Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Host Pack in Final WAC Weekend
5/4/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
• PHOTO GALLERY: 2011 Seniors
• Fresno State's 2011 WAC Tournament Central
• Notes: Fresno State vs. Nevada 
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State (29-14, 13-5 WAC) will host Nevada (12-32, 3-15 WAC) for a three-game series that starts Friday at 6 p.m. PT and concludes Saturday at 1 p.m and 3 p.m. PT.
The Bulldogs are two games back of Boise State in the Western Athletic Conference standings.
All three games will be broadcast live on ESPN 790 AM with Guy Haberman calling the action. Live video and statistics of all the games can also be viewed at www.gobulldogs.com.
Bulldogs Will Enter 2011 WAC Tournament as No. 2, 3 or 4 Seed
While a three-way WAC regular season co-championship remains a possibility, Fresno State will enter the 2011 WAC Tournament as either the No. 2, 3 or 4 seed. The event returns to Bulldog Diamond May 11-14 for the first time since 2008. All-session tournament tickets are on sale through the Bulldog Ticket Office, by calling (559) 278-DOGS or visiting www.gobulldogs.com. The four-day affair will award an automatic NCAA berth to the winner.
Fresno State Sports Six Top 25 Wins, NCAA RPI of 32
On the season, Fresno State is 29-14 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 32 in the latest NCAA RPI. Four WAC schools are ranked in the national Top 75: Fresno State (32), Hawai'i (57), New Mexico State (64), and Boise State (72).
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: Nevada Wolf Pack
• Nevada Wolf Pack [WAC] (Friday - 6 p.m. PT & Saturday - 1/3 p.m. PT)
- The Nevada Wolf Pack are 12-32 this year, 3-9 in road games and 3-15 in WAC play
- Fresno State leads the all-time series with Nevada, 33-10
- In the circle, Mallary Darby is 12-24 on the season with a 5.34 ERA over 199.1 innings
- At the plate, Erin Jones sports a Wolf Pack-best .360 batting average
- Nevada is in 8th place in the WAC standings - two games back of SJSU for 6th place
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.
DOG WATCH: Bulldogs Climbing into Record Books
• Haley Gilleland is Fresno State's all-time stolen base leader (80) & 21-for-24 this year
• Haley Gilleland is fifth all-time in the WAC in stolen bases (80) - one 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)
• Three Bulldogs (Angene, Moses and Stiglich) have hit grand slams this season
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 in 1998.
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).
ESPNU Shines Spotlight on the Bulldogs
Fresno State's Haley Gilleland, Michelle Moses, Mackenzie Oakes and Margie Wright taped segments with ESPNU on Feb. 25 in Cathedral City for 2011 national softball coverage.
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 10. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gobulldogs.com, over the phone at (559) 278-3647 or at the Bulldog Ticket Office.
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!" - Fresno State returns home May 6-7 to play Nevada at Bulldog Diamond for Senior Day Weekend before hosting the 2011 Western Athletic Conference Tournament May 11-14. Tickets are available by calling 278-DOGS or visiting the 2011 WAC Tournament Central. You can always stay connected with Fresno State Athletics on Facebook and Twitter (@FSAthletics).
