FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14 | 6 P.M. | PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD AT DOBBINS STADIUM | DAVIS, CA
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 15 | 2 P.M. | PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD AT DOBBINS STADIUM | DAVIS, CA
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 16 | 1 P.M. | PHIL SWIMLEY FIELD AT DOBBINS STADIUM | DAVIS, CA
- Gonzaga and UC Davis will open their respective 2025 seasons this weekend, meeting for the first time since 2015 beginning on Friday.
- In the West Coast Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, Gonzaga was picked to finish third behind San Diego and Portland. Just five points are what separated Portland (2nd), Gonzaga (t-3rd), Santa Clara (t-3rd), and Saint Mary's (4th).
- Gonzaga is coming off a 21-32 season and a third-place finish at the West Coast Conference Tournament in Las Vegas in 2024.
- UC Davis finished with a 29-27 record and placed seventh in the Big West Conference last season.
- This season, the Bulldogs return five of their starting eight position players, two of their three regular rotation starters, and three of their high-leverage bullpen arms. Six of Gonzaga's top seven hitters from last season are also set to return this season.
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Mark Machtolf opens 2025 with 597 career wins, which is second-most in GU history. Steve Hertz owns the all-time record with 637 career wins.
SCOUTING THE AGGIES
- UC Davis finished with a 29-27 record in 2024, including a 13-17 record in Big West Conference play.
- As a team, the Aggies batted .255, slugging .368 with an on-base percentage of .325.
- Their 381 strikeouts were fourth-lowest in the Big West, and their 491 total hits were seventh.
- UC Davis compiled a 4.81 ERA last season, ranking seventh in the Big West.
- As a staff, the Aggies struck out 359 (tenth in the Big West) while walking just 222 (seventh-lowest in BW).
- OF Tyler Howard is the leading returner for UC Davis, batting .302 with 19 RBI and a .771 OPS in 2024.
- INF Nick Leehey returns after driving in 31 runs in 2024, batting .277 with three home runs and a .749 OPS.
- Both of UC Davis' All-Big West Honorable Mention pitchers from last season return in 2025. Bryan Green (LHP), 1-3, 3.86 ERA, 60K, 30 BB and Carter Delaney (RHP), 5-3, 2.23 ERA, 35 K, 19 BB.
NO LOVE ON VALETINE'S DAY
- Gonzaga is looking for its first win on Feb. 14 under
Mark Machtolf.
- The Bulldogs have played four times on Valentine's Day, most recently in 2020.
- In 2020, Gonzaga fell to BYU 7-1 at the Sanderson Ford Classic.
MACHTOLF CLOSING IN ON 600
- Head coach
Mark Machtolf has 597 career wins on his resume over 21 seasons leading the Bulldogs.
- This season, he aims to become just the second coach in Gonzaga baseball history to eclipse 600.
- His 597 wins are second-most and 40 shy of Steve Hertz, who won 637 over 24 seasons (1978, 1981-2003).
- Machtolf's .543 career win percentage is third-highest among all Gonzaga baseball head coaches.
- In 2024, Machtolf reached 300 wins in WCC play, becoming the second coach in WCC history to do so.
ZAGS PICKED THIRD IN WCC PRESEASON POLL
- Gonzaga was picked to finish third in the West Coast Conference Preseason Poll on Feb. 6.
- The Zags accumulated 44 points, resulting in a tie for third with Santa Clara.
- San Diego topped the Preseason Poll with 64 points and eight first-place votes.
- Just five points separated the poll's second-place and fifth-place teams.
PAIR OF ZAGS PICKED PRESEASON ALL-WCC
- Last season, Eisenstat led the Bulldogs in seven offensive categories, including average (.301), runs (34), hits (58), and RBI (30).
- Eisenstat also earned West Coast Conference Honorable Mention with one WCC Player of the Week honor.
- Feld is Gonzaga's leading returner in seven pitching categories.
- Amongst WCC ranks, Feld's 4.16 was tenth last season while allowing the fourth-fewest total earned runs (29). - Feld struck out 62 batters over 62.2 IP, averaging just under nine strikeouts per nine and was the second of five Bulldogs to earn All-WCC Honorable Mention in 2024.
IMPACT TRANSFERS
- Gonzaga's 2025 roster includes five transfers from four-year colleges: two pitchers and three position players.
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Cooper Ciesielski (OF) spent two seasons at UT Permian Basin, batting .349 with nine home runs and 46 RBI.
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Luca DiPaolo (C) arrives from Southern Cal., batting .107 in limited action over two seasons for the Trojans.
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Ty Yukumoto (INF) spent three seasons at Pacific University (OR), batting .329 with 156 hits and 75 RBI.
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Jared Glenn (RHP) spent two seasons at Arizona St. in '21-'22, appearing at the 2021 Austin Regional for ASU.
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Ryan Hernandez (LHP) is a gradute transfer from Cal Baptist, holding a career 2.50 ERA over 44 appearances.
ABOUT THE 2025 SCHEDULE
- Gonzaga's non-conference slate features teams from five different conferences, including five teams from the Big 12 and Big Ten. For the second straight season, the Bulldogs will not play any neutral site games during their non-conference schedule.
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Mark Machtolf is 408-315-1 all-time against the 2025 slate, including a 315-202 record against WCC opponents.
- Gonzaga's 2025 schedule spans six different states: Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, Arizona, Texas.
- Among the 2025 opponents, GU will face Baylor and Utah Tech for the first time under
Mark Machtolf.
FEBRUARY BASEBALL IN SPOKANE
- This season, Gonzaga will set a record for the earliest date played at Patterson Baseball Complex and Coach Steve Hertz Field.
- On Feb. 27, the Bulldogs will play their home opener against BYU, continuing the series Feb. 28 and March 1.
- The Zags last played at Patterson in February back in 2008 against BYU, opening their home schedule on Feb. 28 that year.
GONZAGA TO JOIN THE PAC-12
- Gonzaga is headed to the Pac-12 Conference in all sports beginning July 1, 2026.
- The Zags will join Oregon State, Washington State, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State.
- Of the eight current members, five schools compete in baseball: Gonzaga, Oregon State, Washington State, Fresno State, and San Diego State.
- The final RPI rankings for those five teams from the 2024 season...
18. Oregon State 172. Gonzaga
176. Fresno State 194. Washington State
235. San Diego State
ZAGS IN THE PROS
- MLB Spring Training kicks off this week with six former Zags reporting to big league camps.
- Brett Harris, Gabriel Hughes, Alek Jacob, Casey Legumina, Wyatt Mills, and Eli Morgan will report to spring training.
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Liam Paddack is the most recent Zag to be drafted, selected by the Chicago White Sox in the 18th round (2024).
- Four former Bulldogs played in the big leagues in 2024: Gonzales, Eli Morgan, Alek Jacob, and Brett Harris.
- Two former Zags made MLB Playoff rosters in '24: Morgan (Cleveland Guardians) and Jacob (San Diego Padres).
- On Nov. 20, Eli Morgan was traded from the Guardians to the Chicago Cubs for prospect Alfonsin Rosario.
- After one season with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Marco Gonzales elected free agency and will enter 2025 unsigned.
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