Each baseball player needs essential tools to play the game: a glove, a ball, a bat and the Dropkick Murphys.

That’s what Danny Muno uses to play the game.

As the lead-off hitter for the Bulldogs, Muno finds getting the crowd into the game an important task.

“As lead-off hitter I need to get the people going,” Muno said.

Muno fires the crowd up by having his intro song as “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” by Dropkick Murphys. When Muno hears the song while playing, it gets him fired up to bat.

Gavin Hedstrom wants a song that is good for hitting as well. His intro song is “Sacrifice,” by The Expendables. Hedstrom finds the song mellow and relaxing.

Fresno State’s home run record holder, Tom Mendonca, chose a song with a laid back feel as well. His song is the opening theme from the T.V. show, “Sons of Anarchy.”

Each player has his own style of hitting, and the same can be said for their choice of music. Muno doesn’t feel that “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” is his style of music, but he does listen to and like all kinds of music.

“Sacrifice” is Hedstrom’s style of music along with many more genres.

“Most people think I only like dance music, but I like everything,” Hedstrom said.

Mendonca said the song from “Sons of Anarchy” is his style of music, but doesn’t have it on his iPod. Both Muno and Hedstrom have their intro songs on their iPod, along with many more songs.

Baseball is full of superstitions and changing an intro song can fall under that category.

Muno started off the season with “I’m Shipping Up to Boston,” but he changed back to his 2008 anthem, “Save a Horse, Ride a Cowboy,” by Big & Rich.

“I had this song last year and I’m just trying to bring back the feel from that time,” Muno said.

After starting the season with Daft Punk’s techno hit, “One More Time,” Hedstrom chose to go back to his song from last year, which was “Sacrifice.”

Last year was big for the Bulldogs with their NCAA championship.

Mendonca chose his song because he’s a fan of “Sons of Anarchy.” He isn’t a biker gang member, but he does connect with the characters of the show.

“I watch the show all the time and it represents the silent, tough guy, like how [the team is],” Mendonca said.

Hedstrom first heard “Sacrifice” two summers ago while he was playing summer ball. “Every time I hear that song it reminds me of that summer,” Hedstrom said.

Hearing intro music gives the players the needed edge to hit the ball when it counts.

Muno can hear his song when he goes to bat. Mendonca would disagree about hearing his song.

“I can’t hear the song because the speaker system doesn’t work,” Mendonca said.

Let’s hope that the Dropkick Murphy’s and The Expendables can bring the magic back to the Bulldogs.