“A lot of guys had opportunities to maybe go somewhere else, maybe what you might call a bigger stage, and they chose to be a Bulldog.”
By Al Scott
All things must come to an end eventually, even the good ones. For Saturday afternoon, that meant the 2025 Fresno State baseball season.
With an 8-3 defeat by the hands of UC Irvine, the Diamond ‘Dogs were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament after just two games.
Despite the loss, Ryan Overland is excited about the direction of the program following back-to-back tournament appearances for the first time since 2011-12.
“These guys fought the whole way, stuck together in an obviously disappointing couple of days here but I’m extremely proud of this group,” Overland said.
The Fresno State head coach added that the Bulldog mentality isn’t for the weak or timid
“We’ve had the last two years, a lot of guys that really bought into what it means to be a Bulldog, believed in being a Bulldog, a lot of guys that had opportunities to maybe go somewhere else, maybe what you might call a bigger stage, and they chose to be a Bulldog,” Overland said.
One of those guys was second baseman Eddie Saldivar who grew up in Fresno but played his first two years of college at Long Beach State before transferring home.
“Guys gravitate to and want to play with and be around {Eddie}. He’s been a gigantic piece to this program,” Overland said.
What happened
Aidan Cremarosa worked fast and quick in the first inning, getting a pair of ‘Eaters to strikeout before getting a pop up down the third base line that Murf Gray was able to snag.
UC Irvine got to him in the second inning however; with two on and two out, Cremarosa left a fastball over the plate a little too much and UC Irvine third baseman James Castagnola connected on it for a three-run home run over the left field wall.
Jacob McCombs got to Cremarosa as well the next inning, hitting a two-out solo shot off the batter’s eye in center field. The Bulldog starter loaded the bases to begin the fourth inning but drew a ground ball to Saldivar who turned a 4-6-3 double play. What could have been a disaster inning, resulted in only one run for the Anteaters.
The Bulldogs started to show life in the bottom of the frame. Bobby Blandford reached on an error in shallow center field, though was erased on a fielder’s choice by Justin Stransky. The Fresno State catcher stole second before scoring on a single up the middle from Lee Trevino to make it 5-1.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth, Saldivar homered for the second straight day off the wall of the UCLA training facility, just beyond the right field fence, cutting it to 5-2.
The home run ended Anteaters starting pitcher Riley Kelly’s day, having allowed two runs (one earned) over 4.2 IP. He struck out four of the 20 batters he faced during the afternoon.
Cremarosa bounced back with consecutive scoreless frames in the fifth and sixth innings. His final line on the day: 6 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 3 BB, 7 K (118 P).
The righty’s transition from being a shortstop to one of the better pitcher’s in the program’s history is one that Overland hasn’t lost sight of.
“His growth throughout the year and coming into the season, not sure if he’s going to be in the back end of the bullpen, be a starter. Because of injuries he really had to step up for us. And he did all the way to becoming Mountain West pitcher of the year,” Overland said.
The Anteaters got to the ‘Dogs bullpen though with a run in the seventh and two more in the eighth to extend its lead to 8-2.
Saldivar left off the bottom half of the inning with a single the opposite way. Two batters later, Stransky brought him in with a single straight up the middle.
JT Guerrero got the final five outs for the Bulldogs, striking out a pair. It wasn’t enough though as Fresno State couldn’t muster a comeback.
What’s next
The Diamond ‘Dogs will be back in action in February of 2026, for its final season in the Mountain West Conference before joining the reformed Pac-12.
For a few Bulldogs, including Murf Gray, Jack Anker, Cremarosa and Stransky, they could be hearing their names be called for the 2025 MLB Draft on July 13-14.
Gray in particular, hit more home runs as Bulldog than anyone else has since the NCAA bat change back in 2011.
“This program has had a lot of really talented players, and guys that have played a long time. He’s as special as anybody,” Overland said.
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Photo by Jacquelline Carrillo