Fresno State Athletics
No. 12 Softball Hits the Road Running
4/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. -
Complete Release in PDF Format
Fresno State Hits the Road Running
Fresno State softball hits the road the next two weeks, beginning with the West Coast-Midwest Challenge in Oklahoma City. In its inaugural year, the West Coast-Midwest Challenge will have No. 1 Arizona and No. 12 Fresno State representing the West and No. 9 Oklahoma and Oklahoma State representing the Midwest. The Bulldogs will tangle with both the Sooners, Tue., April 16, and the Cowgirls, Wed., April 17, at 5:30 p.m. (CDT) both evenings at the Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium, site of the 2002 NCAA Women's College World Series. Next week, Fresno State will travel to Louisiana Tech (April 25) and Tulsa (April 27) for Western Athletic Conference match ups.
Bulldogs in First Place in WAC Standings
After posting a 4-0 Western Athletic Conference worksheet last week at home, Fresno State moved into sole possession of first place with a 9-1 mark. Hawai'i, which won three of four from Louisiana Tech last weekend on the road, is a full game back with a 10-2 record. The Bulldogs' lone WAC loss was a 1-0, nine-inning decision at Loyola Marymount. The Rainbow Wahine suffered their first WAC loss at San Jose State (2-1) before dropping a 4-1 decision at Louisiana Tech.
No Freebies Here
Though the RPI for softball is not released until postseason play is finished, the Bulldogs' strength of schedule certainly has them right among the top eight. Fresno State, which is 7-10 against the Top 25, is 36-13 on the season. Of the 13 losses, 10 have come by two or less runs (eight one-run losses with three of them via extra innings). Twelve of the losses have occurred on the road and of those 12, 10 were against Top 25 with nine coming against the Top 10 and six against the Top Five. Still further, for a squad that is underclassmen dominated, the Bulldogs have not backed down from a schedule that will feature 14 games against the Top 10 with 12 meetings on the road. Of the Dogs' 18 games remaining on the regular-season, 12 will be played on the road and six at Bulldog Diamond. After all is said and done, Fresno State will have played 41 road games and just 27 home games to round out a 68-game regular-season schedule.
Southern is Top 25 Finalist for Player of the Year
Freshman right-hander Jamie Southern (Clovis) was selected as one of 25 collegiate softball players for the inaugural USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award. Southern, one of three freshmen to be singled out by The Amateur Softball Association, will look to be one of 10 finalists by May 3 with the final three finalists selected by May 31. The winner of the 2002 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced June 7.
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 10 times in the last 15 years. As only the second NCAA Division I coach to amass 900 or more Division I career wins entering the year, she owns an impressive 867-256-1 (.772) mark with the Bulldogs and a 23-year career record of 1,014-336-3 (.751). Becoming the NCAA's all-time career win leader on March 23, 2000 with a 2-1 victory over CS Northridge, Wright became the first NCAA Division I coach to accumulate 1,000 Division I wins on March 12, 2002 when the Bulldogs swept Tennessee Tech (4-0, 2-1). 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 has led Fresno State to 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 423-73 (.853) all-time home field record and a 194-26 (.882) 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 Joins 1,000 Win Club
Wright has reached momentous milestones since becoming the program's third head coach in 1986. Recording career victories No. 200 through No. 1,000 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. She became the first softball coach and just the 24th head coach on the Division I level, regardless of sport and per records kept by the NCAA, to post 1,000 Division I victories on March 12 with a 2-1 victory over Tennessee Tech. Overall, only three head coaches, regardless of Division, had posted at least 900 fastpitch wins entering the 2002 season: Wright (978-323-3), Sandy Jerstad of Augustana (918-320-2) and Judi 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.
No. 9 Oklahoma (36-10)
Oklahoma, which has won 12 of its last 14, is coming off Big 12 play. The Sooners took two from Missouri (8-1, 3-1) on the road and squared off against No. 18 Texas at home and dropped two to the Longhorns (2-1 in 10 inn., 3-2). Having its 44-game home win streak snapped by Texas, the Sooners were hitting .303 as a team while the pitching staff owns a 1.37 ERA going into the Texas doubleheader. Freshman catcher Christina Enea, who has been singled out as a Top 25 finalist for player of the year honors, led the Sooners with a .388 (50-129) average while tallying a team-best 16 doubles and 48 RBI going into the series. Enea also had 28 runs, seven home runs and 17 walks while being 4-4 in stolen bases. Senior outfielder Christy Ring was right behind Enea with a .372 (51-137) average and had swiped a team-high 21 stolen bases. In the circle, senior All-America left-hander Jennifer Stewart leads the pitching staff with a 15-4 mark while tossing four shutouts and striking out 90 in 121.2 innings for a 1.88 ERA after suffering the extra-inning loss to Texas. Freshman left-hander Kami Keiter has been successful with a 9-5 worksheet that includes 46 strikeouts, one shutout and a save in 82.0 innings for a 0.55 ERA after dropping a 3-2 decision to Texas. In the all-time series, Fresno State owns a 7-6 advantage. With Oklahoma capturing all three meetings in 1998, Fresno State has won three of the last four contests. The two teams met last year at the Kia Klassic with the Sooners prevailing, 8-6.
Oklahoma State (26-15)
Oklahoma State, which is 4-3 in its last seven, also is coming off Big 12 play. The Cowgirls hosted No. 24 Texas A&M and came away with a split (3-2, 1-2). Prior to that, OSU split on the road in the Border War held at the University of Arkansas. Oklahoma State dropped a 3-0 decision to Arkansas before rebounding back for a 6-0 victory over Tulsa. The Cowgirls, who have received votes in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll this season, is led offensively by sophomore outfielder Jade Lindly. Lindly is batting .329 (28-85) with 20 runs, two doubles, 16 walks and a team-high 11 home runs. In the circle, junior left-hander Lauren Bay is 17-8 with six shutouts and 234 strikeouts in 162.0 innings for a 1.12 ERA. Junior right-hander Cami Carter is 9-7 with two shutouts and 83 strikeouts in 107.2 innings for a 1.50 ERA. In the all-time series, Oklahoma State leads the all-time series, 6-5, and has won the last three contests. Fresno State and OSU last met in 1994 and the Cowgirls notched a 2-1 win at the Pony Invitational (now Kia Klassic) and 2-0 victory at the NCAA Women's College World Series. The Bulldogs had won the previous four meetings before dropping three straight to Oklahoma State.
Hawai'i (29-17, 10-1)
Hawai'i, which is 8-2 in its last 10, is coming off Western Athletic Conference play on the road at Louisiana Tech. The Rainbow Wahine, who last played on March 30 before embarking on the road, won three of four in the four-game series (3-0, 1-4, 5-0, 5-1). With a 15-8 home record this season, Hawai'i also has played 23 games on the road in which it is 14-9. Picked to win the WAC this season, UH is spearheaded by junior shortstop Kate Judd, who is hitting .365 (50-137) with 24 runs, 12 doubles, nine home runs, 17 walks and 28 RBI. In league play the 2001 WAC Player of the Year is batting .515 (17-33) with nine runs, four doubles, three home runs, seven walks and five RBI. Sophomore first baseman and 2002 preseason all-WAC Stacey Porter, a fellow Australian, is batting .345 (48-139) overall and .421 (16-38) in conference play. Porter has a team-best 10 home runs and 36 RBI while being walked 15 times. In the circle, sophomore right-hander Sheri Oronoz is 17-7 with two shutouts and 70 strikeouts for a 1.73 ERA in 170.0 innings. Freshman right-hander Melissa Coogan is 8-7 with four shutouts and 42 strikeouts for a 2.18 ERA in 90.0 innings. UH boasts a 17-year home record of 305-173 and is 49-19 in conference play at the Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium. In the all-time series, Fresno State owns a 38-5 series lead. Last year, the two teams split a four-game series in Fresno. The Bulldogs have won 14 of the last 16 meetings.
National Rankings
Fresno State softball has been no stranger to the national polls. Nationally ranked every week for 171 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 151 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.
Southern is ERA Leader
The NCAA released its first set of NCAA Division I softball statistics last Wed., April 10. As a team, the Bulldogs ranked No. 3 in fielding percentage (.976) and tied for No. 4 in ERA (0.93). Individually, Southern leads the nation in ERA (0.38) and is tied for No. 3 in victories (21-6). Just missing the cut off for strikeouts per seven innings, Southern does rank No. 4 in total strikeouts (264, 8.32 per 7/IP).
JSo is SO ...
With a 24-6 record on the year that includes 37 appearances with 29 starts and 28 complete games, Southern has thrown 16 shutouts, two perfect games in three no-hitters, set a single-game school record in strikeouts twice, has three saves and broke the school's freshman record in strikeouts while opponents are batting .129 against her for a 0.35 ERA. Tallying 14 ten-plus strikeout games, Southern has totaled 288 strikeouts in 242.2 innings (8.32 strikeouts 7/IP). Against the Top 25 in her career, Southern is 4-4 with a save, four shutouts and 89 strikeouts in 75.1 innings (8.30 strikeouts 7/IP). In her career, she owns a 26-6 mark that includes three saves, 17 shutouts with 28 complete games in 31 starts and 40 appearances. She has pitched 253.1 innings and has yielded 110 hits, 22 runs (12 earned), 43 walks and 302 strikeouts (8.35 7/IP) for a 0.33 ERA.
Rookie Lineage
As the eighth freshman pitcher to collect 10 victories, Southern became just the fourth rookie pitcher to notch 20 or more wins. Southern, who broke Kristen Hunter's record for most strikeouts in a rookie season (216), is chasing the likes of Terry Carpenter and Marcie Green. Carpenter holds three rookie marks while Green holds two while Carpenter, Hunter and Lindsay Parker were 20-game winners as rookies. Southern already has 288 strikeouts, 16 shutouts and is 24-6 on the year. She owns a season-best highs of four consecutive shutout wins (twice) as a starter, eight consecutive wins, 92.2 innings without an earned run, a streak of 44.2 scoreless innings and an 11.2 hitless innings pitched streak.
Take 5
Southern has garnered Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honors five times this season. As the first pitcher in WAC history to garner four consecutive pitcher of the week accolades, Southern pitched a pair of no-hitters with a nine-day separation. Against Tennessee Tech on March 12, she recorded the program's 53rd no-hitter. Southern threw a perfect game (10th in school history -- second known perfect game in college softball at the time) against UC Riverside on March 3. She then threw her second career perfect game (11th in school history) against San Jose State on April 13. Southern already has set a single-game school record in strikeouts as she threw all 15 innings and struck out 19 in the Bulldogs' 2-1 victory. The 19 strikeouts recorded broke a 20-year old record held by All-American Wende Ward (17 in 14 inn. versus Cal Poly, 1983). She then reset her own single-game strikeout record with 22 against Tulsa in a 1-0, 17-inning game. Having broken the school's rookie record for most strikeouts in a season with 226 against Loyola Marymount on March 23, Southern is 27 shy of setting a single-season school record. Overall, Southern is 11-3 with a no-decision in her last 15 starts. In addition, Southern is 14-4 with a no-decision in her last 19 starts while 20-6 with a no-decision in her last 27 starts (the five starting losses are one-run games, four are extra-inning games and four have come against the Top 25). Having opened the year at 8-0, Southern is 12-2 with a no-decision, a win in relief and a save in her last 17 appearances.
Weekend Recap & Top Performances
With 288 strikeouts on the season, Southern is 26 of tying the school's single-season strikeout record of 314 set in 2000 by four-time First Team All-American Amanda Scott ... She has a current 9.1 hitless innings and a current 44.2 scoreless innings streak ... Senior third baseman Lindsay Fossatti (Tustin) tied the school's career mark in walks with 106 ... She shares the mark with former Bulldog All-America standout Gina LoPiccolo (1988-91) ... That mark of 106 walks ranks No. 28 all-time in NCAA history ... In the doubleheader against Cal Poly, Fossatti hit .800 (4-5) with a walk and a RBI ... Freshman shortstop Leticia Pacheco (Bloomington) had the game-winning hit with a two-out RBI double in the Bulldogs' 2-1 victory over the Mustangs ... She leads the team with 10 two-out RBI performances ... Fresno State had the 15th-largest crowd in school history with 3,038 versus San Jose State ... The Bulldogs have won 14 straight at Bulldog Diamond ... The 'Dogs are riding their longest win streak of the year at eight ... Of the eight wins, six have been shutouts.
Whipple Sizzling
Senior center fielder Tiffany Whipple (Fresno) hit a blistering .667 overall and hit the same in WAC action, too ... In non-conference play versus Cal Poly, Whipple went 4-6 and score a run ... In WAC play versus San Jose State, Whipple went 4-6 with two runs ... In game two, she went 3-3 while scoring the lone run in both games ... Whipple, who has helped Fresno State to an eight-game win streak - longest on season - and helped extend the Bulldogs' home win streak to 14 consecutive, is batting .382 (13-34) with five runs, two RBI, walk, five sacrifices and 2-4 in stolen bases in WAC action as Fresno State moved into sole possession of first place ... Having at least one hit in seven of 10 WAC games played to date, Whipple has a current three-game conference hitting streak and is batting .667 (6-9) with three runs and a RBI ... Overall, Whipple is hitting a team-best .333 (53-159) with a team-high 27 runs, 11 stolen bases and 17 multiple-hit games ... Whipple also currently has a five-game hitting streak overall and is hitting .667 (10-15) with four runs, RBI ... In the five-game hit streak, four of the games are multiple-hit performances ... Two weeks ago against Stanford/Tulsa/Louisiana Tech, Whipple hit .400 (8-20) with two runs, RBI, walk, three sacrifices and 1-1 in stolen bases ... Therefore, in her last 10 games overall, Whipple is batting .500 (16-32), includes six multiple-hit performances, with five runs, RBI, walk, 1-1 stolen bases, and three sacrifices ... In her last six WAC games, which includes three-multi-hit games, Whipple is hitting .474 (9-19) with four runs, RBI, walk, three sacrifices and 1-1 in stolen bases.
NCAA Selection Show
The field for 48 teams for the 2002 NCAA Division I Softball Championship will be announced on a selection show at 9:00 p.m. (EDT) on Sunday, May 12. The softball selection show will appear on ESPNEWS, which is on DirecTV channel 207 and Dish Network channel 142.
2002 Fresno State Softball Notebook
Sr., 1B/2B, Vanessa Czarnecki
Has five multiple-hit games ... has turned seven double plays ... in career, ranks No. 2 in career sacrifices (61) at FS & in WAC history ... 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 11 multiple-hit games & two 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 & ranks seventh all-time at FS (11) ... has turned six of team's 12 double plays ... has walked 2 or more times in nine different games ...has eight two-out RBI performances ... in career, school & WAC record holder in walks (106) -- ranks No. 28 in NCAA history ... 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/LHP, Lori Hoffman
Has eight multiple-hit games & two multiple RBI game ... has a season-best & career-best seven-game hit streak & batted .423 (9-21) with a double, five RBI, sac fly & 10 total bases ... has five two-out RBI performances ... in the circle, has made four appearances with two starts & two relief (0-2, lost at #8 Arizona State & #9 CS Fullerton) ...in career, has 15 appearances vs. Top 25 teams with eight 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 10 multiple-hit games & three multiple RBI ... owns season-best seven-game hit streak & batted . 435 (10-23, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 10 TB, 2-2 SB) ... has seven two-out RBI performances ... has turned five double plays.
Jr., RHP, Leslie Poole
Is 11-3 on year in 14 starts & a 1.85 ERA ... has a win in relief vs. Penn State, Indiana & Portland State ... is 2-3 vs. Top 25 ... tied career-high six strikeouts vs. Boston University ... is 7-2 in her last 12 starts with three no-decisions ... has a season-best streak of 22.1 scoreless innings ... WAC Pitcher of the Week (April 8) ... in career, has 47.2 scoreless innings streak ... has two one-hitters, three two-hitters & two three-hitters in career... 4x 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 24-6 in 29 starts with 16 shutouts & 288 strikeouts in 242.2 IP for a 0.35 ERA ... has 14 ten-strikeout games & is averaging 8.32 strikeouts a game ... threw a perfect game vs. UC Riverside (March 3) & vs. San Jose State (April 13) ... has three no-hitters on the year (UCR, Tennessee Tech & San Jose State) ... is 4-4 vs. Top 25 teams with a save while recording four shutouts & 89 strikeouts in 75.1 IP (8.30 strikeouts 7/IP) ... has a current streak of 44.2 IP & season-best streak of 92.2 innings without an earned run ... 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 a then single-game school record 19 strikeouts vs. #10 Pacific before tallying 22 against Tulsa for a new school and WAC single-game mark ... has yielded 22 total runs (seven via fielding errors) ... has eight multiple-hit games & five multiple RBI ... had a season-high six-game hit streak & batted .300 (6-20, double, 3 RBI, BB) ... earlier had a six-game hit streak & batted .348 (8-23, 5 R, triple, HR, 2 BB, SF, 2 RBI & 13 TB) ... has eight two-out RBI performances ... five-time WAC Pitcher of the Week (Feb. 11 & 18 & 25, March 4 & 18) ... Louisville Slugger/NFCA Player of the Week (March 7) ... has turned four double plays ... in career is 26-6 with three saves & 17 shutouts with 28 complete games in 31 starts & 40 appearances ... In 253.1 career innings pitched, she has yielded 110 hits, 22 runs, 12 earned runs, 43 walks while striking out 302 (8.35 strikeouts 7/IP) for a 0.33 ERA ... has career-best 11.2 hitless IP streak, a career-best 44.2 scoreless IP & a career-best 92.2 innings without an earned run ... 2002 NFCA Leadoff & Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet all-tourney ... 2002 preseason all-WAC & WAC Pitcher of the Year ... 2002 Top 25 finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year.
Jr., C, Pam West
Has 11 multiple-hit games & one multiple RBI ... recorded GWH vs. No. 10 Pacific ... has four two-out RBI games ... has thrown out 13 would-be basestealers in 27 tries ... has turned one double play ... in last two seasons, has thrown out 33 for a 62% accuracy (20-53) ... last year, led nation in percentage of runners thrown out (74%, 7-27) by catching 20 ... in career, has thrown out 46 would-be basestealers (48-94) for a 49% accuracy ... 2002 preseason all-WAC ... 2x Fresno State Scholar-Athlete ... 2000 WAC all-Academic.
Sr., CF, Tiffany Whipple
Has a team-high 17 multiple-hit games ... leads team in batting (.333), hits (53), runs (27) & stolen bases (11) ... owns a current five-game hitting streak & is batting .667 (10-15) with four runs & a RBI ... had a six-game hit streak & batted .429 (9-21, 5 runs, 3 walks, SF, 2-2 SB, 2 RBI, 9 TB) ... in career: 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.
