Softball Beats Nevada for 2007 WAC Tournament Title

May 12, 2007

Fresno, Calif. - Fresno State didn't trail often in the 2007 WAC Tournament, so when it trailed in the championship game, the Bulldogs showed why they were undefeated, fighting back to score three unanswered runs and knocking off the defending WAC Tournament Champion Nevada Wolf Pack, 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Bulldog Diamond.

Fresno State went a perfect 4-0 in the tournament, behind the arm of Robin Mackin, who pitched all 28 innings, and a solid offensive and defensive supporting cast behind her.

The Bulldogs had four players named to the WAC All-Tournament Team, including Nichole Willis, Jenna Cervantez, Haley Perkins and Robin Mackin. Mackin was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

With the WAC Tournament Title, comes an automatic berth into the NCAA Tournament, and the Bulldogs' 26th consecutive trip to the tournament.

Fresno State has now won 10 straight games overall and 14 of its last 16. Overall, the Bulldogs are 46-16.

Offensively Saturday afternoon, the Bulldogs were led by Merryann Barr, who had two RBI and Haley Perkins, who went 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored. Shannon Garvin and Aja Scheuber added the final two RBIs for the Bulldogs.

After trailing 3-2 since the second inning, Fresno State put a two-run inning together in the top of the sixth, rallying from behind to overtake the Wolf Pack for good.

Merryann Barr led the sixth inning rally off with a walk, followed by a Nichole Willis single to center. After a passed ball with one out put two runners in scoring position, pinch hitter Aja Scheuber had the biggest hit of the game. Scheuber singled through the left side of the infield, scoring the tying run. Shannon Garvin followed with a sacrifice fly to put the Bulldogs on top 4-3.

Fresno State added an insurance run in the seventh on an RBI single by Barr, giving the Bulldogs a 5-3 advantage.

Fresno State, the designated visiting team, opened the game by scoring one run in the top of the first. Haley Perkins led the game off with a single and scored on a Merryann Barr RBI ground out.

Nevada answered with a big inning in the bottom of the first, scoring three runs off Mackin. Nevada placed four hits in the inning in the perfect spot, while only allowing two hits to leave the infield.

The Bulldogs rallied with one run in the top of the second to cut the lead to 3-2. Shannon Garvin started the one-out rally with an infield single and moved into scoring position on a Michelle Palazuelos ground out. Perkins followed with a clutch two-out single to score Garvin.

Fresno State will await Sunday's NCAA Tournament Selection Show, which will be announced on ESPNews between Noon and 1 p.m., PST. The Bulldogs won the automatic berth and await a seeding and regional site announcement.

2007 WAC All-Tournament Team

Jordan McPherson    Nevada  PNichole Willis    Fresno State    CKristi Randall  New Mexico State    OFAshley Cameron  Louisiana Tech  OFRobin Mackin    Fresno State    PKelly Harrison  San Jose State  PJenna Cervantez  Fresno State    2BAlana Power Hawaii  2BBrittany Puzey  Nevada  OFSam Bias    Nevada  SSHaley Perkins  Fresno State    SS
Most Valuable Player: Robin Mackin, Fresno State

Fresno State Athletics

Softball Beats Nevada for 2007 WAC Tournament Title

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Players Mentioned

Jenna Cervantez

Jenna Cervantez

Shannon Garvin

Robin Mackin

Robin Mackin

Michelle Palazuelos

Haley Perkins

Haley Perkins

Aja Scheuber

Nichole Willis

Nichole Willis

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