Fresno State Athletics
Softball Hosts San Jose State
4/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 14, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. -
Fresno State Softball Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
WAC Player of the Week Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Bulldogs Host San Jose State
The Fresno State softball team is home this week with a Western Athletic Conference doubleheader against San Jose State. The Bulldogs will host the Spartans on Sat., April 19, 1:00 p.m. Comcast (ch. 14) will broadcast game one of the doubleheader. The Big Dawg 1430 AM will broadcast live the first game while KFSR 90.7 FM will broadcast game two of the WAC twinbill.
Youth Softball Day at Bulldog Diamond
Fresno State will celebrate "Youth Softball Day" at Bulldog Diamond on Sat., April 19. Hosting San Jose State in WAC play, activities are slated in the morning before the doubleheader gets underway at 1:00 p.m. There will be an Easter egg hunt at 9:30 a.m. with breakfast to follow at 10:00 a.m., in the grass area outside of Bulldog Diamond. Fresno State softball trading cards will be distributed and there will be an autograph session at the end of the doubleheader. More than 900 participants are expected for Saturday's event as they will march onto the field of Bulldog Diamond to be recognized. Tickets are available for all ASA and youth softball players for $3.00 per ticket (all seats are general admission). The price includes game ticket and breakfast. For questions or for more information, phone the Fresno State Marketing Office at (559) 244-2800.
Under the Radar
If the weekly USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 poll and the ESPN.COM/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 poll is to reflect success during the year, Fresno State should be turning some heads for national attention. Erasing a 5-12 start, the Bulldogs are 18-8 in their last 26 contests, which includes two Top 15 wins over No. 3 Nebraska (7-3) and No. 12 Stanford (1-0). Yet Fresno State continues to slip under the national radar screen. In addition, the preseason Top 25 schedule for the Bulldogs is one of the toughest in the nation. In fact, the 'Dogs have dropped five one-run decisions against Top 25 opponents, with one via the international tie breaker rule.
In Memoriam
Fresno State softball head coach Margie Wright suffered a terrible loss to her family last weekend when the team was in Tulsa, Okla. Wright lost her sister, Betty Jane Wright Lewis, whom the estranged husband murdered. The funeral will be held in Decatur, Ill., on Tue., April 15, 2:00 p.m., at the Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Homes. Her sister will be laid to rest, next to their mother, at Pleasant Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Wright has set up two funds for battered women in memory of her sister. Those who wish to express their sympathy may make a donation in her sister's name at the Marjaree Mason Center in Fresno, Calif., as well as at a bank, to be named later, in Decatur, Ill.
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, tallied her 900th school win on April 6 with a 7-0 win over Hawai'i. She owns an 18-year school mark of 904-283-1 (.762). The 1998 NCAA National Coach of the Year boasts a 24-year career record of 1,051-363-3 (.743). 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 449-85 (.841) 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.
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 29 of its 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.
Clark Garners WAC Player of the Week
Freshman shortstop Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.) helped the Bulldogs to a 3-3 road mark last week, which included a 2-2 worksheet against Western Athletic Conference opponents, after batting .318 (7-22) with five runs, two doubles, three home runs, four walks, six RBI and 18 total bases for a .818 slugging percentage. With 18 total bases last week on the road, Clark tied the school's freshman record in total bases with 103 (Laura Berg, 1994). In the Bulldogs' split against Pacific, she hit .333 (2-6) with a run, double and three walks. In the 'Dogs sweep over Louisiana Tech, Clark she batted .444 (4-9) with three runs, double, two home runs, five RBI and 11 total bases for a 1.222 slugging percentage. As the leadoff batter, she hit the second pitch of game one over the 10-foot high left center field fence for her 11th home run on the year. In the night cap, she hit her second solo shot of the doubleheader when she nailed the first pitch over the left field fence for her 12th long ball on the year. In Fresno State's doubleheader loss to Tulsa, Clark hit her third home run of the weekend. In game two, Clark drilled the second pitch of the game over the center field fence for her 13th home run. In that at bat, she tied the school's freshman record in total bases. She had her season-best seven-game hitting streak ended against Tulsa in the first game. After posting a six-game streak just recently, Clark hit .375 (9-24) with eight runs, eight RBI, five walks, two doubles, two home runs and had 14 total bases for a .583 slugging percentage in her seven-game stretch. This is Clark's second WAC Player of the Week selection.
Clark Sizzling
Spearheading the Bulldogs to 14 wins in their last 20 and guiding them to an 18-8 mark in their last 26, Clark has been sizzling at the plate. In her last 12 games, Clark is batting .366 (15-41) with 11 runs, two doubles, five home runs, 14 RBI, six walks and 32 total bases for a .780 slugging percentage. In her last 26 games, Clark is hitting .402 (35-87) with 24 runs, five doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 23 RBI, seven walks, three hit by pitch, one sac fly, 1-1 stolen base and 73 total bases for a .839 slugging percentage. In her last 33 games, Clark is batting .376 (44-117) with 26 runs, 30 RBI, seven doubles, three triples, 11 home runs, eight walks, two hit by pitch, 2-2 stolen bases, two sac flies and 90 total bases for a .769 slugging percentage. She leads the team in 13 offensive categories: batting (.354), at bats (144), runs (37), hits (51), doubles (7), triples (3), home runs (13), RBI (33), total bases (103), slugging percentage (.715), sacrifice flies (2), multiple-hit games (13) and multiple-RBI games (8).
Team Notables
Fresno State is 16-6 in its last 22 and 18-8 in its last 26 ... The Bulldogs have 11 one-run losses on year and 12 losses have come by two runs or less this season ... Of the 11 one-run losses, six have come in extra innings ... Clark eclipsed the 100 total base plateau in 43 games ... She is the second Bulldog freshman in school history to reach the 100 total base plateau ... Clark also is tied for the freshman school record in total bases (103) as she shares the mark with current assistant coach and two-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Berg ... With 103 total bases, that mark ranks 12th-best in single-season school history ... In addition, her current slugging percentage of .715 ranks third-best at Fresno State ... With 13 home runs on the season, Clark is three shy of setting a new single-season school record and five from a new WAC single-season home run record ... Clark currently is tied for ninth in the WAC's single-season list with 13 home runs ... In the school's career charts, she is tied for seventh in career home runs with Wende Ward.
Four 'Dogs Selected to USA Women's National Team Camp
This afternoon, USA Softball announced its list of 45 players that have been invited to the Women's National Team Camp, June 4-8, at the ARCO Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif. These players will compete for positions on two teams that will represent the USA in international competition this summer. The two teams selected, following the team camp, will represent the USA at the U.S. Cup in Honolulu (June 19-22), the Canada Cup in Surrey, B.C., Canada (July 4-13) and the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo (Aug. 5-14). Those selected to the USA Softball Elite Team will compete in the Canada Cup as well as the Japan Cup in Yokohama, Japan (July 18-20). Four Bulldogs have been selected in former standouts Laura Berg (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.) and Nina Lindenberg (Anaheim Hills, Calif.) along with two current standouts in Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.) and Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.).
San Jose State (21-26, 3-5 WAC)
Enduring a five-game losing streak, San Jose State is coming off WAC road play at Tulsa and Louisiana Tech. The Spartans dropped all four with 1-0 and 3-1 losses to Tulsa and 7-2 and 3-2 (8 inn.) losses to Louisiana Tech. SJSU, which is 2-9 on the road this season, is being led offensively by senior center fielder Becca Baldridge. She is hitting .314 (43-137) with 22 runs, six doubles, triple, two home runs, 10 walks, 7-12 stolen bases and 18 RBI. In the circle, sophomore right-hander Carol Forbes is 15-11 with six shutouts and 126 strikeouts in 147.0 innings for a 1.29 ERA. In the all-time series, Fresno State leads 54-4 and the Bulldogs have captured six of the last eight and 18 of last 20.
Not on My Watch
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 .992 fielding percentage in 1,611 career total chances. In the last three years, she has thrown out 49 would-be basestealers for a 59% accuracy (34-83) while, in her career, she has thrown out 61 and owns a 50% accuracy (62-123).
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 185 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.
USA Softball Watch List
For the second straight year, sophomore Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.) 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.
Reflecting Poole
Senior right-handed pitcher Leslie Poole (Rootstown, Ohio) has been providing relief for Southern in the circle. The last four weeks she has gone the distance in seven of nine starts. In her last 12 appearances, Poole is 6-3 with two shutouts while walking three and striking out 21. She has allowed 11 runs (10 earned) for a 1.52 ERA in the last 46.2 innings. In her last 59.1 innings of work, Poole has just allowed three walks to 30 strikeouts and has yielded 15 runs (10 earned) for a 1.18 ERA. Owning a season-high 24.0 innings without a walk, she 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. On the year, Poole is 6-5 overall with two shutouts and 35 strikeouts in 69.1 innings for a 1.82 ERA.
Southern Comfort
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. In addition, she became just the fourth Bulldog hurler to tally 600 or more career strikeouts. In 533.1 career innings pitched, she is averaging 8.39 strikeouts per seven innings and has given up 37 earned runs for a 0.49 ERA while being 50-20 overall with 33 shutouts in her Bulldog career.
J Gets 50th Career Win
Southern collected a pair of shutout victories and fell victim to a 1-0, 10-inning decision last week on the road. Walking six while striking out 34, she averaged 9.48 strikeouts per seven innings. After recording an extra inning shutout win over Pacific followed with another shutout victory over Louisiana Tech, Southern had her streak of unearned runs end at 68.1 innings in the 10th with one out against Tulsa. In the game versus Pacific, Southern pitched 9.0 innings and allowed just four hits while walking four and striking out 11. The 1-0 shutout win was her ninth on the year as she notched her 11th 10-strikeout game on the season. In the game versus Louisiana Tech, she allowed just two hits (third two-hitter on season) walked two and struck out a season-high 14. Picking up her 10th shutout victory on the season, she also tallied her 12th 10-strikeout game while recording her 50th career win. In the game versus Tulsa, Southern pitched her 15th extra inning game of her career. Going the distance in 10 innings of play, she allowed just four hits walked none and struck out nine. As the first Bulldog pitcher to throw back-to-back 200 strikeout seasons, Southern has tallied 221 strikeouts (9.14 per 7/IP) in 169.2 innings with 12 ten-strikeout games for a 0.62 ERA as she is 15-10 overall with 10 shutouts.
The Untouchable
Southern virtually has been untouchable the past 12 games as she sports a 0.13 ERA while going 5-2. With seven starts, all five wins have come via shutouts as she has allowed 27 hits, two runs (one earned), seven walks and has struck out 63 (8.46 strikeouts per 7/IP) in 52.1 innings as opponents are batting a paltry .148 against her. In her last 85.1 innings in which she has gone 10-2 with eight shutouts, Southern has allowed just 46 hits, five runs (three earned), 10 walks and has struck out 104 (8.55 strikeouts per 7/IP) for a 0.25 ERA. In her last 138.2 innings of work, Southern has yielded 11 earned runs, 20 walks and has struck out 183 (9.27 strikeouts/7 IP) for a 0.56 ERA. On the year she has season-best streaks of 68.1 innings without an earned run and 28.2 scoreless innings.
Getting the Job Done at the Plate
At the plate, Southern has been solid over the past 12 games as well. Hitting .350 (14-40), she has scored three runs and has been walked three times while picking up three doubles, six RBI and 17 total bases for a .425 slugging percentage. In her last 26 games, Southern is hitting .338 (27-80) with 11 runs, five doubles, triple, four home runs, 17 RBI, eight walks, hit by pitch and 46 total bases for a .575 slugging percentage. On the year, she leads the team in walks (12), second in batting (.315), doubles (6) and home runs (4) and total bases (61) and third in hits (41) and RBI (18). Garnering her first WAC Player of the Week pick this season, Southern is 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. 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.
J on the Move
Southern continues to move up in the school's and WAC's career charts. At Fresno State, she is No. 1 in fewest earned runs allowed with 37 (min. 500 innings pitched) and strikeouts per seven innings (8.39), No. 2 in ERA (0.49), No. 4 in career strikeouts (639 - 5 short of tying for No. 3 at 644), No. 10 in complete games (63), innings pitched (533.1) and shutouts (33). In the WAC's annals, she currently ranks No. 1 in ERA (0.49) and strikeouts per seven innings (8.39), No. 4 in strikeouts (639) and No. 7 in saves (4). She is three wins shy of tying for No. 10 all-time in career victories (53) and 7.1 innings away for tying for No. 10 all-time in career innings thrown (540.2).
Clark Leads the WAC
In the WAC stats released on April 14, Fresno State leads the league in pitching and fielding while second in batting. In the overall individual statistics, Clark leads the WAC in hits (51), runs (37), RBI (33), home runs (13) and total bases (103). She is second in batting (.354) while tied for third in triples (3). Southern is seventh in hitting (.315) while freshman left fielder Nicole Shan (Whittier, Calif.) is 14th in batting (.300). Junior right fielder Lori Hoffman (Benicia, Calif.) is fourth in RBI (24). In the circle, Southern leads the league in pitching in ERA (0.62), innings pitched (169.2) and strikeouts (221) while second in wins (15-10). She also has allowed the fewest earned runs (15). In WAC contests only, Fresno State is third in batting (.233), third in pitching (1.32) and fifth in fielding (.944). Individually, Southern is second in hits (11) and RBI (5) while fourth in total bases (13). Clark leads the league in runs (8), RBI (9), home runs (3) and total bases (18). Junior center fielder Mitzi Ing (Aiea, Hawaii) is tied for second in runs (5). In the circle, Southern leads the WAC in strikeouts (44), ERA (0.18), innings pitched (38.1) while allowing the fewest earned runs (1) and second in wins (3-2).
