It's early, seven games in. But the Fresno State baseball team is having some issues where they might least have expected them, with the inside game, hitting with runners in scoring position and offensive production -- areas they excelled in down the stretch a year ago in advancing to the NCAA Palo Alto Regional.

With USC in town for a three-game series that starts today at Beiden Field, the Bulldogs are hitting .228 and have an on-base percentage of .288, ranking last in the Mountain West Conference in both categories some 37 and 53 points below the league average.

They are last in runs scored and hits and the problems seem to become more acute late in games -- from the sixth inning on, Fresno State is hitting .217 and has had only 13 at-bats with a runner in scoring position.

As coach Mike Batesole pointed out, a few more runs on the scoreboard might cover up some of the bullpen issues and mistakes that have been made on the field.

But right now, the Bulldogs are not getting them. And, they are 1-6 with a lineup that includes center fielder Aaron Judge, Trent Garrison and Austin Wynns, three veterans expected to fuel the lineup and help provide cover for an extremely young staff.

"We've got to get those older guys going. Trent has been hitting behind (Judge) and Wynns on occasion in the 5-hole and that's how it's going to go this weekend. And those three guys have got to get it going for the younger guys to follow. If they don't, then this is going to continue," Batesole said.

Judge, a preseason All-American, is hitting .400 (12 for 30), but five hits came in the last of a three-game series at Stanford. Garrison is at .345 (10 for 29) including .273 (3 for 11) with runners in scoring position. Wynns is batting .111 (3 for 27).

Shortstop Chris Mariscal is at .350 (7 for 20) with an on-base percentage of .409 and leadoff hitter Jordan Luplow .269 (7 for 26) with an OBP of .387.

But six Bulldogs with 15 or more at-bats are hitting .200 or less at this point.

Getting that turned around requires no changes.

"We're going to stay aggressive," Batesole said. "The last thing you want to do is start over-thinking it and getting careful and making mechanical changes. That's for the fall. Now you go and you work the pitcher and you work the count and you learn from your mistakes, and you just keep pushing forward."

But it won't come easily against the Trojans. Like the Bulldogs, USC is very young with 17 freshmen and five sophomores on the roster. The Trojans (5-3) have pitched well, ranking fifth in the Pac-12 with an ERA of 3.21 despite walking a conference-high 40 batters in 73 innings.

Fresno State will face two left-handers in Bob Wheatley (0-1, 2.38 ERA) and Kyle Twomey (1-0, 2.93) sandwiched around right-hander Wyatt Strahan (0-0, 1.59).

SNEAK PREVIEW

Fresno State vs. USC

Probables: 6:35 p.m. today, Trojans LH Bob Wheatley (0-1, 2.38 ERA ) vs. Bulldogs RH Will Munro (1-0, 0.73); 6:35 p.m. Saturday, RH Wyatt Strahan (0-0, 1.59) vs. RH Derick Velazquez (0-1, 4.15); 1:05 p.m. Sunday, LH Kyle Twomey(1-0, 2.93) vs. RH Tim Borst (0-0, 2.38)

Records: Bulldogs 1-6, Trojans 5-3

Radio: KFIG (AM 940)

The skinny: Once-familiar rivals meet for first time since 2003 (2-1 Fresno State series victory). USC leads all-time 40-25. ... Dan Hubbs became Trojans' sixth coach since 1930 after Frank Cruz was fired just before opener for NCAA rules violation. ... USC, eighth in Pac-12 preseason poll, boasts Fresno-area rooting interests in LH Sean Silva (Clovis West High/Fresno City College) and IF Blake Lacey (Clovis). Top hitters include 1B Dante Flores (.355) and SS James Roberts (.310, 2 HRs, 5 RBIs).