Fresno State Athletics
No. 16/16 Softball Closes Out Regular-Season Against UTEP
5/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 9, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. -
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Fresno State Closes Out Regular-Season at Home; Bulldogs on CSTV
The Fresno State softball team closes out the regular-season at home this week when the Bulldogs host UTEP in a three-game Western Athletic Conference series. The 'Dogs host a single game on Fri., May 13, 5:00 p.m., before playing a doubleheader on Sat., May 14, 1:00 p.m. Fresno State will be making its 12th national television appearance on Friday when CSTV comes to town. CSTV, which can be found on DirecTV (ch. 610), will broadcast live the single game between Fresno State and UTEP. The talent will be Tom Hart and Stacey Nuveman. Improving to 14-1 in league play, Fresno State is coming off a three-game conference road sweep over Nevada.
Senior Day
Fresno State will honor its four seniors on Sat., May 14, with a pregame recognition for Leticia Pacheco (Bloomington, Calif.), Jamie Southern (Clovis, Calif.), Kristy Villasenor (Ft. Worth, Texas) and Amanda Wolf (Elgin, Texas).
Domestic Violence Awareness Night
Fresno State will host its Second Annual Domestic Violence Awareness Night on Friday. The night is in honor and memory of Fresno State softball head coach Margie Wright's sister, who was a victim in April 2003. In conjunction with the Marjaree Mason Center, there will be a drop off box on the concourse level for items such as toys, toiletries, towels, women and children's clothes and anything else needed for day-to-day living. There also will be a fund drive to collect loose change in memory of Wright's sister. For more information, call (559) 278-6833. To donate to the Marjaree Mason Center, phone (559) 237-4706.
Selection Sunday
The field of 64 teams for the 2005 NCAA Division I Softball Championship will be announced live between 7:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., EDT (4:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m., PDT) on ESPNews, which is on DirecTV (ch. 207) and Dish Network (ch. 142). The ESPNews audio signal is available on the ESPNews channel on XM Radio and SIRIUS Radio. A bracket will be posted on www.NCAAsports.com immediately after the selection announcement. Fresno State will be looking to host its 19th NCAA regional championships since 1982. The format for this year's postseason showcases 16 four-team regional sites before being paired down to eight super regional sites where the winner must win two of three games before advancing to the 2005 NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City.
Postseason Banquet
Fresno State will host its postseason softball banquet on Sun., May 15, at TorNino's. A social will start at 12:00 p.m. and lunch follows at 1:00 p.m. Tickets are $15 and will be available at the Dog Shed on Friday. Tickets also may be purchased by calling Cindy Henley at (559) 323-9665.
This Week's Opponent
UTEP (16-35, 3-12 WAC): UTEP was idle last week ... In their last action, the Miners dropped a three-game WAC series at home to Tulsa (6-1, 5-2, 11-1 in 6 inn.) ... UTEP, which is 2-3 in its last five, has lost 12 of its last 17 games ... Prior to their last 17 games, the Miners had posted an 11-13 mark after opening the year with a 10-game drought ... UTEP is 0-4 against the Top 25 after losing two to then No. 4 Texas (3-0, 8-0 in 6 inn.) and then No. 9 Oklahoma (9-0 in 5 inn., 6-3) ... Hitting .264 as a team, the Miners are being led offensively by junior right fielder Sarah Ramirez ...She is batting .356 (63-177) with a team-highs of 32 runs and 93 total bases while adding 17 doubles, five triples, three home runs and 17 RBI ... In the circle, UTEP owns a team ERA of 4.45 ... Junior right hander Megan Barber is 11-15 with five shutouts and 133 strikeouts in 157.1 innings for a 3.74 ERA ... In the all-time series, Fresno State holds a 4-0 advantage after meeting UTEP for the first time last year as the Miners made their varsity status debut ... In the series, the Bulldogs have out scored UTEP, 22-7, with two shutouts.
Fresno State Captures WAC Title
After being picked to capture the WAC title for the ninth time in 10 years in the coaches' preseason poll, Fresno State did just that when it won its second straight and eighth in the last 10 years. The Bulldogs claimed the crown and the league's NCAA automatic bid last week when they swept Nevada. Fresno State will be making its 24th straight NCAA Softball Championship appearance. The program is the only school in the country to have qualified for all 24 NCAA tournaments.
Top 'Dog
Junior All-America shortstop Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.) was a juggernaut at the plate last week. She hit .667 (8-12) with seven runs, a pair of doubles and home runs, to go along with five RBI and 16 total bases for a 1.333 slugging percentage. Clark also had multiple hit games in all three games played. In the finale, she was a perfect 4-4 at the plate with four runs and three RBI. She also was a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in the final game as she collected a season single-game high of eight total bases. Clark became the fourth Bulldog to score four runs in a game as she tied Fresno State's single-game record with Jamie Southern (vs. Nevada, 5/15/04), Amanda Scott (vs. San Jose State, 4/10/99) and Kim Muratore (vs. Santa Clara, 4/16/83). She also became the seventh WAC player to score four runs in a conference contest. Over the weekend, Clark also posted her third straight 100-total base season. Hitting two long balls against Nevada to push her season total to 14, she moved up to No. T19 in career home runs (52) in NCAA Division I history. Scoring at least one run in her last six games, including three with two or more, Clark also has hit a home run in three of her last five games and four in the last eight. Helping the Bulldogs to an undefeated WAC road record, she has guided the Bulldogs to 11 wins in their last 12 games. In her last 12 games, Clark has hit safely in 10 games as she is batting .421 (16-38) with 13 runs, four doubles, four home runs, seven walks, 11 RBI and 32 total bases for an .842 slugging percentage. Leading the team in multiple RBI games (10) and sharing for the team lead in multiple hit games (12), she has been the team's hottest batter since April. Clark is batting .426 (26-61) with 19 runs, five doubles, six home runs, 10 walks, 15 RBI and 49 total bases for a .803 slugging percentage.
Southern Masterpiece
For the third consecutive week, Southern went undefeated in the circle and posted a 0.00 ERA for the third straight week as well. She helped Fresno State go undefeated on the road in WAC play (9-0) as well as helping the Bulldogs to a 12-0 mark in away games. At Nevada, Southern went 2-0 while picking up a save as she collected a shutout, yielded one run (unearned), walked two and struck out 18. Not allowing an earned run in 10 consecutive games (50.1 IP), she has won her last six starts (five shutouts) while being 8-0 with two saves in her last 10 appearances. With a season-high streak of 46.0 scoreless innings, a mark that ranks sixth-best all-time in school history, her streak came to a halt on a Bulldog error in the finale against Nevada. Southern notched her third save on the season in the Bulldogs' 5-3 win over the Wolf Pack. Owning 11 career saves, she moved into her eighth NCAA Division I career pitching category as she sits No. T25. She also moved into her ninth D1 all-time career mark after making her 164th appearance to ranks No. T25 all-time. Throwing five shutout wins in her last six starts, Southern opened the Nevada series by throwing a four-hit shutout while striking out 10. Recording 15 shutouts and ten 10-strikeout games on the year, she posted her 75th career shutout and is now one of only four NCAA Division I pitchers to record that many as she ranks No. 4 all-time in D1 history. In the second game, Southern pitched 2.0 scoreless innings to earn her third save of the season. In the finale she scattered seven hits with one unearned run and six strikeouts to capture her fourth straight 10-win conference season. Southern also tied her career-high in WAC victories for a season as she notched No. 11. In four years of conference play, she has posted 11 wins three times. Sitting one victory shy of collecting at least 25 wins per year as a Bulldog, Southern has yielded just two earned runs on six runs allowed in her last 16 appearances. Since April, she owns a 0.16 ERA has she has gone 13-1 with eight shutouts, two saves and 116 strikeouts in 89.0 innings for a 9.1 strikeout per 7/IP.
Week in Review
Head coach Margie Wright recorded her 1,000th school win on May 6 when the Bulldogs won the night cap, 5-3 ... With 1,164 career wins and 1,001 Fresno State victories, Wright was the first Division I coach to record 1,000 Division I victories in 2002 ... Last weekend, she became the fourth head coach to collect 1,000 wins at one school as she joined Sandy Jerstad (Augustana), JoAnne Graf (Florida State) and Mike Candrea (Arizona) ... In addition, Wright captured her 15th outright or shared conference title as well as qualifying the Bulldogs for their 20th straight NCAA appearance under her tutelage and the program's 24th consecutive ... Going a perfect 9-0 on the road in WAC play, the 2005 squad became the third team to go undefeated away from home (1999 and 1996) ... Fresno State has won 20 of its last 23 games and 28 of its last 34 contests ... Fresno State is coming off its third weekend of a series sweep over a WAC opponent ... The Bulldogs defeated Nevada on the road (14-0, 5-3, 10-1 in 5 inn.) ... Outscoring the Wolf Pack 29-4, the `Dogs have poured it on of late ... On their longest win streak of the year with 10 straight, Fresno State has outscored its opponents 57-10 in this streak ... The Bulldogs are also batting .328 (94-287) with 13 doubles, a triple, 13 home runs, 23 walks, 51 RBI and 148 total bases for a .516 slugging percentage in their last 10 ... The pitching staff has been stingy as well by boasting a 0.72 ERA with five shutouts and 83 strikeouts in 68.0 innings as the opponents are batting .177 against ... The eight runs scored in the top of seventh versus Nevada in the opening game of the series was one shy of tying the school's single-game mark and three shy of tying the WAC's single-game mark ... Against the Wolf Pack, the Bulldogs tied season-highs in at bats (36), runs (14), hits (16) and total bases (25) while tying its season-high mark in RBI (12) ... Winning its last 11 straight conference road game, the `Dogs have gone 21-2 away from the last two seasons ... With six starters hitting better than .300 last week, four batted better than .400 ... In addition to what Clark batted, Pacheco had the next highest average and hit .583 (7-12) with three runs, a double, three RBI, a hit by pitch and eight total bases for a .667 slugging percentage ... The hit by pitch made it No. 43 in her career, tying the school's all-time career record holder in All-American and three-time Olympic gold medalist Laura Berg ... With 10 multiple hit games on the season, Pacheco has been the hottest hitting Bulldog in Fresno State's last eight games ... In this stretch she is hitting a blistering .519 (14-27) with seven runs, two doubles, a home run, two walks, eight RBI and 19 total bases for a .704 slugging percentage ... Villasenor batted .556 (5-9) with three runs, a walk and a sacrifice last week ... Sophomore catcher Nichole Willis (Clovis, Calif.) hit .462 (6-13) with five runs, two home runs, six RBI and 12 total bases for a .923 slugging percentage at Nevada ... She had multiple hit and RBI games in all three games played against the Wolf Pack ... With four straight multiple hit games, she is batting .500 (8-16) with seven runs, two home runs, six RBI and 14 total bases for a .875 slugging percentage in her current four-game hit streak ... In addition, Willis shares team-high honors in multiple hit (16) ... Southern, who has 14 multiple hit games, has a current six-game hit streak and is batting .348 (8-23) with seven runs, a double, two home runs, two walks, five RBI and 15 total bases for a .652 slugging percentage.
Among the NCAA's Best
Ranked in nine of the 11 NCAA Division I career pitching categories, Southern ranks in the Top 10 in shutouts (No. 4, 75) while being No.T9 in complete games (135) , No. 11 in strikeouts (1,275), No. T14 in wins (114), No. 15 in innings pitched (1,051.2), No. T16 in starts (141) and No. T25 in strikeouts per 7 innings (8.5), appearances (164) and saves (11). Still further, Southern is one of four NCAA Division I hurlers to amass 75 or more career shutouts.
Moving Ahead
Winning 17 of her last 18 starts, Southern owns a 0.35 ERA with 12 shutouts and 154 strikeouts in 119.0 innings. In this stretch, she has yielded 55 hits, 10 runs (six earned) while walking 14 as opponents are batting .114 against. In Southern's last 23 appearances, she owns a 0.33 ERA with three saves while going 19-1. In this span, she has recorded 172 strikeouts to 17 walks and has given up 56 hits, ten runs (six earned) in 128.0 innings as opponents are hitting .128 against.
Home Cooking
While Fresno State has posted a 20-6 home field record this season, four Bulldogs have enjoyed hitting at home as five are batting better than .300. Clark is hitting .329 (25-76) with 18 runs, two doubles, a triple, five home runs, nine walks and 15 RBI. Sylvester is next and she is batting .322 (19-59) with seven runs, five doubles, a triple, eight walks and eight RBI. Willis is hitting .312 (24-77) with 15 runs, three doubles, a triple, two home runs, six walks and 10 RBI. Southern is next and is batting .305 (25-82) with 21 runs, five doubles, three home runs, four walks and 13 RBI. Southern has been stingy in the circle as well. She is 10-2 with seven shutouts, two saves and 98 strikeouts in 80.0 innings as opponents are batting .141 against.
Fourth Release of NCAA Statistics
In the fourth release of NCAA statistics (May 1), Clark and Southern appeared as individuals while the team was ranked in two. Clark is ranked No. 23 in runs per game (0.93), Southern is second in ERA (0.48), No. 19 in victories (22) and No. 29 in strikeouts per 7/IP (9.4). As a team, the Bulldogs rank 20th in W/L (.778, 35-10) and No. 25 in ERA (1.62).
Southern Collects 1,200th Career Strikeout; Eyeing 1300th
Southern became the 16th NCAA Division I pitcher to amass 1,200 career strikeouts on April 15 when she struck out 12 Spartans. With 1,275 strikeouts to date, Southern now needs 25 strikeouts to become the 10th NCAA D1 hurler to amass 1,300 career strikeouts.
Eleven Consecutive Wins Ranks Eighth Best
Just one victory shy of tying her career-best mark of consecutive wins, Southern notched a season-high 11 straight victories that ran from March 9-April 15. The streak ranks eighth-best in school history. In this stretch, Southern went 11-0 with seven shutouts while allowing six runs (four earned) and striking out 93 (8.7 strikeouts per 7/IP) in 72.0 innings for a 0.38 ERA. On the year, she also owns a current and season-best mark of 50.1 innings without an earned run; she had an earlier streak of 42.1 innings without an earned run. She also owns a season-best streak of 46.0 scoreless innings.
Southern Becomes WAC's and Fresno State's All-Time Win Leader
On April 23, Southern made history at home. While helping Fresno State to a sweep over WAC opponent Tulsa, she became the league's and the school's all-time career win leader on the same day. Coming into the week with 106 career victories, Southern opened the three-game series against the Golden Hurricane with a two-hit shutout . While walking one and striking out 13, she posted her 17th win of the year to become the WAC's all-time career win leader with 107 wins, surpassing former Bulldog All-American Amanda Scott (1997-2000). The 13-strikeout game was Southern's eighth of the year and No. 50 of her career. In the second game, she made her third relief appearance of the season and picked up her second win in as many games. After becoming the WAC's outright win leader, Southern came right back on the same day to become Fresno State's all-time career win leader with victory No. 108. Breaking a 13-year old record, she surpassed former Bulldog All-American Terry Carpenter (1989-92). In the finale, Southern pitched her second straight two-hit shutout while striking out five. The two-hitter was her sixth of the year while the shutout was her 12th of the season. On the week, she went 3-0 with two shutouts while scattering five hits, walking two and striking out 21 in 16.0 innings for a 0.00 ERA as TU hit .098 against.
Southern Top 25 Finalist for USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year
After being named to the preseason USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List for the fourth time of her career, Southern now has been selected a Top 25 finalist for this prestigious award for the fourth consecutive time. Announced by the Amateur Softball Association (ASA) on April 6, the Fourth Annual USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Award, which is likened to the Heisman Trophy, recognizes outstanding athletic achievements by collegiate softball players around the nation. Southern was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist in 2002 when she was one of the final three chosen. Highlights her senior year include being the first WAC softball player to garner player/pitcher of the week honors in the same week, first Bulldog pitcher to open the season with a no-hitter, MVP of the NFCA Leadoff Classic, sweeping national player of the week awards in the same week, throwing a perfect game out of two no-hitters this season, becoming the 16th NCAA Division I pitcher to post 1,200 career strikeouts, being the 40th NCAA Division I pitcher to collect 100 career wins and being a two-time first round professional draft selection, including the honor as the No. 1 draft pick in the 2005 LPFA Senior Draft (third Bulldog to ever go as a top draft selection by a professional organization). Entering the year, Southern became the first hurler to be a four-time Preseason WAC Pitcher of the Year as well as being the first Bulldog, male or female, to be a John Wooden candidate (Top 24). In the NCAA statistics, Southern has ranked all 28 weeks in ERA while leading the nation in 15 of those weeks while appearing in 24 weeks for victories. Southern also can boast being just the fourth NCAA Division I pitcher to be a multiple ERA statistical champion.
Clark & Southern in the WAC's Annals
While Clark and Southern continue to climb up the school's career record book, both are making their mark in the WAC's annals as well. Of the six career pitching records kept by the WAC, Southern owns all six of them: No. 1 wins (114), saves (11), innings pitched (1,051.2), ERA (0.51), strikeouts (1,275) and strikeouts per 7 innings pitched (8.5). Of the 14 career hitting records kept by the WAC, Clark ranks in the Top 10 in five: No. 1 home runs (52), No. 2 slugging percentage (.766), No. 5 total bases (429), No. 6 runs (166) and No. 8 RBI (137). Also ranked in the offensive charts, Southern is No. 6 in at bats (786), No. 8 in doubles (40), games played (246) and hits (246) and No. 9 in home runs (28).
Southern Throws Perfect Game While Reaching 100 Career Win Plateau
Southern made her 100th career win memorable. As the 40th NCAA Division I pitcher to reach the 100-win plateau, she tossed her fourth career perfect game and sixth career no-hitter against Dartmouth on March 25. Striking out six in Fresno State's 8-0, 5 inning win over the Big Green, Southern threw the program's 13th perfect game and 57 no-hitter overall. Of the 13 perfect games recorded, eight have come at home. Of those eight, Southern has thrown three of her four at Bulldog Diamond. She also became just the third Bulldog pitcher to collect 100 wins as she joined Amanda Scott (106) and Terry Carpenter (107). Still further, her six no-hitters moved her into a four-way tie for second place all-time in school history. While she is the school record holder in perfect games, Southern is one no-no shy of tying Melanie Parrent's mark (7).
Young Guns
Trying to be successful and uncomfortable or fail and be comfortable are words that the Bulldogs are using to define themselves. While five starters are back what is deceiving is that Fresno State is still very young. There are three upperclassmen that are starting (Clark, Southern and Leticia Pacheco) but one is playing a new position (Pacheco). With sophomores Rachael Donaldson (left field) and Nichole Willis (catcher) also back as starters, the other starters on this year's squad are first year players in freshmen Kristin Sylvester (1B/DP), Shauna Johnson (1B), Amanda Nesbitt (P/UT) and Jenna Cervantez (2B) along with junior Daisy Gaynor (RF) and senior Kristy Villasenor (CF). Also breaking into the starting line up was freshman Mallory Perkins (OF) but she went down with a torn ACL on March 12. Fresno State's youth has shown at times. Of the 10 losses, the Bulldogs have committed 24 errors and 15 have come against six top 25 teams. Unfortunately, those 15 errors have led to 18 unearned runs against the top 25. One top 25 team (No. 21 Florida State) came away with a 2-0 victory on two unearned runs.
Hitting Streaks Set
Four Bulldogs have had significant hit streaks this season. Missing the first 10 games due to surgery, Sylvester owns a season-best eight-game hit streak in which she posted four multi hit games while hitting .600 (12-20) with six runs, four doubles, a triple, seven walks, nine RBI and 17 total bases for a .850 slugging percentage. Donaldson also posted an eight-game hit streak in which she had three multi hit games while batting .478 (11-23) with six runs, a double, a triple, two home runs, nine RBI and 21 total bases for a .913 slugging percentage. Making it eight straight as well was Willis, who had three multi hit performances and hit .541 (13-24) with 10 runs, four doubles, a home run, four walks, 10 RBI, 2-3 in stolen bases and 19 total bases for a .792 slugging percentage. Pacheco currently owns a career-best eight-game hitting streak . In this stretch, she is batting .519 (14-27) with seven runs, two doubles, a home run, two walks, eight RBI and 19 total bases for a .704 slugging percentage. Southern posted a seven-game hit streak and hit .375 (9-24) with eight runs, three doubles, a home run, two walks, four RBI and 15 total bases while slugging .625.
Making Sense of It
While there have been as many as 12 Top 25 teams on the Bulldogs' 2005 schedule, Fresno State has been rained out of 11 games and three have come against Top 25 schools in then No. 1 California (Feb. 13), then No. 13 Georgia (Feb. 20) and then No. 23 Northwestern (March 25). Fresno State has six Top 25 losses, including four top five, and all of those losses have come to higher ranked teams. The Bulldogs appear to have suffered in the official poll for those losses as they've dropped by as much as four spots. However, Fresno State has posted three top 15 victories (No. 5 Stanford, No. 10 LSU and No. 14 Washington).
Home Run Leader
Hitting the second-highest number of home runs (23) in the nation last spring, it took Clark just four innings into the new year to belt her first of the season. Having set a new school and WAC season long ball mark en route to becoming Fresno State's all-time career home run holder last year, the two-time All-American became the WAC's all-time career home run leader on April 2 against Hawai'i when she hit a solo home run in the night cap for No. 47 of her career. She has 52 dingers to date.
Southern Back as Nation's ERA Leader
Southern, a three-time All-American and an Academic All-American, returns as the nation's top ERA leader, again. She notched a 0.54 ERA to lead the nation last spring after posting a national-best 0.44 as a freshman. In the circle this year, Southern already has thrown two no-hitters, including a perfect game. She has pitched 15 shutouts in 24 wins while tallying ten 10-strikeout games. This season, Southern's strikeout to walk ratio is 11.2 while averaging 9.4 strikeouts/7 IP.
Grand Slam Leader
While four opponents have hit a grand slam at Bulldog Diamond, the Bulldogs' top grand slam leader is Clark. Dating back to 1991, 18 grand slams have been recorded in Bulldog softball history as Clark has four of them. Three of them have been hit at home as Clark, who connected against UC Santa Barbara on March 11, 2005 and Louisiana Tech on May 10, 2003 along with Donaldson, who hit one against UC Santa Barbara on March 11, account for the grand slams at home. Last season, Clark hit two and both came on the road. The most grand slams hit in a season by a Bulldog team has been three, twice (2004 and 1998). This year, two have been recorded.
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom
Entering the 2005 season Clark ranked in three career Fresno State offensive marks. Now, she ranks in seven all together. Pushing her all-time career home run mark to 52, she ranks second in slugging percentage (.766), fourth in batting average (.391) and total bases (429), fifth in runs (166), seventh in RBI (137) and doubles (38). In addition, Clark posted a 17-game hit streak that ranks No. 5 all-time in school history. Dating back to April 29, 2004 and running through Feb. 26, 2005, the hitting streak saw Clark bat .422 (27-64) with 23 runs, six doubles, a triple, eight home runs, eight walks, 17 RBI and 59 total bases for a .922 slugging percentage.
In the NCAA Statistics
In the three years of national stats (20 weeks), Clark has been ranked 17 weeks in home runs per game, 10 weeks in slugging percentage, 10 weeks in runs per game and six in batting average. Over four years (28 weeks), Southern has been ranked all 28 weeks in ERA, 24 in wins, 11 in strikeouts per seven innings and four in saves while leading the nation in ERA in 15 of the 28 weeks.
Southern Throws Fifth Career No-Hitter to Open Season
As the starting pitcher in the first game of the season against Utah, Southern became the first Bulldog pitcher to open a season with a no-hitter as Fresno State defeated the Utes, 5-0, on Feb. 17. She recorded her fifth career no-hitter and struck out 14 in her 120th career appearance in the circle. The 14 strikeout performance was her 43rd career 10-plus strikeout game as she posted her 91st career win en route to her 61st career shutout victory.
Making It Four In a Row
While Southern garnered All-America honors at utility for the second straight season after being named All-America at pitcher as a freshman, she became the eighth Bulldog to be a three-time All-American and the fourth Bulldog hurler to do so as she joined Terry Carpenter, Carie Dever and Amanda Scott. This season, Southern will look to be just the fourth Bulldog to be a four-time All-American as Laura Berg, Robyn Yorke and Scott are the only 'Dogs on the elite list. In addition, Southern also will look to be the first WAC hurler to be selected as a four-time WAC Pitcher of the Year.
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 206 of the 218 weeks since the NCAA's first Top 15 poll in 1983. In addition, Fresno State has been in the nation's official Top 25 polls for 23 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 program's five No. 1 rankings is the most ever by a Bulldogs' athletic team.
Final 24 John Wooden Trophy Candidate
After more than 200 nominations were reviewed, Southern was one of 24 candidates selected for consideration of the inaugural 2004 John Wooden Trophy. This award singled out athletes of excellence on and off the field and spotlights those who are role models in performance and person. Southern, who led the nation in ERA for the second time of her career last spring, is a three-time All-American and an Academic All-American who overcame a near career-ending injury as a freshman. Her community involvement has been equally recognized as she volunteers with Big Heroes-Little Heroes, walks in causes such as Breast Cancer and Domestic Violence, participates in Special Olympics, is a guest speaker a various community organizations as well as work with young children in readings and sports.
Making History
For the first time in WAC history, Southern became the first softball player to sweep player and pitcher of the week awards at one time. In addition, she went on to garner USA Softball National Player of the Week as well as Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week honors that same week. Guiding Fresno State to a third place finish at the 24-team tourney field, Southern captured the school's first MVP honor at that the NFCA Leadoff Classic after collecting 18 total bases for a 1.500 slugging percentage. Hitting four home runs, she hit her fourth career multi home run game against No. 10 LSU. Southern also had three multiple RBI games and two multiple hit games. In the circle, she went 2-1 with a shutout and 26 strikeouts in 20.0 innings for a 0.70 ERA. Scattering 13 hits and yielding four runs (two earned), she also walked two as opponents batted .176 against her. Southern's sweep of the national player of the week awards made her the second Bulldog to accomplish that feat as Clark swept the same honors last year for the week of April 13/14.
Southern Top Draft Pick in LPFA Senior Draft
The Ladies Professional Fastpitch Association, a new professional venue for fastpitch players, announced its 2005 College Senior Draft and All-American Jamie Southern was the No. 1 draft choice. Southern is the third Bulldog overall and second softball player to be a top draft choice by a professional organization. Out of the the 27-player draft, four of the top five draft selections were pitchers. Former Bulldogs Laura Berg and Randi Berg have also joined the professional ranks with the LPFA as they both signed contracts in mid-March. The three teams comprising this league will be announced by the end of March. The LPFA will conduct tour stops around the country beginning at the end of May. These three teams will scrimmage each other in a round robin tournament format at designated sites, which will be announced at a later date. LPFA Tour will bring the world's best professional fastpitch softball players together with amateur communities across the United States. During each tour players, coaches and staff will incorporate youth and coach instruction, player mentoring and corporate endorsement into their schedule of games.
Southern First Round Pick in NPF Senior Draft
In the 2005 National Pro Fastpitch Senior Draft, Southern was the fifth overall pick in the senior draft. Selected by the Akron Racers, Southern is the program's third senior first round draft pick (sixth first round draft selection overall) and 20th total draftee chosen from the Fresno State softball program. The other two Bulldogs who were selected in the first round of a senior draft were Amanda Scott (No. 1, Ohio Pride, 2000) and Jamie Maxey (No. 5, Georgia Pride, 1999). With at least one Bulldog drafted since 1996, Fresno State softball had the university's first No. 1 draft pick, regardless of sport or gender, in Amanda Scott. While six Bulldogs have played on the professional ranks, four have been a part of a championship team: Scott (2004 NPF Champion NY/NJ Juggernaut) and Randi Berg, Kim Maher and Nina Lindenberg (2000 WPSL Champion Florida Wahoos).
From Bulldog to Professional Manager
The 2004 World Champion New York/New Jersey Juggernaut announced a new head coach and general manager in Julie Smith, a former Fresno State softball All-American and 1996 USA Olympic Softball gold medalist, last January. Having played professional softball, she was the No. 6 pick in the first round of the 1996 Women's Pro Softball League (WPSL) amateur draft. However, she went on to represent the United States in softball and captured gold at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. Four years later, Smith was again drafted by the WPSL and was the No. 2 pick in the 2000 Elite/Supplement Draft. Playing for the Ohio Pride, she was named the 2000 WPSL Defensive Player of the Year. On the international level, Smith was a two-time World Champion in addition to being a two-time Pan Am gold medalist. In her two-year career at Fresno State, Smith was a two-time First Team All-American. With the Bulldogs being the NCAA runner up in 1990, she led the NCAA in hits (93), runs (55) and at bats (263) that same year.
WCWS MVP to NPF MVP to Professional Pitching Coach
It was just six years ago that Scott collected a collegiate national championship crown and garnered college world series MVP honors. After a hiatus, Scott stepped onto a softball field once again and added another national title and another MVP honor to her illustrious softball resume last August. In her first season as a professional for the New York/New Jersey, she pitched the Juggernaut to a world championship as the franchise captured the inaugural Cowles Cup as the 2004 National Pro Fastpitch champion. Helping the Juggernaut to a 44-22 overall record, Scott finished the year at 18-7 with two saves and 160 strikeouts in 179.0 innings for a 0.86 ERA. On March 4, Scott retired from professional ball and became the New York/New Jersey Juggernaut pitching coach.
Bulldogs Bring Home Olympic Gold; Berg to Play Professional Ball
Playing in her third straight Olympics last summer, Laura Berg helped the United States collect its third consecutive gold medal in Athens. While former two-year player Lovie Jung (United States) and four-year starter Vanessa Czarnecki (Greece) suited up for the first time as softball Olympians last summer, it was Berg who patrolled center field for Team USA for the third straight Olympics as it captured its third consecutive gold medal. In 2000, Berg had the game-winning hit to lead the USA to a 2-1, 8 inning victory over Japan in Sydney. In 1996, Berg scored the first run in the championship game against China. Berg will make her professional debut again by playing for the LPFA this summer.
