Fresno State Athletics
No. 23 Bulldogs Open WAC Play This Week Against Nevada
3/22/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 22, 2006
FRESNO, Callif. -
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Bulldogs Open Western Athletic Conference Action This Week
The 2006 Fresno State softball team opens Western Athletic Conference play this week with a three-game series against Nevada. On Fri., March 24, the Bulldogs will play a single-game at 6:00 p.m. On Saturday, the 'Dogs will play a doubleheader starting at 1:00 p.m.
'Dogs In WAC Play
The Bulldogs enter the 2006 conference season with a 13-game league win streak. As the league's preseason favorite, Fresno State owns a 13-year WAC record of 250-56 (.817). Winning eight WAC titles since 1996 and five in the last six years, the 'Dogs are 23-5 in conference openers, 26-2 in league openers at home, 17-3 in conference openers under head coach Margie Wright, 19-1 in league openers at home, 12-1 in WAC openers overall and under Wright and 10-1 in WAC home openers overall and under Wright.
Public Safety Day at Bulldog Diamond
March 25 has been designated as Public Safety Day. Representatives from the Fresno and Clovis Police Departments along with the Sheriff Department will be offering information and assistance on staying safe. There will be ID kits for the children and interactive activities with the three law enforcement agencies. This day is also being used as a day of recognition of those individuals who protect the community. The event runs from 11:00 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. in the Grey Lot (grass parking behind Bulldog Diamond) and is free of charge. Some of the items being showcased on Saturday include a DUI Trailer, bike/motor/BMW/Dirt patrol, car seat trailer, patrol car, bomb truck with robots, motors, jailer van, K-9, SWAT, explorers program, boating unit and mount unit (horses).
The Sixth Annual Jenny Eller Blood Drive Challenge
The Sixth Annual Jenny Eller Blood Drive Challenge is underway. When an individual mentions the name Jenny Eller, Coach Wright, Fresno State softball or the "Donor Team," they will receive a commemorative 2006 softball t-shirt. For details, phone (559) 224-2900.
The Margie Wright Show
The Margie Wright Show will air every Tuesday afternoon from 12:30 - 1:00 p.m. on 1430 ESPN Radio. Emceed by Paul Swearengin, Wright will discuss the team, what's coming up and what's going on in collegiate softball.
Bulldog Softball Ticket Information
For 2006 Fresno State softball ticket information, please contact the Fresno State Athletics Ticket Office at (559) 278-3647. Single-game and season tickets may be purchased on line at www.gobulldogs.com or through the Bulldog Ticket Office. Single game and special packages are available during the season.
Double Play Special
Fresno State will showcase the "Double Play" promotions during the weeknight games of the 2006 softball season. With a weeknight doubleheader against Santa Clara next week, fans can download a 2-for-1 coupon off the school's official athletic web site, www.gobulldogs.com, and present the coupon on game night at the portable ticket office located outside the gates of Bulldog Diamond. The coupon can be found under the ticket link on www.gobulldogs.com.
Lunch with Margie
Once a month at the Silver Dollar Hofbrau, Wright will be the host of a question and answer luncheon. The final two luncheons of the season will be April 3 and May 8.
Travel with the Bulldogs
Two bus trips have been set up to watch the Bulldogs during the 2006 season. The first trip is to Stanford on Wed., April 5, 5:00 p.m. The bus will leave at 11:00 a.m. that day and return approximately at midnight. Cost is $55 per person (includes bus and game ticket). Also, there is a trip set for San Jose State on Sat., May 6, 12:00 p.m. With a doubleheader being played that day, the bus will depart at 7:00 a.m. and will stop for brunch in Los Gatos. Afterwards, the bus will stop at Case de Fruita for dinner before returning to Fresno at approximately 7:30 p.m. Cost is $50 per person (includes bus and game ticket). For reservations and additional information, phone Tim Schiller at (559) 225-3164.
Willis Named Xbox Live WAC Player of the Week
Junior catcher Nichole Willis (Clovis, Calif.) had the timely hits for the Bulldogs at the Judi Garman Softball Classic last week in Fullerton, Calif., and was honored as the Xbox Live WAC Softball Player of the Week for her efforts. Batting .313 (5-16), Willis had two multi hit games, including a 2-4 performance with double and a RBI against No. 6 Alabama and a 2-3 outing with a run, a home run and four RBI versus UNLV. Her game against the Rebels lifted the Bulldogs into the consolation semifinals against No. 11 Arizona State. In the first game of pool play, Willis put the `Dogs on the scoreboard with a RBI single versus the Tide. In the quarterfinals of consolation against UNLV, she hit a three-run home run. Defensively, Willis was perfect behind the plate as she threw out four of five would-be basestealers. On the season, she has seven multiple hit and four multiple RBI games. In her last 10 games, Willis is batting .387 (12-31) with four runs, a double, two triples, a home run, two walks and a team-high 11 RBI to go along with 20 total bases for a .645 slugging percentage.
In the Circle
Last week, freshman right hander Robin Mackin (Newmarket, Ontario) made five appearances with four starts and went 2-2 with two shutouts and 35 strikeouts (9.8 strikeouts per 7/IP) in 25.0 innings for a 1.96 ERA. While opponents batted .227 against, she threw a four-hitter and struck out nine versus Utah and pitched a two-hitter and fanned six against UNLV. In the one-run loss to No. 14 Oklahoma, she scattered six hits and struck out eight while hitting a three-run home run in a game that featured a 1:15 rain delay to start the game and a 1:24 rain delay after five innings of play. Mackin had her season-high five-game win streak halted against No. 5 Alabama. Prior to this streak, she had won four straight, twice. In her last eight starts, she has tallied five shutouts and has three 10-strikeout games while allowing nine runs (six earned) on 18 hits with 68 strikeouts (10.7 strikeouts per 7/IP) in 44.2 innings for a 0.94 ERA as opponents are batting .124 against. Having won seven of her last nine starts, Mackin is 15-7 overall with ten 10-strikeout games and 221 K's in 143.0 innings for an average of 10.8 strikeouts per 7/IP this season.
Clark Joins Elite Run Club
With 201 career runs, senior shortstop Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.) became just the third Bulldog in school and WAC history to amass 200 or more runs, joining All-America outfielders Laura Berg (245) and Becky Witt (224). Clark joined the elite run club in the tournament opener against No. 6 Alabama as she went 3-4 with a run and a double.
Clark Writes New Career Total Base Record
More impressive over the weekend was Clark setting a new all-time total base record for Fresno State and the WAC. She eclipsed the 500 career total base plateau, making her the school's and the WAC's all-time career leader with 501, against UNLV after going 3-4 with a run, a double and two RBI to surpass Berg (500). Clark is only the second player in school and WAC history to amass 500 or more career total bases. Sharing team-high honors with 10 multiple hit games this season, Clark has tallied 60 total bases this year and is looking to be the second Bulldog to notch four consecutive 100-total base seasons.
Last Week in Review
Fresno State had its doubleheader rained out at home against Southern Utah before going 2-3 at the Judi Garman Softball Classic ... The Bulldogs finished third in their pool and advanced to the semifinals of the consolation bracket ... The 'Dogs opened tournament play with a 4-1 loss to No. 14 Alabama before bouncing back with a 1-0 win over Utah on Thu., March 16 ... Fresno State wrapped up pool play with a 4-3 loss to No. 14 Oklahoma with more than two hours and a half hours of rain delay ... The Bulldogs won their quarterfinal game against UNLV when they notched an 8-0, 5 inning victory ... The 'Dogs then faced No. 11 Arizona State in the semifinals and dropped an 8-1 decision to conclude tournament play ... The rain out against SUU was the Bulldogs fifth and sixth of the season ... The shutout win over UNLV was Fresno State's 11th of the season ... The Bulldogs also notched their sixth 10-hit game of the year versus the Rebels, giving the 'Dogs their sixth 10-hit performance in the last 12 games ... In addition, the run-rule victory was Fresno State's sixth in its last 12 outings and ninth overall ... With an 18-12 overall record, ten of the losses have come to higher ranked teams and one to a team that received votes ... The Bulldogs softball program needs 10 wins to reach No. 1,300 while Wright is 13 shy of her 1,200th career win.
Team Notables
Clark had her season-high eight-game hitting streak come to a halt against No. 14 Oklahoma ... In this span she batted .577 (15-26) with 14 runs, a double, a triple, two home runs, six RBI, five walks, 1-2 in stolen bases and 24 total bases for a .923 slugging percentage ... In her last 10 games, Clark is hitting .500 (17-34) with 13 runs, two doubles, a triple, two home runs, four walks, 1-2 in stolen bases and 27 total bases for a .794 slugging percentage ... With 57 career home runs, Clark is three shy of becoming the 12th player in Division I history to post 60 or more ... Sophomore first baseman Kristin Sylvester (Big Bear City, Calif.) had her season- and career-high 13-game hitting streak halted against No. 14 Oklahoma ... In this stretch, she batted .463 (19-41) with nine runs, four doubles, two home runs, eight RBI, two walks and 29 total bases for a .707 slugging percentage ... While sharing season-high honors with 10 multiple hit games to date, her 13-game hit streak is tied for ninth all-time school history ... Sylvester has hit safely in 15 of her last 16 games and is batting .449 (22-49) with 10 runs, six doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, three walks and 34 total bases for a .694 slugging percentage ... With all-tournament honors at the Bulldog Classic presented by Bingham Toyota, freshman pitcher/utility Merryann Barr (Fresno, Calif.) has hit safely in eight of her last 10 games ... In this stretch she is batting .400 (13-31) with seven runs, two doubles, four walks and eight RBI ... In Fresno State's last 16 games, Barr is one of three Bulldogs to be hitting .400 or higher ... She is batting .400 (20-50) with eight runs, two doubles, six walks and 10 RBI ... Freshman third baseman Haley Perkins (Fresno, Calif.) has hit safely in 25 of 30 games this season ... She has notched a 10- and seven-game hit streak this season ... Sophomore left fielder Ashley White (Moss Beach, Calif.) had the game-winning hit against Utah when she hit a one-out RBI double in the bottom of the seventh to lift the Bulldogs to a 1-0 victory.
About Nevada (11-17, 0-0 WAC)
In its last action, Nevada went 1-3 worksheet at the Capital Classic, March 17-19. UN opened with a 3-0, 8 inning win over Jacksonville before dropping its final three to Iowa (5-0), Columbia (2-1 in 8 inn.) and Princeton (10-0, 5 inn.). The Wolf Pack had their games cancelled due to weather at Utah Valley State last week. On Wed., March 22, Nevada will play No. 15 Washington and Pacific in a doubleheader in Stockton, Calif. Picked third in the 2006 WAC Preseason Coaches' Poll, the Wolf Pack is 4-5 in their last nine and 7-10 in their last 17 games. Nevada is batting .244 (184-753) as a team while owning a team ERA of 3.62. Leading the team is freshman second baseman Kymberly Silagyi, who is batting .286 (26-91) with 16 runs, two doubles, five walks, 4-6 in stolen bases and nine RBI. Freshman left fielder Brittany Puzey is hitting .272 (22-81) with 11 runs, six doubles, two home runs, seven walks to go along with a team-high 22 RBI. In the circle, sophomore right hander Jordan McPherson, a 2006 preseason all-conference at-large selection, is 7-8 with two shutouts and 99 strikeouts in 107.2 innings for a 2.60 ERA.
Clark On Preseason Watch List; Drafted 18th
On Feb. 1, the Amateur Softball Association announced its initial watch list for the Fifth Annual USA Softball College Player of the Year Award this afternoon and senior All-America shortstop Christina Clark was among the 50 preseason picks. Selected to her third straight national preseason watch list, Clark was just tabbed as the preseason Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the third consecutive year. USA Softball will announce its Top 25 finalists on April 5. Just days before postseason gets underway, it will trim its list down to 10 on May 10 before selecting its final on May 31. The winner of the 2006 USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year Award will be announced during the NCAA Women's College World Series in Oklahoma City. In addition, Clark became the program's 18th professional draft selection when she was chosen No. 18 overall in the inaugural 2006 ProFastpitch X-Treme Tour draft.
Fresno State Selected WAC Preseason Favorites
For the 10th time in 11 years, Fresno State has been picked to capture the league title in 2006. The Bulldogs received five first place votes and one second for a total of 35 points. Hawai'i was tabbed second as it received the final two first place votes for a total of 30 points. Nevada collected 26 points for a third place showing while San Jose State was picked fourth with 19 points. League newcomers Utah State (16 points) and New Mexico State (15 points) were selected fifth and sixth, respectively, while La Tech rounded out the poll with six points.
Trio of 'Dogs Selected Preseason All-WAC; Sweep Preseason Honors
Fresno State also swept the 2006 WAC preseason awards as Clark and Mackin were selected as the Player and Pitcher of the Year, respectively. This is Clark's third consecutive preseason player of the year honor. Returning as the nation's top active Division I career home run leader (54), the two-time All-America shortstop has led the conference three straight seasons in RBI. She also has led the league in runs, home runs, slugging percentage and total bases the past two years. This is the second time in WAC history that a freshman has been honored as the preseason pitcher of the year. Willis also was honored as a preseason All-WAC selection as she received her second consecutive preseason accolade. In addition, Clark was picked at shortstop and Mackin at pitcher for preseason all-conference honors at their respective positions.
National Rankings
Fresno State softball has been no stranger to the national polls as the Bulldogs own the longest streak for consecutive nationally-ranked weeks (178) in NCAA Division I softball history. In the 24-year history of national polls, the Bulldogs have been nationally ranked in the Top 25 for 212 of the 226 weeks since the NCAA's first Top 15 poll in 1983. Fresno State has been in the nation's official Top 25 polls for 24 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.
'Dogs Host WAC Tournament
Fresno State will host the 2006 WAC Softball Tournament, May 11-13, at Bulldog Diamond. This is the second time that Bulldog Diamond will serve as host. Fresno State hosted the 1999 tournament and wrapped up the 1999 season as the regular-season and tournament champions.
Mackin on Canada National Team
After helping Team Canada qualify for the 2006 World Championship as well as the 2007 Pan American Games, Mackin was selected the Canada National Team. She was selected to the national team in January.
