Fresno State Athletics
Softball Opens April at Home with Six-Game Homestand
4/1/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 1, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Bulldogs Open April at Home
The Fresno State softball team will open the month of April at home when it hosts UC Riverside on Wed., April 2, 6:00 p.m., and Hawai'i in a four-game Western Athletic Conference series on Fri., April 4, 6:00 p.m., and Sat., April 5, 5:00 p.m. The Bulldogs also will wrap up a 14-game homestand in which they have gone 7-1 through the first eight games.
Western Athletic Conference Play Begins
Fresno State opens Western Athletic Conference play this weekend when the Bulldogs host Hawai'i in a four game series, April 4-5, at Bulldog Diamond. The April 4th game will start at 6:00 p.m. while the April 5th game is slated for a 5:00 p.m. start. The original starting time for the April 5th game was 1:00 p.m. but due to a new league rule, WAC contests now must have a 24-hour break between game days.
League Openers
In the 25-year history of the Fresno State softball program, the Bulldogs are 21-4 in conference openers overall and 10-0 in ten years of being a WAC member. In league openers at home over the last 25 seasons, the 'Dogs are 24-1 overall and 8-0 in WAC home openers (2-0 on road). Fresno State softball head coach Margie Wright has led the Bulldogs to a 15-2 mark in league openers and 10-0 in WAC openers. In conference home openers under Wright, Fresno State is 17-0 overall and 8-0 in WAC (2-0 on road). In the 10 years of WAC action, Fresno State is 199-47 (.809) since joining the league in 1993.
Girl Scouts Day
On Sat., April 5, Fresno State and the Girl Scouts have teamed up to celebrate Girl Scouts Day at Bulldog Diamond. All girl scouts will receive a discounted ticket for $2 off general admission tickets. Interested parties should call the Girl Scouts Golden Valley Council at 291-5078 for tickets and information.
Is This Late?
Believe it or not this weekend's WAC opener is not the latest opening weekend in league play for Fresno State. Fresno State opened the 2000 WAC season at home on April 8 against Portland State. The 2000 Bulldogs were supposed to open conference action at Loyola Marymount on Feb. 27 but rain washed out the doubleheader.
Head Coach Margie Wright
As the NCAA's all-time winningest coach in Division I softball, head coach Margie Wright (Illinois State, 1974) is in her 18th season at the helm of the Fresno State softball program. Wright, who became the first Division I softball coach and 24th Division I head coach overall to record 1,000 Division I victories last year, is three wins shy of tallying her 900th school victory with an 18-year school mark of 897-278-1 (.764). The 1998 NCAA National Coach of the Year boasts a 24-year career record of 1,044-358-3 (.744). With 10 NCAA Women's College World Series trips under her belt, the eight-time conference coach of the year has collected 13 outright or shared conference titles, a Western Athletic Conference tournament championship, 10 regional championship crowns and 17 straight NCAA postseason appearances at Fresno State. Wright is the only coach in the program's 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. Owning a 445-83 (.844) all-time mark at Bulldog Diamond, Wright has recorded 13 50-win campaigns and has averaged 52 wins a season while coaching 45 All-Americans, 13 Verizon Academic All-Americans, four NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship winners and one NCAA Top VIII awardee. In the postseason, Wright is 59-30 with a NCAA title, three national runner-up finishes, three third-place showings and three fifth-place finishes at the NCAA Women's College World Series. Having served on the national level as a USA assistant head coach that won gold in the 1996 Olympic Games and at the ISF World Championships as well as a head coach for the USA Junior Women's National Team that won gold in 1995, Wright has made Fresno State one of just three programs in Division I softball to make eight or more trips to the Women's College World Series.
Three is Magic Number
Head coach Margie Wright is three wins shy of picking up her 900th school victory. Coaching her 1,400th game against CS Northridge three weeks ago, the Bulldogs gave Wright a 3-2 victory in the first game of the non-conference twin bill. The NFCA Hall of Famer and the NCAA's all-time winningest softball coach is 445-83 (.844) at Bulldog Diamond.
Lunch with Margie
Two dates are left to have lunch with head coach Margie Wright. The luncheons will start at 11:30 a.m. and will occur once a month during the year at the Silver Dollar Hofbrau. The remaining dates are April 21 and May 12.
Softball TV/Radio Package
Fresno State softball will have all 30 home games broadcast live on television and/or radio as well as on the internet this season. Comcast (ch. 14), The Big Dawg 1430 AM and KFSR 90.7 FM have teamed up to bring live coverage of Bulldog softball. In addition, KFSR 90.7 FM will broadcast select road games. The campus radio station will travel to Stockton, Calif., and broadcast the non-conference doubleheader live when Fresno State and Pacific tangle on Tue., April 8, 1:00 p.m.
Bulldog Bus Tours
Three bus tours have been set up for the 2003 Fresno State softball season with trips to Pacific, San Jose State and Nevada. For information call (559) 225-3164.
Youth Softball Day at Bulldog Diamond
In mid-April, Fresno State will celebrate "Youth Softball Day" at Bulldog Diamond. On Sat., April 19, Fresno State will host San Jose State in 1:00 p.m. WAC contest. Tickets are now available for all ASA and youth softball players to purchase a $3.00 ticket. The price includes game ticket and a lunch to be held in the grass area outside of Bulldog Diamond. All seats are general admission. Youth day activities will begin at 9:00 a.m. Bulldog softball trading cards will be distributed. For questions or more information call (559) 244-2800.
Pitcher's Best Friend
Senior catcher Pam West (Corona, Calif.) has been one of the best kept secrets around the nation at the catching position since first arriving at Fresno State. Leading the nation in runners thrown out as a sophomore, West owns a career .993 fielding percentage in 1,516 career total chances. In the last three years, she has thrown out 49 would-be basestealers for a 61% accuracy (31-80) while, in her career, she has thrown out 61 and owns a 51% accuracy (59-120).
Southern Cooking
At the plate, sophomore pitcher/utility player Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.) is showcasing her sweet swing from her first debut as a Bulldog. In the Bulldogs' nine-game win streak, she batted .360 (9-25) with four runs, double, triple, two home runs, four walks, hit by pitch, eight RBI and 18 total bases for a .720 slugging percentage. Over the past 14 games in which Fresno State has gone 11-3, Southern is hitting .325 (13-40) with eight runs, two doubles, triple, four home runs, five walks, hit by pitch, 11 RBI and 29 total bases for a .725 slugging percentage. In the circle, Southern has gone 5-0 in her last five starts, including a 2-0 victory over No. 12 Stanford in which she tossed a one-hitter and struck out 11 Cardinal. The one-hitter was Southern's sixth of her career and the shutout was career No. 28. With five shutouts on the season, the 11 strikeouts versus No. 12 Stanford was her 10th of the season and 29th of her Bulldog career. In the last 33.0 innings in which she has gone 5-0, Southern has thrown three shutouts while giving up 19 hits, three runs (two earned), three walks and has struck out 41 (8.70 strikeouts per 7/IP) for a 0.42 ERA.
Poole's Reflection
Senior right-handed pitcher Leslie Poole (Rootstown, Ohio) is providing the one-two punch with Southern in the circle. The last two weeks she has gone the distance in all four starts. With a 3-1 record, that includes two shutouts and 12 strikeouts to just two walks, Poole has given up just two runs (both earned) for a 0.50 ERA in the last 28.0 innings. In fact, she has given up just two walks in her last 40.2 innings while striking out 21. In Poole's last 39.1 innings, she also has given up just two walks to 21 strikeouts and has yielded six runs (four earned) for a 0.72 ERA. In her last seven appearances Poole is 4-1 with a win in relief, a no-decision and five starts. With a 4-3 record, two shutouts, six walks, 26 strikeouts and a no-decision on the year, Poole has lowered her ERA to 1.66 in 50.2 innings of work. Poole, who owns a season-best streak of 24.0 innings pitched without a walk, went 3-0 with a no-decision, two shutouts, four runs (two earned), one walk and 12 strikeouts in 24.0 innings for a 0.58 ERA in the 'Dogs' nine-game win streak.
Clark Garners WAC Player of the Week
Leading the Bulldogs to a 6-0 mark two weeks ago, freshman shortstop Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.) lit it up at the plate and was named WAC Player of the Week last Mon., March 24. She hit .600 (12-20) while collecting seven extra base hits (two doubles, two triples and three home runs) and four multiple-hit and one multiple-RBI game while hitting in seven, stealing a base and collecting 27 total bases for a 1.350 slugging percentage. Clark was the first Bulldog in softball history to hit three home runs in a doubleheader (versus Long Island). With eight long balls on the year, she moved into the No. 9 spot all-time in school history for career home runs. With 10 multiple hit games on the year, Clark set a single-game school record for total bases with 10 against Long Island. Against the Blackbirds she hit .714 (5-7) with three runs, a double, three home runs, four RBI and 15 total bases for a 2.143 slugging percentage. In the doubleheader against CS Northridge, Clark batted .429 (3-7) with a run, two triples, hit by pitch, a RBI and seven total bases for a 1.000 slugging percentage. She hit her first and second career three baggers against the Matadors. Clark also hit in the first run and scored the tying run before Fresno State went on to win 3-2. Batting .667 (4-6) in the doubleheader versus San Diego State, Clark scored three runs, had a double, a walk, went 1-1 in stolen bases, had two RBI while totaling five total bases for an .833 slugging percentage. Spearheading the Bulldogs' nine-game win streak, Clark batted .533 (16-30) with 11 runs, three doubles, two triples, four home runs, walk, hit by pitch, 1-1 stolen bases, eight RBI and 35 total bases for an astonishing 1.167 slugging percentage as she has hit safely in eight of the nine games.
Throw it My Way
Clark is wasting no time in making every at bat count. In her last eight games alone she is batting .577 (15-26) with eight runs, two doubles, two triples, three home runs, seven RBI, walk, hit by pitch, 1-1 in stolen bases and 30 total bases for a 1.154 slugging percentage. In her last 14 games, she is batting .435 (20-46) with 13 runs, three doubles, three triples, four home runs, a walk, two hit by pitch, sac fly, 1-1 stolen bases and 41 total bases for an amazing .891 slugging percentage. Leading the team in virtually every offensive category, Clark is batting .350 (36-103) with 26 runs, five doubles, three triples, eight home runs, four walks, three hit by pitch, two sac flies, 2-2 stolen bases, 19 RBI and 71 total bases for a .689 slugging percentage. She also had team-best 10 multiple-hit games while tied for team lead in multiple RBI (4) ... Freshman designated player Elizabeth Pierce (Clovis, has hit safely in seven of her last nine and is batting .357 (10-28) with two runs, RBI and 10 total bases ... In her last 10, Pierce is hitting .313 (10-32) with two runs and a RBI ... Sophomore second baseman Leticia Pacheco (Bloomington, Calif.) has hit safely in five of her last seven and is batting .400 (6-15) with five runs, double, triple, walk, three hit by pitch, 1-1 stolen bases, three RBI and nine total bases for a .563 slugging percentage ...With four multiple-hit games in her last nine games, freshman third baseman Angelina Diaz (Madera, Calif.) has hit safely in five of her last seven and is batting .350 (7-20) with two runs, four sacrifices, a walk and 1-1 in stolen bases ... Diaz also has been hot at the plate in the last 10 games by hitting .429 (12-28) with five runs, three walks, four sacrifices, 1-1 stolen bases and a RBI.
Team Notables
Fresno State had its nine-game win streak halted last week when No. 12 Stanford took game 2, 1-0, of the non-conference doubleheader ... Fresno State is 7-1 with five shutouts and a mercy run-rule victory at Bulldog Diamond the last two weeks... In this span the Bulldogs have outscored their opponents 30-4 while batting .314 (64-204) while, in the circle, the 'Dogs have been greedy as well by honing a 0.39 ERA with five shutouts and 42 strikeouts while giving up four runs (three earned) and four walks in 54.0 innings as opponents are batting .173 (32-185) against ... Fresno State is coming off a split with No. 12 Stanford as the Bulldogs won game one, 2-0, behind a one-hit, 11-strikeout performance by Southern ... In this game, Clark went 2-3 with a run while junior right fielder Lori Hoffman (Benicia, Calif.) collected both RBI as she went 1-3 ... In the night cap, the Cardinal picked up a 1-0 win as the Bulldogs were limited to two hits ... Clark extended her hitting streak to four games as she is batting .538 (7-13) with four runs, two RBI, double, walk, 1-1 in stolen bases and eight total bases for a .615 slugging percentage ... Hoffman has hit safely in five of her last six as she is batting .333 (6-18) with four runs, two doubles, two walks, six RBI and eight total bases for a .500 slug percentage.
Young Team Responding Despite Tough Losses
Of the 15 losses endured this season, nine have come by one run and 10 have happened by two runs or less. Of the nine one-run losses, four have happened in extra innings -- all courtesy of the international tie-breaker rule. Of the ten Top 25 games played, Fresno State is 2-8 with five of the eight losses coming by a run. The Bulldogs recorded their first Top 25 win on March 14 they defeated No. 3 Nebraska, 7-3, at the Kia Klassic. The Bulldogs then split with No. 12 Stanford, 2-0 and 0-1, on March 23. Fresno State, which opened the season at 5-12, is 11-3 in its last 14. Owning a nine-game win streak, Fresno State has won nine of its last 10. Despite the bumps in the road, the 'Dogs have played one of the toughest preseason schedules in the country.
UC Riverside (5-24)
Enduring an 11-game losing streak, the Highlanders are coming off Big West Conference play at Long Beach State (1-3, 0-5, 0-1). Offensively, freshman third baseman Melissa Sanchez is leading the way as she is batting .288 (21-73) with nine runs, four doubles, home run, seven walks and nine RBI. In the circle, junior right- hander Jenell Jackson is 1-13 with a shutout and 44 strikeouts in 85.1 innings for a 4.59 ERA. Freshman right-hander Kimberly Dillon leads the staff with three wins (3-6) with one shutout and eight strikeouts in 45.1 innings for a 6.33 ERA. Meeting for the first time two years ago, Fresno State is 3-1 against the Highlanders with three shutout wins in the last three contests.
Hawai'i (18-13)
Playing at UNC-Greensboro on Tuesday, the Rainbow Wahine enters the week with a 4-4 mark in their last eight games. UH is being led offensively by First Team All-WAC and junior first baseman Stacey Porter, who is batting .470 (39-83) with 26 runs, 11 doubles, two triples, six home runs, 22 walks, 19 RBI and 72 total bases for a .867 slugging percentage. Junior left fielder April Crowell is next with a .302 (29-96) batting average with 12 runs, seven doubles, seven home runs, eight walks and 22 RBI. In the circle, sophomore right-handed pitcher Melissa Coogan has been the staff workhorse. Appearing in 22 games, she owns a 14-7 record with five shutouts and 53 strikeouts in 137.0 innings for a 1.64 ERA. Sophomore right-hander Shannon Tabion has the other four wins with a 4-6 mark as she has struck out 54 in 67.0 innings for a 2.93 ERA. In the all-time series, Fresno State leads 42-6 and has won nine of the last 12. Last month, the Bulldogs recorded a 3-1 win over Hawai'i at the Kia Klassic on March 14.
National Rankings
Fresno State softball has been no stranger to the national polls. Owning the longest streak for consecutive weeks (178) ranked in NCAA Division I softball history, the Bulldogs have been nationally ranked in the Top 25 for 178 of 183 weeks since the NCAA's first Top 15 poll in 1983. In addition Fresno State has been in the nation's Top 25 polls for 21 straight years. Appearing in the Top 10 for 151 weeks, the 'Dogs achieved their first No. 1 national ranking on March 14, 1989. They 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. The softball program's five No. 1 rankings is the most ever by a Bulldog athletic team.
Ferreira WAC Pitcher of the Week
Freshman right-hander Laura Ferreira (El Sobrante, Calif.) picked up her first collegiate win in her second career start as a Bulldog with a 5-1 victory over Santa Clara. Making her home debut, Ferreira scattered five hits over seven innings while giving up one run and two walks with three strikeouts. She is the first Bulldog to garner WAC honors during the year.
Southern WAC Pitcher/Player of the Week
After being named WAC Pitcher of the Week twice this season and nine times in her career, Southern sandwiched a WAC Player of the Week accolade (March 17) for the first time in her career in between weekly pitching honors. Last month Southern became the eighth Bulldog pitcher as well as the quickest Bulldog hurler to tally 500-career strikeouts (64 appearances). Three weeks ago, Southern's sweet swing from her freshman year came to light as she batted .368 (7-19) with six runs, seven hits, double, walk, four homes, nine RBI and 20 total bases for a 1.053 slugging percentage. As the first Bulldog to collect a multi home-run performance since Nina Lindenberg (4 times in 1997), Southern batted .385 (5-13) and hit four home runs with eight RBI while totaling 17 total bases for a 1.308 slugging percentage at the Kia Klassic. Hitting four home runs in a span of two days, she hit a three-run shot against No. 3 Nebraska and a two-run home run versus Hawai'i while collecting a pair of solo shots against No. 13 DePaul.
No. 8 On the Move
Wearing uniform No. 8, Southern continues to move up the school's and the WAC's career charts in pitching. With 576 career strikeouts, she ranks fifth in school history and sixth in league history. At Fresno State, Southern reached the 500-career strikeout plateau against Cal Poly on March 6 when she struck out seven. She became the eighth Bulldog pitcher and the sixth WAC hurler to tally 500-career strikeouts. In addition, Southern became the quickest Bulldog pitcher to post 500 career strikeouts as she accomplished the feat in 64 appearances. With 158 strikeouts in 117.1 innings of work and 10 ten-strikeout games on the season, Southern is averaging 9.44 strikeouts on the year. In 481.0 career innings pitched, she is averaging 8.38 strikeouts per seven innings and has given up 36 earned runs for a 0.52 ERA while being 45-18 with 28 shutouts in her Bulldog career. In her last 86.1 innings of work, Southern has yielded 10 earned runs, 13 walks and has struck out 116 (9.43 strikeouts/7 IP) for a 0.81 ERA.
JSo on USA Softball Watch List
For the second straight year, Southern is on the USA Softball national watch list for its end of the year award given to the top collegiate softball player. Last year, Southern was one of four finalists.
2003 Bulldog Softball Notebook
Fr., SS, Christina Clark
Leads the team in batting (.350), hits (36), runs (26), home runs (8), home runs (8), total bases (71) and slugging percentage (.689) while sharing team lead in RBI (19) and second in doubles (5) ... has hit safely in nine of last 10 & is batting .515 (17-33) with 11 runs, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs, walk, hit by pitch, 8 RBI & 36 total bases for a 1.091 slug pct. ... first Bulldog to hit 3 home runs in a doubleheader ... has 10 multiple hit & four multiple RBI games ... hit first collegiate home run versus No. 24 Texas A&M ... already ranks No. 9 in career home runs at Fresno State ... set a single-game school record in total bases (10) vs. Long Island ... 2003 Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic All-Tourney ... WAC Player of the Week (March 24) ... preseason all-WAC.
Fr., 3B/OF, Angelina Diaz
Has 27 starts with four in left field, one in right and 22 at third base ... scored first collegiate run against New Mexico ... first collegiate hit & RBI versus Santa Clara ... has a season-best five-game hit streak & batted .412 (7-17) with a run, two sacrifices and 1-1 in stolen bases ... has four multiple hit games ... has team-best in sacrifices (9).
Fr., RHP, Laura Ferreira
Made first collegiate start versus Wisconsin and had a no-decision ... picked up first collegiate win versus Santa Clara in second career start ... has made eight showings and six starts with two relief appearances ... is 2-2 with three no-decisions, 24 strikeouts and a 2.79 ERA in 32.2 innings ... is 1-0 vs. Top 25 after picking up a 7-3 victory over No. 3 Nebraska ... WAC Pitcher of the Week (March 3).
Jr., RF/LHP, Lori Hoffman
Has made 30 starts in right field and one at pitching and designated player ... leads the team in doubles (6) and shares team-lead in RBI (19), second in hits (31), runs (12) and batting (.304) ... has eight multiple hit & five multiple RBI games ... in last 14 games is batting .295 (13-44) with 7 runs, 3 doubles, 5 walks, 12 RBI & 16 total bases for a .363 slug pct. ... 2003 Campbell/Cartier All-Tourney... in the circle, she has made 16 career appearances vs. Top 25 with nine starts ... owns career-best streaks of 25.0 scoreless & without an earned run in innings pitched.
Jr., CF, Mitzi Ing
Has made 31 starts in center field ... has one multiple hit & multiple RBI game ... second on the team in walks (7) and sacrifices (6) ... has a pair of three-game hit streaks this season.
Jr., 1B/UT, Shasta Lewis
Has made 24 starts with eight starts as the designated player, two in left field and 10 at first base ... has four multiple hit games ... first hit as a Bulldog versus #4 Nebraska (2-3) ... knocked in first RBI against Iowa State ... scored first run versus New Mexico ... had game-winning hit versus Santa Clara.
So., 2B, Leticia Pacheco
Has 31 starts at second base ... has four multiple hit games ... has a season-best five-game hit streak & batted .462 (6-13) with 5 runs, double, triple, walk, hit by pitch, 3 RBI, 1-1 stolen bases & 9 total bases for a .692 slug pct. ... in last eight games is hitting .353 (6-17) with 5 runs, double, triple, walk, 3 hit by pitch, 1-1 stolen bases, 3 RBI & 9 total bases for a .600 slug pct. ... 2002 second team all-WAC.
Sr., RHP, Leslie Poole
Has made five relief appearances (Wisconsin , #4 Michigan, BYU, Southern Utah & Notre Dame ) and has one win & two losses ... is 4-3 with a 1.66 ERA in 50.2 innings of work ... in last 40.2 innings, has given up 2 walks while striking out 21 ... in last 39.1 innings, has given up 2 walks, struck out 21 & has yielded six runs (four earned) for a 0.72 ERA in last seven appearances, is 4-1 with a win in relief and a no-decision in five starts ... has season-best 24.0 innings pitched without a walk ... in career, has 47.2 scoreless innings streak ... has two one-hitters, four two-hitters & two three-hitters.
So., RHP/UT, Jamie Southern
Is 10-8 on the year with 5 shutouts, 158 strikeouts and a 0.84 ERA in 17 starts ... is averaging 9.44 strikeouts per 7/IP in 117.1 innings ... has ten 10-strikeout games ... has season-high 13 strikeouts vs. Kansas ... has a three one-hitters & two two-hitters on year ... is 1-4 against the Top 25 and three losses have been by a run (#4 Nebraska, #24 Texas A&M, #13 DePaul) ... has given up nine earned runs, 11 walks and has struck out 101 in last 67.1 innings for a 0.94 ERA ... 2003 Campbell/Cartier All-Tournament ...in career, has tallied 29 career 10-strikeout games ... is 45-18 with four saves & 28 shutouts with 56 complete games in 60 starts & 73 appearances ... in 481.0 innings pitched, has yielded 239 hits, 56 runs, 36 earned runs, 85 walks while striking out 576 (8.38 strikeouts 7/IP) for a 0.52 ERA ... owns career-best 11.2 hitless IP streak, 52.1 scoreless IP & 92.2 innings without an earned run ... 2002 WAC Pitcher and Freshman of the Year ... 2x WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year ... 2x preseason all-WAC ... 2x NFCA National Player of the Week (2002) ... Fresno State Female Athlete of the Year ... 8x WAC Pitcher of the Week ... 1x WAC Player of the Week ... First Team All-West Region & NCAA All-Tournament ... First Team All-American ... Easton Sports All-American ... Honda Awards Softball finalist ... USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist.
Sr., C, Pam West
Tied for third on the team in RBI (12) while fourth in hits (19) ... hit first collegiate home run versus Wisconsin ... has five multiple hit & four multiple RBI games ... in last three years, has thrown out 49 for a 61% accuracy (31-80) ... in career, has thrown out 61 (59-120) for a 51% accuracy ... has a .993 career fielding percentage (1,360 putouts, 145 assists and 11 errors in 1,516 chances) ... 2002 second team all-WAC ... 2x preseason all-WAC.
