Fresno State Athletics
No. 13 Softball Continues Road Swing
4/23/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 23, 2002
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State Wraps Up 10-Game Road Swing
Fresno State wraps up its 10-game road swing this week when it travels to Louisiana Tech on Thur., April 25, 5:00 p.m. (CDT) and Tulsa on Sat., April 27, 1:00 p.m. (CDT). Coming off a 5-1 road record, the Bulldogs went 2-0 at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Softball Challenge with wins over then No. 9 Oklahoma and Oklahoma State before taking three of four from Hawai'i.
Bulldogs in First Place in WAC Standings
After going 3-1 on the road in Western Athletic Conference play last week, Fresno State is in first place in the league standings with a 12-2 worksheet. The Bulldogs are two games up over second-place Hawai'i (11-5) and four games up over third-place Tulsa (8-6). Looking to put more distance between itself and UH this week, Fresno State owns WAC losses at Loyola Marymount (1-0 in 9 inn.) and at Hawai'i (5-1). The Rainbow Wahine have recorded losses at San Jose State (2-1) and at Louisiana Tech (4-1) before losing three at home to the Bulldogs (6-4, 3-2 in 8 inn., 4-1). Tulsa and Loyola Marymount are just four games out of first place. Tulsa, which has 10 WAC games left on its schedule, plays its next six conference games at home against San Jose State, Fresno State and Louisiana Tech. The Golden Hurricane have recorded losses at Fresno State (1-0 in 17 inn., 2-1), at San Jose State (2-1), at Loyola Marymount (1-0) and at Portland State (2-0). Loyola Marymount, which has just four WAC games left on the docket, plays at Fresno State and hosts Portland State to wrap up league play.
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 went 8-10 against the Top 25, is 41-14 on the season. Of the 14 losses, 10 have come by two or less runs (eight one-run losses with three of them via extra innings). Thirteen of the losses have occurred on the road and of those 13, 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 has featured 14 games against the Top 10 with 12 of those meetings being on the road. Of the 'Dogs 12 games remaining on the regular-season, six 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 of 10 finalists by May 3 with the 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. Entering the year as only the second NCAA Division I coach to amass 900 or more Division I career wins, she owns an impressive 872-257-1 (.772) mark with the Bulldogs and a 23-year career record of 1,019-337-3 (.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, 200 (2-1 vs. CS Northridge). She 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.
Louisiana Tech (19-21, 3-15)
Louisiana Tech, which has lost its last seven straight, hosts Grambling in non-conference play on Tuesday to begin an eight-game homestand and close out its regular-season schedule. The Lady Techsters are coming off WAC play on the road in which they dropped two at Portland State (4-0, 3-2) and three at Loyola Marymount (1-0, 7-1, 4-0). With a 2-8 mark in its last 10 games, Louisiana Tech resumes conference action with Fresno State on Thursday before hosting San Jose State on Saturday. It closes out its regular-season at home with WAC opponent Tulsa next Monday. The Lady Techsters are being led by freshman outfielder Brittany Stanley, who is batting .264 (34-129) with 17 runs and 22-25 in stolen bases. Sophomore infielder Melissa Johnson is hitting .233 (28-120) but leads the team in runs (18), doubles (8) and home runs (3) while second in RBI (15). In the circle, sophomore right-hander Lindsey Meadows is 11-10 with three shutouts and 153 strikeouts for a 2.44 ERA in 144.0 innings. Meeting for the first time on April 6 in Fresno, Fresno State took two from Louisiana Tech (3-0, 9-0 in 5 inn.).
Tulsa (39-12, 8-6)
Tulsa, which is 5-2 in its last seven games, hosts Pittsburgh State in non-conference play on Tuesday also to begin an eight-game homestand. The Golden Hurricane also is coming off WAC play on the road in which they split with Loyola Marymount (1-0, 0-1) and Portland State (0-2, 3-1). With a 6-4 mark in its last 10 games, Tulsa resumes league action with San Jose State on Thursday before hosting Fresno State on Saturday. The Golden Hurricane is being led by senior outfielder Jessie Smith, who is batting .343 (47-137) with 25 runs, six doubles, four home runs, 14 walks and 20-25 in stolen bases. Junior infielder Danielle Olsen, who is hitting .309 (51-165) leads the team in hits, runs (28) and RBI (33) while junior infielder Crissy Strimple, who is batting .331 (46-139) leads the team in doubles (10), home runs (7) and walks (29) while third in runs (24). In the first meeting of the year on April 4 in Fresno, Fresno State captured the doubleheader by a pair of runs (1-0 in 17 inn., 2-1). In the all-time series, Fresno State owns a 17-0 lead.
National Rankings
Fresno State softball has been no stranger to the national polls. Nationally ranked every week for 172 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 are the most ever by a Bulldog athletic team.
Southern is ERA Leader
The NCAA released its second set of NCAA Division I softball statistics on Wed., April 17. As a team, the Bulldogs ranked No. 3 in fielding (.978) for the second straight week and moved up one to No. 3 in ERA (0.88). The 'Dogs also checked in at No. 29 in win-loss percentage (.735, 36-13). Individually, Southern leads the nation in ERA (0.35) for the second straight week and is second in the nation in wins (24). She is tied for No. 22 in saves (3) and also ranks No. 27 in strikeouts per seven innings (288, 8.3).
JSo is SO ...
With a 28-6 record on the year that includes 41 appearances with 33 starts and 32 complete games, Southern has thrown 17 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 .138 against her for a 0.47 ERA. Tallying 15 ten-plus strikeout games, Southern has totaled 313 strikeouts in 270.2 innings (8.11 strikeouts 7/IP). Against the Top 25 in her career, Southern is 5-4 with a save while recording four shutouts and 94 strikeouts in 82.1 innings (8.01 strikeouts 7/IP). In her career, she owns a 30-6 mark that includes three saves, 18 shutouts with 32 complete games and 44 appearances. She has pitched 281.1 innings and has yielded 131 hits, 28 runs (18 earned), 47 walks and 328 strikeouts (8.17 strikeouts 7/IP) for a 0.45 ERA.
Rookie Lineage
As the eighth freshman pitcher to collect 10 victories, Southern became just the fourth rookie pitcher to not 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 313 strikeouts, 17 shutouts and is 28-6 on the year. She owns a season-best highs of four consecutive shutouts wins (twice) as a starter, nine consecutive wins, 92.2 innings without an earned run, a streak of 52.1 scoreless innings and an 11.2 hitless innings pitched streak.
Take 6
Southern has garnered Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honors six 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 has tallied the second-most wins by a rookie pitcher with 28 victories. She is looking to set two more rookie marks and a single-season school record in strikeouts. Southern is three wins shy for most wins by a freshman (31) and four shy for most shutouts (21). She also is one strikeout shy of tying the Fresno State strikeout record (314). Overall, Southern is 15-3 with a no-decision in her last 19 starts. In addition, she is 18-4 with a no-decision in her last 23 starts and 24-6 with a no-decision in her last 31 starts (the five starting losses are one-run games, four losses are extra-inning games and four have come against Top 10 teams). Having opened the year at 8-0, Southern is 16-2 with a no-decision, a win in relief and a save in her last 21 appearances.
Fossatti Garners WAC Player of the Week Honors
Senior third baseman Lindsay Fossatti (Tustin) propelled the Bulldogs to a 5-1 mark on the road that included 2-0 record at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Softball Challenge with a Top 10 victory over No. 9 Oklahoma and three wins over second-place Hawai'i to put the Bulldogs up two games over UH in the WAC standing. Fossatti, who helped the Bulldogs post their longest win streak at 13 straight, led the team in hits (8), runs (4), doubles (3), home runs (2), RBI (8), total bases (17), walks (2) and slugging percentage (1.000). Defensively, she helped turn two of the team's four double plays. Fossatti broke the school's career mark in walks against Hawai'i in the first game of the four the meetings and now has 110 walks (surpassed Gina LoPiccolo, 107) - that marks ranks No. 25 all-time in NCAA history. In the two games at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Softball Challenge versus No. 9 Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, Fossatti batted .500 (3-6) with a run, two doubles, three RBI and five total bases for a .833 slugging percentage. In the four game WAC series against Hawai'i, Fossatti batted .455 (5-11) with three runs, double, two home runs, five RBI and four walks. Fossatti had a hit in every game but one last week but reached base safely in all six. In the six games, she had three multiple-hit performances and three multiple-RBI games. She has hit safely in 10 of her last 12 games and is batting .469 (15-32) with five runs, 12 RBI, four doubles, two home runs, six walks, a sacrifice fly and 25 total bases for a .781 slugging percentage. In addition, Fossatti has hit safely in 14 of her last 17 and is batting .412 (21-51) with five runs, 13 RBI, seven doubles, two home runs, six walks, a sacrifice, a sacrifice fly and 34 total bases for a .667 slugging percentage. Fossatti leads the team overall in batting (.335), doubles (11), home runs (4), RBI (24), walks (33), sacrifice fly (3) and total bases (77).
Weekend Recap & Top Performances
With 313 strikeouts on the season, Southern is one shy of tying the school's single-season strikeout record of 314 set in 2000 by four-time First Team All-American Amanda Scott ... At the plate, Southern hit .667 (4-6) with two doubles and three RBI in the two games at the Oklahoma Farm Bureau Softball Challenge ... Sophomore second baseman Pam Perez (Fresno) hit .385 (5-13) with a run, hit by pitch, two sacrifices and a RBI in the four-game WAC series against Hawai'i ... Perez is batting .386 (17-44) with five runs, five walks, five sacrifices, 2-2 in stolen bases, 17 total bases and three RBI to lead the Bulldogs in WAC play ... Sophomore designated player Lori Hoffman (Benicia) had the game-winning hit in the 'Dogs 3-2, eight inning victory with a solo home run to lead off the inning ... Fresno State had its 13-game win streak halted in the final game of the road trip against Hawai'i ... Of the 13 wins, seven came via shutouts ... The Bulldogs went 5-1 on the road with a Top 10 victory.
Miscellaneous Notes
Fresno State is 13-5 in its last 18 and 14-6 in last 20 and 16-6 in its last 22 ... Of the five losses in the Bulldogs' last 18 games, one was an extra-inning and four were to two Top Five teams (UCLA and Stanford) - all on the road ... The Bulldogs have played eight extra inning games this season and are 5-3 in extra work ... 10 of Fresno State's 14 losses on the year have come by two or less runs (eight one-run losses with three of them via extra innings)... 13 losses have occurred on the road and of those 13, 10 are against Top 25 with nine coming against the Top 10 and six against the Top Five ... Fresno State is 8-10 versus the Top 25 this season ... The Bulldogs played 18 games against the Top 25 in their first 42 games with 14 coming against the Top 10.
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 ESPNNEWS, which is on DirecTV channel 207 and Dish Network channel 142.
