Fresno State Athletics
#7 Softball Concludes 10-Game Homestand with Southern Utah
3/13/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
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March 13, 2001
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State Concludes 10-Game Homestand
No. 7 Fresno State wraps up a 10-game homestand with a non-conference doubleheader against former Western Athletic Conference member Southern Utah on Tue., March 13. Coming off a 4-2 mark and a second place finish in their own Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic, the Bulldogs are 6-2 in their brief appearance at Bulldog Diamond.
Jenny Eller Fresno State Softball Blood "Drive" Challenge
Hit a line drive to the Blood Center and get a voucher for $2 off any 2001 home game during the regular season. This life-giving gift can be given at any donor center or blood drive in Central California now through April 28, 2001. On March 31 there will be a blood drive held at Bulldog Diamond from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Those who donate will be given a free Bulldog t-shirt as well as enjoy food and drink and watch the softball team practice. Donors also will have the opportunity to meet the team from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Head Coach Margie Wright
In her 16th season as head coach of the Fresno State softball program, Margie Wright (Illinois State, 1974) has directed the Bulldogs to a national title (1998) while guiding the program to the NCAA Women's College World Series in 10 of the last 14 years. As only the second NCAA Division I coach to amass 900 or more career victories, she owns an impressive 806-228-1 (.780) mark with the Bulldogs and a 22-year career record of 955-308-3 (.756). Entering the 2000 season as the all-time winningest active coach in NCAA Division I history, she became the NCAA's all-time career win leader on March 23 with a 2-1 victory over CS Northridge. Having directed the Bulldogs to the WCWS 10 times since 1986, Wright has collected 11 outright or shared conference titles, a WAC tournament championship, 10 regional championship crowns, and 15 straight NCAA postseason appearances. With a NCAA title and three national runner-up trophies to her credit, Wright is the only coach in school history to garner region coach of the year honors (seven times) and is the third head coach overall at Fresno State to capture National Coach of the Year honors (1998). An assistant coach for the 1996 USA Olympic softball gold medal team and leading the USA Softball National Team to a gold medal at the 1998 ISF World Championships, Wright has averaged 53 wins a year and has coached 42 All-Americans and 10 GTE Academic All-Americans.
Milestones On the Horizon
Wright picked up her 800th victory at Fresno State at the NFCA Leadoff Classic on Feb. 25 with a 3-1 victory over Missouri. Seeking to become the first NCAA Division I coach to reach the 1,000 victory plateau, Wright recorded her 950th career victory against Colorado State on March 7. Last year, she notched her 900th career win against Texas on March 4 and was the second Division I head coach to amass 900 or more career wins.
In the Books
Having been featured in USA Today (May 9, 2000) and showcased in Sports Illustrated's "Faces in the Crowd" (May 22, 2000) for her coaching success, Wright has been singled out in a book documenting 42 of the most successful and illustrious female coaches and athletic administrators over the past 30 years. Written by Nena Hawkes and John Seggar the book is entitled Celebrating Women Coaches: A Biographical Dictionary.
2001 Kia Klassic
CS Fullerton annually hosts one of the premier mid-season tournaments in the country with the Kia Klassic which will be held on campus, March 14-18, at the Titan Softball Complex. Sixteen teams, most of them having appeared in the national polls this season, will battle in a pool-play format consisting of four pools of four teams. Results from pool play will seed a 16-team single-elimination championship bracket. The champion will be crowned on Sunday, March 18. Former NCAA champions Fresno State (1998) and Oklahoma (2000) return this year. CS Fullerton has won eight of the 21 previous tournaments. Defunct Cal Poly program Cal Poly Pomona (1983, 1984) and Arizona (1988, 1995, 1996, 1998) are the only multiple invitational winners. Oklahoma State won the title in 1989. Fresno State (1990), CS Northridge (1993), Louisiana-Lafayette (1994), Arizona State (1994) and Washington (2000). The 16 participating teams in the 2001 Kia Klassic are Arizona, Arizona State. CS Fullerton, CS Northridge, DePaul, Fresno State, Hawai'i, Lousiana-Lafayette, New Mexico State, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oklahoma, Texas, UNLV, Utah State and Washington.
#14 Notre Dame (13-1)
After opening its season with an eight-game win streak, Notre Dame is now riding a five-game win streak with one loss sandwiched in between (0-2 vs. Arkansas). The Irish, who have won three tournaments this season, plays Long Beach State on Tuesday, March 13, before participating in the Kia Klassic. With the program's inception in 1989, Notre Dame entered the season ranked No. 19 in the preseason poll and has moved up the poll the last two weeks. Off to its best start in school history, the Irish are being led offensively by junior outfielder Jenny Kriech and senior outfielder Danielle Klayman. Kriech is batting .413 (19-46) with a team-best 12 runs while adding two double, two triples, home run and nine RBI with a .609 slugging percentage. Klayman is right behind with a .410 average (16-39) with 10 runs, three doubles and four RBI. Junior catcher Jarrah Myers, who is batting .385 (15-39), has a team-high 13 RBI. In the circle, senior left-hander Jennifer Sharron is 7-0 on the year while freshman right-hander Kristin Schmidt is 6-1. Sharron had two shutouts and 52 strikeouts in 47.0 innings for a 1.15 ERA while Schmidt has one shutout and a save with 52 strikeouts in 43.1 innings of work. This is the first meeting between Fresno State and Notre Dame.
#5 Oklahoma (21-3)
The defending national champions opened the 2001 season with 12 straight wins before dropping a 4-0 decision to No. 19 South Carolina in the NFCA Leadoff Classic. Having won eight of its last nine games, the Oklahoma will open tournament play with Utah State on Wednesday, March 15, before playing Fresno State. The Sooners, who went to the White House two weeks ago and was recognized by President Bush for their 2000 NCAA title in softball, are spearheaded by sophomore utility player Kelli Braitsch, junior outfielder Christy Ring and senior shortstop Lisa Carey. Braitsch is batting a team-high .414 (29-70) with 23 runs, six doubles, three home runs, 16 RBI and a .629 slugging percentage. Ring is hitting .397 (27-68) with 20 runs, double, three triples, home run, 13 walks and nine RBI. Carey is batting .392 (29-74) with 21 runs, nine doubles, three home runs and 20 RBI. Fresno State leads the all-time series, 7-5, and has won the last three meetings. The Bulldogs captured a 1-0 win over Oklahoma last year at the NFCA Leadoff Classic.
Utah State (3-12)
After opening the year at 3-3, Utah State has been struggling of late as the Aggies are enduring a nine-game losing streak that includes two mercy run-rule losses. Utah State was rained out of a double header at home last weekend against Southern Utah. Having not played a game since playing in the Red Desert Classic hosted by Utah two weeks ago, the Aggies are being led offensively by sophomore utility player Aimee Johnson. Johnson is batting .259 (7-27) with two runs, double and a RBI. In the circle, freshman right-hander Lisa Spencer is 3-5 on the season with 17 strikeouts in 44.0 innings for a 3.27 ERA. Fresno State holds a 13-10 series lead.
National Rankings
Fresno State has been no stranger to the national polls for the last 19 years. Nationally ranked every week since 1983, the Bulldogs have been in the nation's Top 20 for 19 straight years. In the polls, the 'Dogs have been ranked No. 1 five times, No. 2 35 times, No. 3 31 times and No. 4 20 times. Fresno State has finished in the poll's Top 10 in 148 of the last 152 weeks since the NCAA's first Top 15 poll in 1983.
`Dogs on the Web at Kia
Fresno State will have its softball games broadcasted over the internet this weekend at the Kia Klassic. Depending on whether the Bulldogs play on the main field during the playoffs, fans can listed to the Fresno State vs. Notre Dame and Oklahoma games on the web on Thursday, March 15. All games broadcasted after the Notre Dame and Oklahoma games will be announced later.
2001 Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic in Review
Fresno State finished second in its own Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic with a 4-2 mark ... The Bulldogs picked up wins over Cal Poly, #11 DePaul, Colorado State and #15 Oregon State while dropping a game to New Mexico State and #1 UCLA ... Prior to tournament action, Fresno State swept Colorado State in a non-conference doubleheader -- winning both games in five innings ... Senior outfielder Becky Witt (Reseda, Calif.) was named to the Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic all-tournament team ... In tourney play, Witt batted .455 (10-22) with six runs, double, RBI, two walks, one stolen base and had 11 total bases for a .500 slugging percentage ... However, Witt stole the show on March 7 as Wright picked up her 950th and 951st career victories ... Witt tied a 20-year old school record for most steals in a game with three (3 by Caroline Chavez vs. Cal Poly, 1981) ... The three steals then tied her for No. 1 all-time in career thefts at Fresno State with All-Americans Laura Berg and Robyn Yorke and Janee Silva ... Witt then broke the school's career mark on March 9 with her 40th steal against New Mexico State ... Fresno State is 6-2 in its 10-game homestand to date ... The Bulldogs are batting .291 at home with 44 runs, six doubles, two triples, 30 RBI, 23 walks and nine stolen bases ... Fresno State celebrated its 100th date in the "new" Bulldog Diamond in the doubleheader on March 7 ... The `Dogs record at home in the new ball park is now 155-21.
Witt on Fire
Witt has been on fire since Feb. 24 against Oregon State. The two-time All-American not only has had a nine-game hit streak in which she batted .500 (15-30, 11 runs, RBI, double, three walks, 4-4 stolen bases) but has hit safely in 13 of her last 15 games. In this stretch she is hitting .423 (22-52) with 16 runs, three RBI, double, five walks (one intentional), 6-6 stolen bases and two hit by pitch as the leadoff batter. In the first eight games of the 10-game homestand, Witt hit safely in her first seven before going 0-4 with a run against UCLA. She collected three multiple-hit and multiple-run games while scoring a run in seven of eight games. She also reached base in all eight games. In her career, she moved into second place last weekend in career runs with 193. She is 52 runs shy of tying the school record held by Laura Berg (245: 1994-95, 1997-98). Also ranked sixth in career hits to start the season, Witt has a team-best 23 hits for 278 career hits to rank fourth all-time in school history. Last weekend she moved past three-time All-American Nina Lindenberg (269, 1996-98). Witt cracked the school's top 10 in career total bases at the NFCA Leadoff Classic and now ranks ninth all-time with 314.
2001 Bulldog Softball Individual Notebook
Jr., 1B, Vanessa Czarnecki
Had a five-game hit streak and batted .429 (6-14) with three runs, RBI, six total bases, three walks, stolen base and two sacrifice hits ... has two multiple-hit performances and two multiple RBI games ... has scored two or more runs in a game twice ... has turned four double plays ... four-time Deans List ... two-time WAC all-Academic, WAC Scholar-Athlete and Fresno State Scholar-Athlete.
Sr., SS, Alicia Dowland
Is batting .292 (7-24) with three runs, three RBI, walk and hit by pitch in her last eight games ... has three multiple hit games ... had a modest three-game hit streak and batted .667 (4-6, 2 R) ... has two doubles on season ... has turned three double plays ... 1999 Second Team All-WAC ... four-time Deans List ... two-time WAC all-Academic and Fresno State Scholar-Athlete.
Jr., 3B, Lindsay Fossatti
Has three multiple-hit games and one multiple RBI game ... hit a pair of home runs and season-best nine total bases against Georgia (first career multi home run game) ... had career-high 5 RBI vs. Georgia ... tied career-high 3 hits vs. Georgia ... ranks No. 8 in career home runs (7) ... opened the year with a RBI and was hit twice against Iowa State ... WAC Player of the Week (Feb. 26) ... shares team lead in RBI (11) ... 1999 First Team All-West Region ... two-time first team all-WAC ... two-time WAC all-academic, WAC Scholar-Athlete and Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... four-time Deans List.
So., RHP, Lindsay Foster
Has two starts on season against Colorado State and new Mexico State ... is 1-1 on the year with a 0.95 ERA ... 1999 Fall Deans List ... 1999 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete.
Fr., LHP/DP, Lori Hoffman
Had a six-game hit streak and batted .471 (8-17, 4 RBI, 2 BB, two doubles, triple) ... has four multiple-hit games ... has two multiple RBI games ... in last eight games, she's batting .348 (8-23) with two runs, two doubles, triple, six RBI, sac fly and three walks ... made first collegiate start in the circle against #11 DePaul and picked up 2-1 win with a season-high five strikeouts ... made second start against #15 Oregon State and picked up first shutout win (2-0) ... made third start against #1 UCLA ... is 3-1 on year with a shutout, 15 strikeouts and a 1.58 ERA in six appearances has season-high three strikeouts vs. Michigan ...has season-best streak of 13.2 innings without a run ... has faced four Top 25 teams to date (Michigan, Oregon State twice and UCLA).
Fr., RF, Mitzi Ing
Has started all 14 games in right field ... first collegiate hit and RBI vs. Oregon State ... has one multiple-hit game ... had a two-game hit streak & batted .500 (3-6, R, RBI, double, 4 TB, .667 slugging pct.) ... Fall Deans List.
Fr., 2B, Pam Perez
Had a pair of three game hit streaks and hit .333 (3-9, 3 R, RBI, 1-2 SB, 3 TB) in the first one ... has a current three-game hit streak and is batting .375 (3-8) with two runs, two walks and a stolen base ... has scored two or more runs in a game three times ... has one multiple-hit game ... has turned three double plays.
So., RHP, Leslie Poole
Is 8-2 on the year with three shutouts, 32 strikeouts and a 1.16 ERA in 66.2 IP ... opponent's are batting .223 against in 14 appearances ... did not give up a run in her first 30.1 innings ... did not give up an earned run in her first 34.2 IP ... season-best six strikeouts vs. Colorado State ... has turned two double plays ... has two no-decisions ... pitched a one-hitter vs. Colorado State ... tossed a three-hitter against Michigan & two-hitter against CS Northridge ... WAC Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 19).
So., C, Pam West
Had a four-game hit streak and batted .417 (5-12, 2 SH) ... has thrown out six would-be basestealers this season ... has turned one double play ... 1999 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete
Jr., LF, Tiffany Whipple
Has five multiple-hit games ... has two multiple RBI games ... is batting .348 (8-23) with 10 runs, six RBI, double, two walks, two solen bases, hit by pitch and sacrifices in last eight games ... has season-best three RBI against New Mexico State ... had a three-game hit streak and batted .444(4-9, 4 runs, 2 RBI, 2 stolen bases ... shares team lead in RBI (11) ... Fall Deans List.
Sr., CF, Becky Witt
Team-best eight multiple-hit games ... has one multiple RBI game ... has scored at least two runs in a game five times ... had a nine-game hit streak & batted .500 (15-30) with 11 runs, RBI, double, three walks (one intentional), 4-4 stolen bases and two hit by pitch ... in career, No. 1 all-time in stolen bases (40), second in runs (193), fourth in hits (278), and ninth in total bases (314) ... in last eight games, is batting .462 (12-26) with 12 runs, RBI, double, three walks (one intentional), four stolen bases, two hit by pitch ... has hit safely in 13 of last 15 and is batting ..423 (22-52) with 16 runs, three RBI, double, five walks, (one intentional), 6-6 stolen bases, two hit by pitch ... tied single-game school record in stolen bases (3) against Colorado State ... set school record in career stolen bases (#40) against New Mexico State ... 2000 WAC Player of the Week ... 2000 NFCA National Player of the Week ... Two-time All-American ... Three-time all-West Region & all-WAC ... Two-time NCAA All-Regional ... 1998 WAC Freshman of the Year ... Two-time GTE Academic All-District VIII ... 2000 GTE Academic All-America Third Team.
