TURLOCK, Calif. — Stan State baseball returns to Warrior Baseball Field this week to open an eight-game home stand with a four-game non-conference series against Simpson University, Feb. 13–15. The series opens Friday, Feb. 13, with a 6:00 p.m. first pitch, continues with a Saturday doubleheader on Feb. 14 beginning at 1:00 p.m. featuring a nine-inning opener and a seven-inning nightcap, and concludes Sunday, Feb. 15, at noon. The Warriors enter the home stand with a 5–1 record as they continue to build momentum early in the season.

Warriors Capture Second Consecutive Series
Stan State went 2–1 on the road at Vanguard to open the season, earning a 7–6 victory in the series opener before dropping game two, 6–2, and closing the weekend with an 8–3 win to secure the series. The Warriors scored 17 runs over three games while holding the Lions to 15, showing balance on both sides of the ball in their first away series of the year. Austin Sargent led the offense, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs during the series, while Tyler Crudo added three hits and an RBI. Kian Sanchez and Cameron Taylor each recorded four hits, with Taylor scoring three times, as Korey Likens and Mason Kelley chipped in three hits apiece to help pace the lineup.

On the mound, Stan State pitching delivered in key moments throughout the weekend, posting a 4.50 ERA over 24 innings. Eli Blurton anchored the staff, earning both a win and a save while allowing just one run over 3.2 innings and striking out five. Austin Balentine picked up the opening-game victory, limiting Vanguard to one earned run over five innings, while Pierce Sailer and AJ Victoravich provided scoreless relief appearances.

Warriors Update
Stan State's offense has been productive through the opening six games, batting .308 as a team with 64 hits, including eight doubles, one triple, and five home runs. The Warriors have scored 37 runs while showing balance throughout the lineup, averaging just over six runs per game and applying consistent pressure on opposing pitching staffs.

On the mound, Stan State pitching has been a strength early in the season, posting a 2.65 team ERA across 51 innings. Warrior pitchers have limited opponents to a .221 batting average, allowing 18 runs (15 earned) while striking out 42 batters. The staff has also shown solid control, issuing 18 walks while keeping traffic on the bases to a minimum.

Balanced Attack Setting the Tone
Stan State's offense has been productive through the opening six games, batting .308 as a team with 64 hits, including eight doubles, one triple, and five home runs. Kian Sanchez has led the lineup, hitting .591 with 13 hits, a home run, and five RBIs, while also pacing the team with a .653 on-base percentage and a .773 slugging percentage. AJ Carter is batting .421 with eight hits and four RBIs, while Korey Likens has added seven hits along with a triple and a home run. Mason Kelley leads the Warriors with seven RBIs, and Zach Lewis paces the team with three doubles. The Warriors' five home runs have come from Sanchez, Likens, Kelley, Austin Sargent, and Eric Perez.

Depth and Dominance on the Mound
Stan State pitching has been a strength early in the season, posting a 2.65 team ERA over 51 innings while holding opponents to a .221 batting average. Austin Balentine leads the staff with a 2–0 record and a 0.82 ERA, while Eli Blurton has also earned two wins, recorded a save, and has yet to allow an earned run. Pierce Sailer has recorded the Warriors' other victory, and Payton Hawkinson has also picked up a save. Overall, Warrior pitchers have combined for 42 strikeouts while limiting damage throughout the opening stretch.

Balentine Earns CCAA and NCBWA West Region Pitcher of the Week Honors on Opening Weekend
Stan State right-hander Austin Balentine was named the CCAA Pitcher of the Week and the NCBWA West Region Pitcher of the Week following a dominant opening-day performance against Central Washington on Jan. 31 at Warrior Field. Balentine tossed six hitless innings in a 5–0 shutout victory, facing the minimum while allowing no hits, runs, or walks and striking out four on just 65 pitches. After his first two starts of the season, the senior has moved into a tie for 10th on the Warriors' all-time wins list with 17 career victories and ranks 10th in program history with 144 career strikeouts. Balentine is tied with Kirk Raithel (17 wins) and trails Jeff Blobaum (41), Peter Maldonado (29), Marquis Fleming (28), Terry Rodger (26), Louie Souza (23), Andrew Stueve (20), Tyler Murphy (19), Gene Oliver (19), and Dave Butler (18), while Marquis Fleming (2005–08) remains the program's all-time strikeouts leader with 292.

Scouting Simpson
Simpson enters the four-game series with a 4–8 overall record. The Red Hawks are batting .265 as a team with 104 hits, including 25 doubles, two triples, and eight home runs. Bo Valladao leads the lineup with a .440 average, while Eric Mora is batting .357 with two home runs and a team-high 11 RBIs. Owen Hayes and Cayden Lee have also provided extra-base production early in the season.
On the mound, Simpson pitching carries an 8.73 team ERA through 100 innings, with Chandler Jones posting a team-best 1.42 ERA. The Red Hawks have utilized a deep staff, with 18 pitchers seeing action through the opening stretch.

Series History vs. Simpson
Stanislaus State holds an 8–1 all-time advantage against Simpson University in a series that dates back to April 18, 2008. The Warriors have won seven straight meetings and are 8–1 all-time at home against the Red Hawks. The most recent matchup came on Feb. 19, 2017, when Stan State earned a 6–0 victory in Turlock. Stan State has averaged 7.44 runs per game in the series, highlighted by a 14–2 win in 2010.

Listen and Watch
Both days of the series will be streamed live on FloCollege. All Stan State home games can also be heard on BlueChip Broadcasting, with Bryan Nelson on the call.

Up Next
The Warriors will remain home the following weekend to host Western Oregon University in another four-game non-conference series, Feb. 20–22, in Turlock. Stan State then travels to Chico State for a three-game non-conference series at Nettleton Stadium, beginning Friday, Feb. 27, and continuing with a Saturday doubleheader.
CCAA play begins the following weekend as Stan State opens conference action at home against Cal State East Bay with a four-game series at Warrior Baseball Field, March 6–8. The conference opener is scheduled for Friday night, followed by a Saturday doubleheader and a Sunday finale.