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FRESNO -  Fresno FC clinched its first-ever trip to the playoffs Saturday night, delivering a smashing upset of top-ranked Phoenix Rising FC with a 2-1 victory in front of 4,523 fans at Chukchansi Park. It was a tight contest as both sides had four shots, but none of which finished on target in the first half. 

Phoenix eventually had the first attempt on target, as Junior Flemmings tested goalkeeper CJ Cochran at the 67th minute, but Cochran was able to block it away. Moments later, Fresno struck first on the counter, taking the lead at the 68th minute after substitute Qudus Lawal - eight minutes after coming on to the pitch - found enough space to move through two Phoenix defenders and fire one past Phoenix goalkeeper Zac Lubin.

WACO, Texas - The National Collegiate Equestrian Association announced its preseason rankings ahead of the 2019-20 season on Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs checked in at No. 9 in the preseason rankings, holding steady since their last appearance in the team rankings on Mar. 12, 2019.

Auburn secured the No. 1 spot after a historic undefeated season and national championship crown. SEC teams Texas A&M and Georgia came in at No. 2 and 3, respectively.

FRESNO - A phrase well-known to Fresno State Bulldog fans everywhere, one does not need to look too far to see how appropriately it fits the Rivers family. With a father who is the second-leading rusher in Fresno State football history, a mother who is a Fresno State graduate and a sister who was a softball student-athlete, Fresno State is all junior running back Ronnie Rivers knows.

Born on Jan. 31, 1999, Super Bowl Sunday, Ronnie has been around the game of football his entire life. His father, Ron Rivers, a Bulldog running back from 1991-93 and a longtime NFL player gave Ronnie a unique perspective on the game of football.

FRESNO - Fresno State battled to the bitter end with Big Ten foe Minnesota in its home opener, falling in double overtime 38-35 in front of 34,790 Saturday night at Bulldog Stadium. Trailing by three points after holding the Gophers to a field goal in the second overtime period, the Bulldogs aired it out on the first play from scrimmage with its next possession, only to be intercepted in the end zone to silence the home crowd to drop Fresno State to 0-2 for the first time since 2014.

In his first start at home, Jorge Reyna went 24-of-35 passing, throwing for 288 yards, along with three touchdowns and two interceptions, the latter being the costly one that sealed the game for the Gophers. Junior running back Ronnie Rivers produced 124 total yards offense (76 rushing/48 receiving) and a career-high two receiving touchdowns.

ROUND ROCK, Texas – The Pacific Coast League office announced Tuesday that infielder Wilmer Difo of the Fresno Grizzlies and Round Rock Express left-hander Kent Emanuel were named Player and Pitcher of the Week for the period of August 26- September 2, 2019.

For the week, Difo hit .444 (16-for-36) with a home run and 12 RBI. In eight games for the Grizzlies, Difo led the league in hits (16), triples (2, t-1^st), total bases (26), at-bats (36, t-1^st), plate appearances (41),  and finished in the top 10 in several offensive categories including; RBI (12, t-3^rd), average (.444, 4^th), runs (8, t-4^th), doubles (3, t-4^th), on-base percentage (.512, 6^th), OPS (1.234, 6^th), walks (5, 9^th) and SLUG (.722, 9^th). Difo hit in seven of eight games, and had multi-hit performances in four of those. The switch-hitter went a perfect 5-for-5 on August 29 against Tacoma, as he had two doubles, a triple and five RBI. He missed hitting for the cycle by a home run.

LOS ANGELES - Trailing by 18 with less than 17 minutes to play, Fresno State pushed USC to the end, scoring twice in the final quarter before falling short, 31-23, on Saturday night at LA Memorial Coliseum.

In a homecoming for the Los Angeles area product Jorge Reyna, the senior finished with 344 total yards, throwing for 256 and two touchdowns while adding 88 yards on the ground on 20 carries in his first start as a Bulldog. Kicker Cesar Silva accounted for the nine of Fresno State's points going 3-for-3 with a long of 46 yards in his first game as a Bulldog.