Fresno State Athletics
No. 10 Softball Wraps Up 13-Game Homestand
3/12/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 11, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Fresno State Wraps Up 13-Game Homestand
Fresno State will wrap up its 13-game homestand on Tuesday, March 12, 6:00 p.m., against Tennessee Tech. The Bulldogs, who are coming off a 4-1 mark and a second place finish in their own Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic, are tangling with the Golden Eagles for the second time in four days. Fresno State, which is 2-0 against Tennessee Tech in the series history, will be on the road for the next two weeks before enjoying a eight-game homestand beginning April 4 with Tulsa.
Wright Around the Corner
Fresno State head coach Margie Wright needs two wins to become the first NCAA Division I softball coach to collect 1,000 Division I victories. Wright also will look to be just the 24th head coach on the Division I level, regardless of sport, to post 1,000 Division I wins. With a 998-329-3 career record in 23 years, Wright will join an elite group of Division I head coaches who happen all to be head baseball coaches.
Head Coach Margie Wright
In her 17th 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 15 years. As only the second NCAA Division I coach to amass 900 or more Division I career wins, she owns an impressive 851-249-1 (.774) mark with the Bulldogs and a 23-year career record of 998-329-3 (.752). Becoming the NCAA's all-time career win leader on March 23, 2000 with a 2-1 victory over CS Northridge, Wright is two victories shy of being the first NCAA Division I coach to accumulate 1,000 Division I wins. Having directed the Bulldogs to the WCWS 10 times since 1986, the eight-time conference coach of the year has collected 12 outright or shared conference titles, a WAC tournament championship, 10 regional championship crowns and 16 straight NCAA postseason appearances. With a NCAA title and three national runner-up trophies to her credit, Wright is the only coach in program history to garner region coach of the year honors (seven times) and is the third head coach overall at Fresno State to garner National Coach of the Year accolades (1998). Boasting a 413-73 (.850) all-time home field record and a 184-26 (.876) mark at the "new" Bulldog Diamond since 1996, Wright has averaged 52 wins a year and has coached 44 All-Americans and 12 Verizon Academic All-Americans. An assistant coach for the 1996 USA Olympic softball gold medal team, Wright also helped the USA Softball National Team to a gold medal at the 1998 ISF World Championships.
Wright Two Shy of Setting NCAA History
Wright has recorded momentous milestones since becoming the program's third head coach in 1986. Recording career victories No. 200 through No. 900 at Fresno State, Wright became the NCAA's all-time winningest Division I coach with win No. 914 on March 23, 2000 (2-1 vs. CS Northridge). The 1998 National Coach of the Year entered the 2002 season 22 wins shy of being the first-ever NCAA Division I head coach to record 1,000 NCAA Division I victories and now sits two shy of the historic mark. She also is looking to be just the 24th head coach on the Division I level, regardless of sport, to post 1,000 Division I victories. In softball, only two head coaches (Wright and Judi Garman) have collected 900 or more fastpitch victories. Also, Wright is the lone active Division I coach to have collected 900 victories. Overall, only three head coaches, regardless of Division, have posted at least 900 fastpitch wins: Wright (978-323-3), Sandy Jerstad of Augustana (918-320-2) and Garman of CS Fullerton (913-374-4).
Fresno State Softball Celebrates Silver Anniversary
Celebrating 25 years of winning tradition will ring throughout the 2002 season for the Fresno State softball program. Recognized as a cornerstone of softball excellence since their inception, the Bulldogs boast a heritage that is hard pressed to be found elsewhere. A tradition that is held in high esteem, Fresno State softball demand for excellence has not only delivered the first national title to the university but has produced unparalleled success both on the field and in the classroom.
JSo is SO ...
With a 13-3 record on the year that includes 19 appearances with 16 starts and 16 complete games, freshman right-hander Jamie Southern (Clovis) has thrown nine shutouts, a perfect game, set a single-game school record in strikeouts (19) and picked up a save while opponents are batting .118 against her for a 0.21 ERA. Tallying 10-plus strikeouts in 10 of her last 14 starts for an average of 9.46 strikeouts per 7/IP (150 strikeouts in 111.0 IP), Southern has totaled 164 strikeouts in 131.1 innings for an average of 8.76 strikeouts per game. In her career, Southern is 3-2 with a save against the Top 25 while recording three shutouts and 69 strikeouts in 56.1 innings (8.61 strikeouts 7/IP). She owns a 15-3 career mark that includes one save, 10 shutouts with 17 complete games in 18 starts and 23 appearances. Southern has pitched 143.0 innings and has yielded 56 hits, 10 runs, four earned runs, 31 walks while striking out 179 (8.76 strikeouts 7/IP) for a 0.20 ERA.
About Tennessee Tech (10-7)
Tennessee Tech is coming off a 4-2 mark in the Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic. The Golden Eagles opened tournament play with victories over Indiana (10-3) and Cal Poly (2-1) before dropping a 2-1, 10-inning game to Fresno State and a 5-2. nine-inning loss to San Diego State. Tennessee Tech rebounded with a 3-2 victory over Baylor and a 1-0 win over Boston University. Tennessee Tech, which captured the 2001 Ohio Valley Conference title, posted a record-setting season last year after establishing new marks in wins (44) and conference victories (17). Returning five starters, the Golden Eagles hosted their first-ever NCAA Play-in last season but dropped a 2-1 decision to Bethune Cookman. TTU has just one senior in second baseman Holly Speiser, who was named to the Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic, and has the nation's fourth-best hitter from a year ago in junior center fielder Stephanie Dallmann (.451). Without OVC Pitcher of the Year Adrienne Fortman (27-9), Tennessee Tech is relying on the arm of sophomore right-hander Lori Bayless. Bayless, who led the conference in strikeouts per game last season with a 6.47 average, already ranks in the school's Top 10 in career strikeouts. She garnered OVC Pitcher of the Week honors two weeks ago.
Kia Klassic Classic Opponents
#19 Louisiana-Lafayette (17-3):
Louisiana-Lafayette is coming off a pair of doubleheader sweeps at home over Long Island (5-4, 7-0) and Stephen F. Austin (6-1, 8-0) ... The Lady Cajuns, who have gone 11-0 at home, are 6-3 on the road this season and are 1-2 against the Top 25 this year ... All-American and senior shortstop Alana Addison leads the team in batting (.468), hits (29), runs (20), RBI (22), total bases (54) and slugging percentage (.871) ... With the team owning a season-best nine-game win streak, junior right-hander Michael Parrott leads the pitching staff with an 8-1 mark that includes three shutouts and 43 strikeouts in 55.1 innings for a 1.77 ERA ... Fresno State and Louisiana-Lafayette are tied up 1-1 in the all-time series.
#12 Washington (21-7):
Washington is coming off a 13-0, five-inning win over Simon Fraser at home ... The Huskies have won their last five since dropping a 6-4 decision to BYU in Utah ... Washington and Fresno State last met on Feb. 22 at the NFCA Leadoff Classic ... The then 13th-ranked Bulldogs recorded a 2-0 victory over then No. 6 Washington, 2-0 ... Fresno State leads the all-time series, 7-6.
Utah (5-19):
Utah is coming off a pair of losses to Top 25 teams with a 4-1 loss to No. 12 Washington and a 4-2 loss to No. 3 Stanford in tournament play in St. George, Utah ... Once rivals in the Western Athletic Conference, the last time these two schools met was in 2000 ... Winning the last seven straight, Fresno State leads the all-time series, 32-10.
National Rankings
Fresno State softball has been no stranger to the national polls. Nationally ranked every week for 166 consecutive weeks since the NCAA's first Top 15 poll in 1983, the Bulldogs have been in the nation's Top 20 for 20 straight years. In addition, they have been in the Top 10 for 149 weeks. On March 14, 1989, the Bulldogs achieved their first-ever No. 1 national ranking and were ranked No. 1 for two straight weeks in 1997 before finishing as the No. 1 team in the final 1998 USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll. In 1999, Fresno State opened the year with a No. 1 preseason ranking after winning the national title in 1998. Since March 29, 1988, the 'Dogs have been the top-ranked team five times, ranked second 35 times, ranked third 32 times, and ranked fourth 20 times. The Fresno State softball program's five No. 1 rankings is the most ever by a Bulldog athletic team.
Hoffman Catches Fire
Sophomore designated player Lori Hoffman (Benicia, Calif.) helped the Bulldogs to a second-place finish with a 4-1 mark in their own and rained-shortened Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic. Leading all Bulldogs with a .389 (7-18) batting average, Hoffman also led the team in RBI (3) and total bases (8) in tournament play. As the only Bulldog to collect a hit in all five games played, Hoffman had the fifth-highest batting average in tournament play among all starters in the seven-team tournament field. Against Baylor, Hoffman went 1-3 and was one of two Bulldogs to have a hit in the extra inning loss. Against Boston University, she went 1-4 with a RBI while going 1-3 with a RBI versus Indiana. Against Tennessee Tech, Hoffman went 2-4 and led the string of four consecutive hits that ultimately gave the Bulldogs an extra inning victory. Against San Diego State, Hoffman recorded her second multiple-hit game after going 2-4 with a double and RBI. Hoffman currently has a current six-game hitting streak and is batting .421 (8-19) with a double, three RBI and nine total bases.
Team Notables
Senior third baseman Lindsay Fossatti (Tustin) was walked just one last week and now has 91 career walks to move up to No. 3 all-time in WAC and school history ... The WAC's career mark in walks is 97 by former Bulldog Angela Cervantez (1997-2000) ... Junior right-hander Leslie Poole (Rootstown, Ohio) has won six straight after going 4-0 as a starter and 2-0 in relief ... Last week, Poole pitched a two-hit, 5-0 shutout victory over Boston University for her first shutout win as a starter and had a season-high six strikeouts ... Poole picked up a win in relief against Indiana after pitching one-hit ball with four strikeouts in 4.2 innings as Fresno State posted its first mercy run-rule victory of the year ... Going 4-0 in her last four starts and picking up two wins in relief, Poole has given up just two runs (both earned) in her last 33.2 innings with 24 strikeouts for a 0.42 ERA ... Senior first baseman Vanessa Czarnecki (Riverside) hit .364 (4-11) and scored a team-high five runs with four walks and three sacrifices in tournament play last week ... With three sacrifices recorded last week, Czarnecki moved up to No. 2 all-time in career sacrifices at Fresno State and No. 3 all-time in WAC history ... The Bulldogs have played 10 Top 25 teams in their first 17 games and is 6-4 versus the Top 25 ... All of six losses on the year have come by two or less runs (four one-run losses) ... Of the six losses, three have been one-run losses to Top 10 teams with two against the Top Five ... The Bulldog pitching staff has been extremely stingy over the past 11 games ... Collectively they have gone 10-1 (three extra inning games) with seven shutouts and 89 strikeouts while yielding five runs (one earned) in 87.0 innings for a 0.08 ERA.
Southern Named National Player of the Week
Southern picked up her fourth straight Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honor on March 4 and was selected as the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week three days later after a stellar home debut. As the first pitcher in WAC history to garner four consecutive pitcher of the week accolades, Southern went 3-0, threw a perfect game (10th in school history and 52nd no-hitter in school history) for second known perfect game in college softball, set a single-game school record in strikeouts (19 vs. No. 10 Pacific), hit her first collegiate home run (vs. No. 10 Pacific) and picked up her first collegiate save. Making her home debut against No. 10 Pacific, Southern threw all 15 innings and struck out 19 in the Bulldogs' 2-1 victory. Helping herself, Southern hit her first collegiate home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to tie the game at 1-1. The 19 strikeouts recorded broke a 20-year old record held by All-American Wende Ward (17 in 14 inn. versus Cal Poly, 1983). Against UC Riverside, Southern faced the minimum 21 batters, struck out 10 and tallied her eighth shutout in 11 wins in her perfect game performance as the Bulldogs posted a 2-0 win. In the night cap, Southern recorded her first collegiate save in the 'Dogs 1-0 victory. On the week in four appearances, Southern averaged 8.63 strikeouts a game while opponents batted .119 against. At the plate, she hit .348 (8-23) with a five runs, triple, home run, two walk, sacrifice fly, and two RBI while notching 13 total bases as well as owning a current six-game hitting streak.
Earning Your Top 25 Keep
Fresno State is 20-6 on the young season with a starting line up that features as many as seven underclassmen. Of the first 17 games played, 10 have come against Top 25 teams with eight against the Top 10 alone and three versus the Top Five. The Bulldogs' strength of schedule has Fresno State battling against the nation's best. All six losses have come via two runs or less with four of those being one-run losses. Four of the losses were to Top 10 teams while the other two came against teams that received votes in the Top 25 poll. Despite all the number crunching, the fact remains that Fresno State is 6-4 against the Top 25. In its first 26 games overall, Fresno State has played 10 Top 25 teams.
Pencil In These Dates
Celebrating 25 years of winning tradition, Fresno State will recognize its softball alumni in a special ceremony on Sunday, April 6. For more information, contact Hilda Fong at (559) 278-6833. April 6 is also Girl Scout Day at Bulldog Diamond. Fresno State also will celebrate the Valley's best young softball players with ASA Day on Sat., April 13. For more information on Girl Scout Day and ASA Day, contact the Fresno State Marketing Office at (559) 244-2800.
Jenny Eller Challenge
Fresno State, in cooperation with the Central California Blood Center, is giving fans a break at the gates with a $2 off coupon good for regular-season home games beginning Feb. 27 through May 4. Give a break -- donate blood at any location in the Central Valley.
Lunch with Margie
There are only two dates left to have "Lunch with Margie" at the Silver Dollar Hofbrau. Beginning at 12:00 p.m., Wright will share her thoughts on the team and opponents as well as do a question and answer session with fans once a month during the season. The remaining dates are April 8 and May 6.
Need a Lift?
Three bus trips are being offered this season to follow the Fresno State softball team during the year. The bus tours will stop at UCLA (March 25), Stanford (April 2) and San Jose State (May 11). Prices range from $41 to $49 per person, depending on the trip chosen. Prices do not include tickets. For more information, phone (559) 225-3164.
Five Bulldogs Pick Up Preseason All-WAC Honors
For the first time in WAC softball history, the league office announced a preseason softball team for 2002. Fresno State had the most preseason all-conference picks (five) as well as boasting the preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year. Jamie Southern was named the preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year and was joined by four other Bulldogs on the preseason all-WAC team in Pam West, Lindsay Fossatti, Tiffany Whipple and Vanessa Czarnecki.
Fresno State Softball: Undeniably Red
2002 Fresno State softball season tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office (278-DOGS) or purchase on-line at www.gobulldogs.com. Single-game tickets go on sale the day of every home game. In addition, fans can sign up on www.gobulldogs.com to receive instant messages on the outcome of Bulldog softball games during the season.
2002 Fresno State Softball Notebook
Sr., 1B/2B, Vanessa Czarnecki
Has four multiple-hit games ... has turned three double plays ... in career, ranks No. 2 in career sacrifices (56) at FS & No. 3 in WAC history ... has hit safely in seven of last 12 & is batting .313 (10-32, six runs, six walks, seven sacrifices, 1-4 SB, HBP, 11 TB) ... 2002 preseason all-WAC ... 7x Deans List ... 3x WAC all-Academic, WAC Scholar-Athlete &Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2001 NFCA Scholar-Athlete.
Sr., 3B, Lindsay Fossatti
Has six multiple-hit games & one multiple-RBI ... had a season-best 13-game hit streak (ranks No. 8 all-time in FS history) & batted .475 (19-40, 4 R, 2 doubles, triple, 2 HR, 8 BB, 7 RBI, 29 TB, .725 slug pct.) ... has two home runs on year & moves into sole possession of seventh place all-time at FS (11) ... tied career high in hits with 4 vs. Texas Tech (4-4, R, 4 RBI, double, home run) ... has turned three of team's seven double plays ... in career, ranks No. 3 in walks in WAC & FS history (91) ... 2002 preseason all-WAC ... 2001 NCAA Tournament all-regional ... 2001 Verizon Academic All-American ... 2001 Harold Haak Scholarship ... 2001 NFCA Scholar-Athlete ... 3x first team all-WAC ... 3x WAC all-academic, WAC Scholar-Athlete & Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ...7x time Deans List ... 4x Presidential List (4.0 GPA) ... Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society ... 3x WAC Player of the Week ...1999 all-West Region.
So., DP, Lori Hoffman
Has five multiple-hit games ... has a current six-game hitting streak & is batting .421 (8-19) with a double, three RBI and nine total bases to tie her career-best mark set last year ( .471 (8-17, 4 RBI, 2 BB, two doubles, triple)... in the circle, has made two appearances with one start & one relief (0-1, lost 2-0 loss at #8 Arizona State) ...in career, has 13 appearances vs. Top 25 teams with seven starts ... owns Top 25 wins over #11 DePaul, #15 Oregon State, #8 CS Fullerton ... first collegiate start vs. #11 DePaul (W 2-1) ... career-best streaks of 25.0 scoreless IP & without an earned run.
So., 2B/OF, Pam Perez
Has four multiple-hit games & two multiple RBI ... has a current four-game hit streak & is batting .333 (4-12) with three runs, two RBI, double, two walks, one sacrifice, five total bases .. also notched an earlier four-game hit streak (.700, 7-10, R, 2 RBI, SH) ... has turned three double plays ... second on team in batting and runs scored while third in hits and RBI.
Jr., RHP, Leslie Poole
Is 6-1 on year in six starts with a 0.95 ERA ... has a win in relief vs. Penn State & Indiana ... is 2-1 vs. Top 25 ... tied career-high six strikeouts vs. Boston University ... Is 4-0 in her last four starts with two wins in relief & has given up just two runs (both earned) in her last 33.2 innings with 24 strikeouts for a 0.42 ERA ... has a current streak of 17.2 scoreless innings ... in career, has 47.2 scoreless innings streak ... has two one-hitters, three two-hitters & two three-hitters in career... 3x WAC Pitcher of the Week ... 2001 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2001 second team all-WAC.
Fr., RHP/1B/OF, Jamie Southern
In the circle, is 13-3 in 16 starts with nine shutouts & 164 strikeouts in 131.1 IP for a 0.21 ERA ... has 10 10-strikeout games & is averaging 8.76 strikeouts a game ... threw a perfect game vs. UC Riverside (March 3 -- 10th perfect game & 52nd no-hitter in FS history) ... is 3-2 vs. Top 25 teams with a save while recording three shutouts & 69 strikeouts in 56.1 IP (8.61 strikeouts 7/IP) -- (W 1-0 vs. #5 Cal, W 2-0 vs. #6 Washington, W 2-1 vs. #10 Pacific, L 1-0 vs. #5 LSU, L 1-0 vs. #2 Stanford) ... has a current streak of 64.0 innings without an earned run ...has 10+ strikeouts in eight of her last 14 starts for a 9.46 strikeout per 7/IP (150 K in 111.0 IP) ... had a streak of three consecutive games with 10+ strikeouts & averaged 13.0 strikeouts a game in that span (39 in 21.0 IP) ... set single-game school record & personal-best 19 strikeouts vs. #10 Pacific ... has yielded 10 total runs (five via Bulldog fielding errors) ... has four multiple-hit games & three multiple RBI ... had a six-game hit streak & batted .348 (8-23, 5 R, triple, HR, 2 BB, SF, 2 RBI & 13TB) ... four-time WAC Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 11 & 18 & 25, March 4) ... Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week (March 7) ... has turned four double plays ... overall, she is 15-3 career mark with a save & 10 shutouts with 17 complete games in 18 starts & 23 appearances ... In 143.0 career innings pitched, she has yielded 56 hits, 10 runs, four earned runs, 31 walks while striking out 179 (8.76 strikeouts 7/IP) for a 0.20 ERA ... has career-best 11.2 hitless IP streak ... 2002 NFCA Leadoff Classic & Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic all-tourney ... 2002 preseason all-WAC and WAC Pitcher of the Year.
Jr., C, Pam West
Has six multiple-hit games & one multiple RBI ... recorded GWH vs. No. 10 Pacific ... has thrown out six would-be basestealers in 14 tries ... in last two seasons, has thrown out 26 for a 65% accuracy (14-40) ... led nation in percentage of runners thrown out (74%, 7-27) by catching 20 ... in career, has thrown out 39 would-be basestealers (42-81) for a 48% accuracy ... has career-best five-game hit streak & batted .500 (6-12, 2 R, 3 RBI, 3 BB, HBP) ... 2002 preseason all-WAC ... 2x Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2000 WAC all-Academic.
Sr., CF, Tiffany Whipple
Has six multiple-hit games ... had a six-game hitting streak & batted .429 (9-21, 5 runs, 3 walks, SF, 2-2 SB, 2 RBI, 9 TB) ... 2002 preseason all-WAC ... WAC Player of the Week ... 2002 Deans List ... 2000 Fresno State Scholar-Athlete & WAC all-Academic... 2001 NFCA Scholar-Athlete ... 2001 second team all-WAC.
