Bryan Cole / The Collegian

Fresno State Bulldogs (3-4, 0-0 WAC) vs. Buffalo Bulls (4-3, 0-0 MAC)

Breakdown: Bulldogs

Coming off the 2008 national championship, the Bulldogs expected to start the season with a record better than 3-4.

Fresno State’s poor start can be attributed to the team’s most glaring weakness – young pitching.

In two of the Bulldogs losses, at Oregon and against Cal Poly, the young bullpen allowed late runs to lose down the stretch.

But even with the slow start, the Bulldogs have been able to rely on their strengths.

Senior ace Holden Sprague has only given up one run in his two starts and has been locating his pitches well.

With Sprague on the mound Saturday, the Diamond ’Dogs should be able to get back to .500 with any run support.

In these two games, Fresno State could get huge offensive games against the Bulls’ pitching.

Buffalo’s pitchers have a combined 6.21 ERA, perfect for the strong Bulldog bats to keep pressure off the bullpen.

Joseph Edgecomb / Collegian File Photo

Breakdown: Huskies

The Bulls have played a soft schedule through their first seven games of the season.

Buffalo has a team batting-average of .270 and score an average of eight runs per game.

While the Bulls have no problem scoring, they do have pitching concerns and will be at a disadvantage when it comes to pitching against the ’Dogs.

Buffalo has a team ERA of 6.21 compares to Fresno State’s 4.82 ERA.

So look for high scoring games over the weekend, and a lot of pitchers being used.

Buffalo features sophomore shortstop Mike Folli who is on the college baseball player of the year watch list.

Other players to watch for the Bulls are outfielders Chris Ciesla, Adam Skoniecsk and Charlie Karstedt who all have a batting average of .380 or better.

Those three players have combined for 32 of the team’s 61 total hits.

THE SERIES’ PROJECTED STARTERS (WITH 2009 STATS)

FRESNO STATE

Saturday starter: Holden Sprague RHP – 0-0 record, 10 K, 0.66 ERA, 13.2 IP

Sunday starter: Sean Bonesteele RHP – 0-2, 5 K 17.47 ERA, 5.2 IP

BUFFALO

Saturday starter: Chaz Mye LHP – has compiled no statistics in 2009

Sunday starter: Jeffery Hains RHP – 0-0 record, 1 K, 9.64 ERA, 4.2 IP

By Logan Hopkins and George Stepanoff Jr. / The Collegian