Fresno State Athletics
Softball Unveils Fall Schedule
9/30/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. -- Fourth year Fresno State head coach Trisha Ford and the Bulldog softball team look forward to a busy fall schedule preparing for the 2016 season. The team is coming off a 40-win season that led the `Dogs to a 2015 Mountain West Championship and the first NCAA postseason appearance in four years.
The `Dogs look to showcase a talented squad, competing in five contests at Margie Wright Diamond starting in late October. Excluding the fall opener, all games will feature free admission.
The first team practice of the year was held on Thursday, Sept. 24 as the Bulldogs prepare to take on National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) organization, the USSSA Pride, on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Fresno State is one of four California stops the Florida-based program will make during its 2015 fall tour, including Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Northridge and Cal Poly prior to facing the `Dogs.
For what will be the only fall game with an admission fee, fans can catch the action for only $5 and attend a free autograph session with both Fresno State and USSSA Pride athletes following the game.
On Oct. 23, Fresno State will face Allen Hancock who sported a 33-game win streak in 2015 while garnering the No. 2 seed heading into the Southern California Regionals, and their second consecutive Western State Conference title. The Allen Hancock Bulldogs finished 35-4-1 overall including an undefeated 15-0 regular-season run.
In a two-week span, Fresno State is slated to face four California Community College Athletic Association programs -- Reedley College, College of the Sequoias, Sacramento City College and Allan Hancock. Reedley has won back-to-back conference championships (2014, `15) as the Tigers look to return seven players this season, while the College of the Sequoias took fourth (12-23, 6-9 CVC) out of six programs in the Central Valley Conference. Sacramento City finished fourth in the Big 8 Conference, with an overall mark of 25-16 last season while earning the No. 5 seed heading into the Northern California CCCAA Regional playoffs.
For the first time under Ford's direction, an Alumnae game will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 3 p.m. The action will get underway immediately following the `Dogs final fall home game against Sacramento City College.
The upcoming spring schedule is highlighted with the annual Fresno State Kickoff (Feb. 19-21) and Fresno State Classic (March 11-13) hosted at Margie Wright Diamond prior to the regular season.
Fresno State bid farewell to five seniors at the conclusion of the 2015 season, but looks to return 11 upperclassman, including eight seniors to the 25-person roster.
The `Dogs return five 2015 All-Mountain West selections -- Jill Compton, Hannah Harris, Malia Rivers, Whitney Smith and Kierra Willis. In addition, Ford was named the MW Coach of the Year while the pitcher-catcher duo of Compton and Paige Gumz were tabbed the Pitcher and Defensive Player of the Year.
Also revisiting the Bulldog roster this season is third baseman, Alyssa Villalpando who received second-team All-Region honors from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association, while Compton was named to the first-team Pacific All-Region. Villalpando spent her summer break taking advantage of the opportunity to compete for the Mexican National Softball Federation before returning for her senior season.
Oct. 21 - NPF Pride (7 p.m.)
Oct. 23 - Allan Hancock (6 p.m.)
Oct. 28 - College of the Sequoias (6 p.m.)
Oct. 30 -- Reedley (6 p.m.)
Nov. 7 -- Sacramento City College (1 p.m.)
Nov. 7 - Alumnae Game (3 p.m.)
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 The Deuce. For ticket information contact the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-3647 or log on to www.gobulldogs.com.
