCA Second Team All-American and a Third Team selection by the NCBWA, while Cameron Santos capped a tremendous season with an NCBWA West Region Player of the Year accolade. The Wildcats will look to replace right hander Hunter Haworth after he was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 22nd round of the MLB Amateur Draft last June.
 
Returning Wildcat Leaders
• Batting average: R.J. Hassey, .372
• RBI: Cameron Santos, 47
• Steals: Cameron Santos, 24
• Doubles: Cameron Santos, 12
• Triples: Cameron Santos, 5
• Home runs: Cameron Santos, 2
• Wins: Casey Costello, 12
• ERA: Jae Wagner, 0.44
• Strikeouts: Casey Costello, 52
 
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