Fresno State Athletics
No. 25 Dogs Visit Broncos for WAC Series
4/27/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 27, 2011
FRESNO, Calif. - No. 25 Fresno State (29-11, 13-2 WAC) will visit Boise State (29-15, 12-3 WAC) for a three-game Western Athletic Conference series that starts Friday at 2 p.m. PT and concludes Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. PT.
The Bulldogs are a game back of New Mexico State in the WAC title race with six games left.
The live statistics of all the games can viewed with Gametracker at www.gobulldogs.com.
Bulldogs on Six-Game Win Streak After Back-to-Back WAC Sweeps
The Bulldogs own a six-game win streak after three-game sweeps of San Jose State and Utah State. The six-game stretch is one shy of the Dogs' season-best seven victory stretch from March 19-April 2 that included wins over four Top 25 teams and opened with a 3-1 triumph over now No. 2/2 Michigan. Fresno State has swept four of its five WAC series this year.
Moses Earns Second WAC Hitting Award of the Season
Fresno State's Michelle Moses earned her second WAC Hitter of the Week award of the year after she blasted three home runs, including her third career grand slam, hit an opposite field RBI triple, recorded a 1.333 slugging percentage with nine RBI and scored six runs to power Fresno State to a second-straight WAC sweep on the road at Utah State.
Ortiz Named Top Female Newcomer & George Ilg Award Winner
Brooke Ortiz was honored as Fresno State's top female newcomer during the department's annual Night of Champions. As a starting freshman infielder and versatile left-handed slapper, her speed and power make her a threat to score every time she steps to the plate. Ortiz also excels in the classroom and made the President's List last fall with a perfect 4.0 GPA.
No. 25 Fresno State Sports Six Top 25 Wins, NCAA RPI of 26
On the season, Fresno State is 29-11 with six wins over Top 25 teams for a 6-4 mark against nationally ranked, including a 3-1 win over now-No. 2/2 Michigan. The Bulldogs also sport a WAC-leading RPI of 26 in the latest NCAA RPI. Four WAC schools are ranked in the national Top 125: Fresno State (26), New Mexico State (54), Hawai'i (64) and Boise State (120).
No. 25 Fresno State's 2011 Top 25 Wins
• Fresno State 3, No. 5/6 Michigan 1 [March 19, 2011]
• Fresno State 6, No. 8/10 Missouri 3 [February 18, 2011]
• Fresno State 4, No. 19/18 Oklahoma State 3 [February 25, 2011]
• Fresno State 5, No. 20/25 Hawai'i 0 [April 1, 2011]
• Fresno State 2, No. 20/25 Hawai'i 1 [April 2, 2011]
• Fresno State 2, No. 20/25 Hawai'i 0 [April 2, 2011]
PREVIEW: Boise State Broncos
• Boise State Broncos [WAC] (Friday - 2 p.m. PT & Saturday - 12/2 p.m. PT)
- The Boise State Broncos are 29-15 this year, 11-0 in home games and 12-3 in WAC play
- Fresno State leads the all-time series with Boise State, 8-1
- In the circle, Aubrey Zell is the reigning WAC Pitcher of the Week and has a 12-2 record
- At the plate, Devon Bridges owns a Bronco-best .402 batting average
- Last weekend, Boise State swept Hawai'i in Honolulu for the first time in school history.
DOG WATCH: Bulldogs Climbing into Record Books
• Haley Gilleland is Fresno State's all-time stolen base leader (79) & 20-for-22 this year
• Haley Gilleland is fifth all-time in the WAC in stolen bases (79) - two shy of fourth
• Haley Gilleland is sixth all-time at Fresno State in career hit by pitch (23)
• Michelle Moses is second all-time at Fresno State in career home runs (41)
• Mackenzie Oakes has won 11 straight games in the circle - seven shy of school record
• Three Bulldogs (Angene, Moses and Stiglich) have hit grand slams this season
Fresno State is One of the Nation's Elite Programs
• Margie Wright is the all-time winningest Division I fastpitch head softball coach (1,415)
• Margie Wright won her 1,400th career game on March 15 with a 3-2 win over Bradley
• Fresno State won its 1,500th career game on March 10 with a 1-0 win over Idaho State
• Fresno State is in its 34th year with an overall record of 1,520-539-1 (.739) since 1978
• Fresno State is the nation's second-best all-time winningest NCAA Division I softball fastpitch program with a 1,436-481-1 (.750) record since 1982 --- behind Arizona and ahead of UCLA, Florida State, Cal State Fullerton, La.-Lafayette, California and Oklahoma.
• Fresno State is the nation's only program to qualify for every NCAA Tournament (29)
• Fresno State has appeared on national television 16 times, including April 1 5-0 win
Speedy Gilleland Sprinting in Senior Season
The speed of senior shortstop Haley Gilleland cemented itself in the Bulldog career record books. Gilleland is already Fresno State's all-time career leader for stolen bases (79) after going 20-for-22. As the leadoff hitter, she is batting (.296; 40-for-135) with a team-high six doubles. Gilleland also has scored 21 runs, owns 12 RBI and drawn 14 walks.
True Triple Threat Moses One of West Region's Top Performers
Junior right-handed pitcher and first baseman Michelle Moses is one of the West Region's best pitchers, hitters and defenders. On Opening Day, she recorded the first cycle in program history. The triple threat continues to improve her game and blasted three home runs in the first three games of the season. In 2011, she is batting .283 with a team-best 12 home runs, five doubles, a .638 slugging percentage, 28 runs scored, 35 RBI and 81 total bases.
Bulldogs Record 4-1 Mark Against 2010 WCWS Schools in 2011
In 2011, Fresno State recorded a 4-1 record against three schools that participated in the 2010 Women's College Series. The Dogs beat then-No. 8/10 Missouri 6-3 in the SD Classic I before losing to then-No. 4/4 Washington 10-0 (6) during the Judi Garman Classic. In the final three games, Fresno State swept then-No. 20/25 Hawai'i (5-0, 2-1 and 2-0).
Fresno State Holds Record for 29 NCAA Tournament Appearances
Fresno State is the nation's only program to have qualified for all 29 NCAA Tournaments in the Division I sport's history. The Bulldogs have appeared in 12 of the 29 NCAA Women's College World Series and secured the school's first Division I national championship.
Fresno State Picked to Finish Second, Three Dogs Named All-WAC
In the annual WAC coaches preseason poll, Fresno State was picked to finish second and three Bulldogs earned preseason All-WAC team honors - senior shortstop Haley Gilleland, junior pitcher/first baseman Michelle Moses and senior catcher Caitlin Stiglich. Hawai'i, the defending WAC champion, was tabbed as the preseason conference favorite.
Bulldogs to Host 2011 WAC Softball Tournament May 11-14
Fresno State will serve as the hosts for the 2011 Western Athletic Conference Softball Tournament from May 11-14. The top six schools qualify for the double-elimination tournament with the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament awarded to the winner. The Bulldogs have won three WAC Tournament titles (2009, `07 and 1999) and 10 of the past 15 regular season WAC championships. Ticket information is at www.gobulldogs.com.
2011 WAC Tournament All-Session Tickets on Sale
All-session tickets for the 2011 WAC Softball Tournament hosted by Fresno State at Bulldog Diamond May 11-14 are on sale now. The all-session pass is good for all 10 games (11 if the second game on Saturday is necessary). Single day tickets go on sale to the general public beginning Tuesday, May 11. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gobulldogs.com and over the phone at (559) 278-3647.
Fresno State Continues to Perform as the WAC's Premier Program
With its strong commitment to premier athletic competition and academic performance, Fresno State finished second in the 2009-10 Western Athletic Conference Commissioner's Cup standings and remained the best program throughout the eight years of the award. Since the 2002-03 academic year when the Cup race started, Fresno State has scored a WAC-best 679.5 points for an average of 84.94 points per academic year. The Bulldogs rank first among the current WAC institutions with an average finish of 2.375, ahead of Boise State (3.63) and Nevada (3.88) as the top three WAC schools. Fresno State is also one of two repeat Cup winners (2007-08 & 2008-09), along with Rice University (2003-04 & 2004-05).
"We Are You Team!" - The Dogs take off to Boise April 29-30 for their last WAC road series of the season. No. 25 Fresno State returns home May 6-7 to host Nevada at Bulldog Diamond for Senior Weekend. You can always stay connected with Fresno State Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@FSAthletics).
