Fresno State Athletics
Softball opens MW play on the road
3/27/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Boise State (8-20)
Boise, Idaho (Dona Larsen Park)
Tuesday, March 29 -- 1:00 p.m. (PT)
Tuesday, March 29 -- 3:00 p.m. (PT)
Wednesday, March 30 -- 11:00 a.m. (PT)
San Diego State (18-10)
Fresno, Calif. (Margie Wright Diamond)
Friday, April 1 -- 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, April 2 -- 6:00 p.m.
Sunday, April 3 -- 12:00 p.m.
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ON DECK
The No. 23/25 Fresno State softball team will open the 2016 regular season on Tuesday, March 29 with a doubleheader against Boise State starting at 1 p.m., followed by a single game with the Broncos on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Week one of Mountain West play will continue with a three-game home series versus San Diego State starting Friday, April 1.
The Bulldogs are 18-9-1 overall, 12-7-1 in neutral site contests and 6-1 in home games coming off a 3-2 record at last week's San Diego Classic II and a midweek loss to Cal State Fullerton before returning home for the remainder of Spring Break.
Additional home conference battles include Utah State (April 15-17), Colorado State (April 22-24) and UNLV (May 12-14). The `Dogs take the road to compete against New Mexico (April 8-10), San Jose State (April 29-May 1) and Nevada (May 6-8).
NATIONAL RUN
As of Tuesday, March 22, Fresno State was positioned No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and twenty-third in the ESPN.com/USA Softball listings. Oregon State dropped out of the NFCA poll, along with Nebraska in the ASA/USA standings, meanwhile Florida Atlantic moved into the 23 spot and Mississippi State began receiving votes this week. Records reflect games played through March 22, 2016.
The Bulldogs have now been ranked in both major top 25 polls for six consecutive weeks after returning to the national scene for the first time since 2011 on Feb. 16.
The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference. The ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll is voted on by coaching representatives of 10 Division I Conferences in the 15 ASA/USA Softball Regions as well as members of the national and local media who consistently cover Division I Softball across the country.
INSIDE BULLDOG SOFTBALL
Ford is in her fourth season at the helm of the Fresno State softball program and is joined by assistant coaches Sara Pickering (4th year) and Carly Wynn (4th year), volunteer assistant coach Jeff Harger (1st year), student manager Andrew Rich (1st year) and director of operations Taylor Green (1st year).
This year's non-conference tournament slate included 13 teams that competed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Prior to opening the regular season, Fresno State faced Regional contestants Utah (W, 2-0), Kansas (W, 5-3), Northwestern (W, 6-4 and 7-1), Cal State Northridge (W, 3-1), Baylor (L, 5-4), California (W, 7-0), Weber State (W, 2-0) and Washington (L, 12-3), Super Regional advancer Oklahoma (L, 3-2) and World Series qualifiers Oregon (L, 9-0) and Tennessee (W, 7-3). Six Fresno State opponents -- No. 6 Oregon, No. 8 Tennessee, No. 9 Oklahoma, No. 16 Baylor, No. 20 Washington and No. 21 California -- were ranked in the Top 25 USA Today/NFCA Preseason Coaches Poll.
In addition to capturing the best start to a season (10-0) in Mountain West softball history, the nationally-ranked Bulldogs' early-season test is highlighted with notable wins over then-ranked No. 8 Tennessee (7-3) and No. 23 Utah (2-0).
BOISE STATE
Boise State opened the 2016 season facing 12 consecutive deficits and has since logged an 8-23 overall record. The Broncos are 0-3 in Mountain West play coming off a three-game road series versus Nevada last week. The Wolf Pack outscored Boise State 4-3 in eight innings on Thursday, 11-10 on Friday and 5-2 Saturday.
Two of the Broncos eight victories have come as the home team at Dona Larsen Park and the squad has been run ruled six times over 31 combined contests. Boise State is led by second-year head coach Cindy Ball who concluded the 2015 season with a 12-42 record and 4-20 mark in Mountain West play.
Fresno State heads to Boise, Idaho with a 16-6 all-time edge and riding a three-game win streak at the conclusion of last season's home series sweep against the Broncos. The Bulldogs set numerous program records while visiting Boise State on March 22, 2014 including total runs scored (24), runs scored in one inning (13) and combined RBI (22) during a single-game.
SAN DIEGO STATE
The Aztecs are 19-12 overall, 1-2 in Mountain West play and 12-8 while competing away from home this season. SDSU opened the regular season visiting UNLV and faced two loses (4-2, 7-2) after a 6-2 victory on March 24. San Diego State will face Nevada for a midweek series prior to taking on Fresno State (April 1-3).
The squad is headed by five-time Mountain West Coach of the Year Kathy Van Wyk who has made eight straight NCAA Tournament appearances (2008-15) and combines for 11 postseason trips during her 19-year tenure. The Bulldogs 2015 MW title snapped San Diego State's three-year streak that added to four previous regular season championships.
The two programs have competed in 71 total contests since 1981 and Fresno State owns a 59-12 all-time series record. The most recent meeting came in 2015 where the `Dogs fell just once over a three-game stretch at the SDSU Softball Stadium. Friday's series opener will mark the seventh consecutive year that Fresno State and San Diego State have squared off and fourth season as Mountain West competitors.
QUICK HITS
The Bulldogs produced what was the best start to a season (10-0) in conference history and rode a 10-game streak for the first time since the 1997 season and the fifth time in program history (1982, 1989, 1991, 1997). Fresno State's longest winning stretch to open a season came in 1982 as the `Dogs went 17-0 before suffering their first loss.
Fresno State was the only Mountain West program to open the season with a defeat over a top 25 team while unranked. Similar to the `Dogs, San Diego State is the only additional league opponent to outscore more than one nationally-ranked team with wins over No. 22 Cal, 2-1 (Feb. 20) and No. 11 Texas A&M, 10-5 (March 4). Nevada toped No. 23 Nebraska, 6-3 (March 19) as the remaining MW top 25 victory collected during the 2016 non-conference schedule.
This is the sixth time the `Dogs have been ranked during Ford's four-year Bulldog tenure after receiving votes to be placed in the top 25 on six occasions during last year's 40-win season. Following opening weekend, Fresno State has secured a spot in the respective major polls at No. 22/24, No. 20, No. 21/22, No. 22/24, No. 24 in both and is currently positioned No. 23/25.
During the 28-game tournament slate, the Bulldogs faced 10 individual student-athletes who were placed on the 2016 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Top 50 "Watch List" -- Annie Aldrete (California, catcher), Shelby Friudenberg (Baylor, infield), Rainey Gaffin (Tennessee, utility), Cheridan Hawkins (Oregon, pitcher), Jazmyn Jackson (California, outfield), Jenna Lilley (Oregon, infield), Erin Miller (Oklahoma, outfield), Paige Parker (Oklahoma, pitcher), Ali Aguilar (Washington, infield) and Missy Taukeiaho (Cal State Fullerton, infield).
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE
According to the latest NCAA Statistics (Wednesday, March 23), Fresno State is only six double plays (13) shy of the national leader with 19 and is positioned in the top 100 within two additional categories -- No. 48 home runs per game (26) and No. 57 in winning percentage (.661).
Individually, senior Whitney Smith secured the team's highest ranking this week at No. 25 in sacrifice hits per game (0.29) and similarly, junior Lindsey Willmon is sited No. 63 in sacrifice flies (2). In addition, junior Kierra Willis is ranked within the nation's top 100 at No. 75 in walks (19).
The Bulldogs were positioned 20th in the first 2016 RPI top 25 listings as of Monday, March 21. Fresno State is the lone Mountain West program in the top 50, as San Diego State trails at No. 55.
BULLDOG STANDOUTS
Fresno State is being led offensively by senior Paige Gumz (.338) who has gone 27-for-80 at the plate and served as the Bulldog's starting catcher in all 190 contests behind the dish during her four-year collegiate career. Fellow senior Whitney Smith (.327) trails Gumz with 18 hits in 55 at-bats and eight sacrifice hits, coming off a team-leading .545 average at the San Diego Classic II.
Recent additional offensive contributors include juniors Malia Rivers and Lindsey Willmon, along with senior Bria Kennedy. Rivers has the team's third highest batting average (.312) and a commanding seven stolen bases while starting all but one game at second base this season. Willmon is hitting .310 and lifted the Bulldogs past two opponents last week with a pair of walk-off hits including a double versus Long Beach and grand slam to run-rule San Diego. Kennedy (25-for-81) rounds out the five Bulldogs with a batting average above .300, accounting for 20 singles, one double and the team's second-highest home run count (4).
Senior pitching ace Jill Compton is a top five MW leader in ERA (2.29), strikeouts (57), opposing batting average (.250), batters struck out looking (22), wins (9) and games started (13). Fellow senior Hannah Harris is fifth in the league with a 2.69 ERA and rookie Kamalani Dung has an eighth-best .272 opposing batting average.
EXCEEDING OPPONENTS
The Bulldogs pace the league in walks (101) and are charted within the top three in sacrifice flies (5) and home runs (26). Fresno State is additionally the lone MW program that hasn't grounded into a double play this season. From the rubber, the Bulldogs have the third-lowest opposing batting average (.277), second-best tally of batters struck out looking (37) and three combined saves.
Respectively, Whitney Smith tops the league in sacrifice bunts (8) and catcher Paige Gumz paces the conference in runners caught stealing (7). Two Bulldogs rank second in the league offensively - Lindsey Willmon (25 runs scored, two sacrifice flies) and Kierra Willis (19 walks) -- meanwhile, Jill Compton has a second-best 2.29 ERA, 22 batters struck out looking and nine wins on defensive.
MOUNTAIN WEST STANDINGS
The league standings saw its most dramatic shift thus far into the 2016 season as Nevada remains ahead of the pack, New Mexico made its way into the number two spot and UNLV rounds out the top three. San Diego State dropped to fourth place after falling in two-of-three MW contests and Utah State secured fifth, ahead of Fresno State.
Eight-of-nine Mountain West softball head coaches tabbed Fresno State to repeat as league champions in the 2016 preseason poll. Led by Ford, the reigning MW Coach of the Year, the Bulldogs received a league-leading 64 total points, marking the second consecutive season the `Dogs have been picked to win the MW regular season title. Fresno State was picked second place in 2014 and third in 2013, as a new league member.
Nevada (22-5, 3-0 MW)
New Mexico (17-12, 2-1 MW)
UNLV (18-14, 2-1 MW)
San Diego State (19-12, 1-2 MW)
Utah State (13-13, 1-2 MW)
Fresno State (18-9-1, 0-0 MW)
Colorado State (14-12, 0-0 MW)
San Jose State (11-17, 0-0 MW)
Boise State (8-23, 0-3 MW)
WEEKLY TRIBUTES
On Feb. 16, ace Jill Compton was pegged the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) Pitcher of the Week, College Sports Madness Mountain West Player of the Week and earned conference recognition along with teammate Lindsey Willmon as the Mountain West Player of the Week (Feb. 16).
Career wise, Compton paces the squad with 10 weekly conference accolades over a four-year span. Last season, Whitney Smith (Apr. 28) and Kierra Willis (Feb. 24) were recognized as the MW Player of the Week for their outstanding performance.
ROSTER RUNDOWN
Bearing the loss of five seniors, Ford added five freshmen and two transfers to contribute to the winning tradition set forth by the 16 cultured veterans focused on carrying momentum into the 2016 season. The 23-person roster containing 22 Californians and one Hawai'i native is comprised of five pitchers, one catcher, 10 infielders, six outfielders and one utility player.
Wearing a Bulldog jersey for the first time this season is pitchers Kamalani Dung and Kira McKechnie, outfielders Kaitlyn Jennings and Howe, redshirt freshman Vanessa Hernandez and Jackson as an infielder. The team also welcomed sophomore transfer Claire Stucker (Mississippi State) along with Willmon as a junior from Hawai'i.
For what is the largest senior class during Ford's tenure, Fresno State boasts eight Bulldogs competing in their final collegiate season - Compton, Gumz, Harris, Taylor Langdon, Smith, Villalpando, Bria Kennedy and Victoria Trevino. Fresno State lacks no experience as Willis, Rivers, Willmon and Christina Rodriguez round out the Bulldog upperclassmen, all 12 of which reap postseason familiarity.
COVERAGE
Fresno State Athletics continues striving to meet the needs of Bulldog fans around the county, therefore providing several outlets to follow the Dogs' journey in 2016. Stay up-to-date with the latest news via Twitter (@FresnoStateSB), Facebook (Fresno State Softball), Instagram (@fresnostatesoftball) and Snapchat (FresnoStateSB). A full recap and final results can be found at GoBulldogs.com following each competition.
Come game day, a live stat feed of all home games can be found on StatBroadcast and GameTracker. The Red Wave can watch live on the Mountain West Network or listen on ESPN 790 AM "The Deuce" during select games. Please note, all broadcast schedules are tentative and subject to change.
BUILDING OFF SUCCESS
The Bulldogs returned a deep lineup including seven student-athletes who received postseason accolades last year. After earning their first Mountain West title and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2015, Fresno State bid farewell to the 2015 Bulldog of the Year and National Professional Fastpitch draftee, Brenna Moss, and additionally graduated fellow outfield starter Michelle Solomon.
Ford was named the league's Coach of the Year at the season's end while the squad garnished offensive and defensive player of the year laurels, along with a pair of first-team All-MW honorees, five second-team selections and three receiving NFCA All-Region honors.
Coming off the most successful stretch under Ford's direction, the Fresno State softball team opened the 2016 season with depth, experience and a veteran battery looking to make another run at a 40-win season, defend its conference championship and return to postseason play by building on last season's accomplishments.
HISTORY IN THE MAKING
The 2015 Bulldog softball season featured plenty of offensive fireworks as the squad finished near the top of numerous individual and team categories in the program record book. Last season, five Bulldogs checked into the all-time program record book as a top 10 career leader, including Rivers (T7th - 15 hit streak), Willis (5th - .536 slugging percentage), Compton (7th - 123 appearances, 9th - 546 strikeouts, 10th - 104 games starts, T9th - three saves, 10th - three no-hitters), Harris (T9th - three saves) and Langdon (T4th - five saves).
Season-wise, Fresno State individually made its way into the top 10 last year in seven separate categories, represented by Willis (T2nd - nine triples, 10th - .667 slugging percentage, 10th - 55 RBI), Kennedy (T8th - 30 walks), Compton (T6th - 47 appearances, 6th - 43 game starts, T10th - two saves), Langdon (T1st - four saves), and Harris (T10th - two saves).
As a team, the 2015 squad exceeded the 1999 record of 191 walks with 201 coming during the 2015 campaign, tied with the most runs scored by both teams during a single-game (28), had a single-game leading four triples vs. Rutgers (Feb. 27) and combined for a high of 55 total bases with Cal (Feb. 15).
Then-senior, Moss, became the career stolen base record holder (104) on Feb. 22 with her 87th stolen base coming against Stanford, following an all-time season high 34 in 2014.
ACADEMIC IMPORTANCE
The Fresno State softball team takes pride in the hard work dedicated on the field as well as in the classroom and reaffirmed its commitment to academic success with 20 NFCA Scholar-Athlete awards, 14 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete laurels, 23 MW All-Academic honors and two CoSIDA Academic All-District accolades.
2015 NFCA Scholar-Athletes: Wendy Cardinali, Hannah Harris, Vanessa Hernandez, Taylor Langdon, Chase LeeHong, Victoria Trevino, Kelly Megee, Taylor Green and Kiley Shae Aldridge.
2015 MW Scholar-Athlete (3.5): Wendy Cardinali, Hannah Harris, Chase LeeHong , Victoria Trevino and Kelly Megee.
2015 MW All-Academic (3.0): Kelly Megee, Brenna Moss, Jill Compton, Paige Gumz, Chase LeeHong, Malia Rivers, Christina Rodriguez and Victoria Trevino.
SEASON TICKETS
At the conclusion of 23 games played at Margie Wright Diamond last season, Fresno State claimed the highest attendance figure (24,538) since 2008, averaging 1,067 fans per game. Ford has attracted a consistent crowd of 20,000 or more fans per year during each of her three seasons, but encourages members of the Red Wave to make 2016 the best yet.
Fans can purchase season tickets starting at $65 for general admission ($39 for youth/seniors) with the option to reserve either upper ($78) or lower ($130) deck seating to cheer on the Bulldogs this year. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Bulldog Ticket Office or over the phone at 559-278-3647.
TOP RETURNERS 2015 (GP-GS, Avg., H, R, HR, RBI )
Malia Rivers (Jr., INF) 56-56, .371, 72, 40, 0, 30
Kierra Willis (Jr., OF) 55-55, .364, 59, 43, 8, 55
Whitney Smith (Sr., INF) 56-56, .266, 34, 17, 1, 21
Alyssa Villalpando (Sr., INF) 53-53, .361, 57, 24, 6, 33
Bria Kennedy (Sr., OF) 48-47, .286, 34, 25, 2, 23
Paige Gumz (Sr., C) 56-56, .275, 46, 22, 3, 33
TOP PITCHERS 2015 (GP-GS, W-L, IP, ERA, K, BB)
Jill Compton (Sr., RHP) 47-43, 28-11, 242.1, 2.25, 242, 76
Hannah Harris, (Sr., RHP) 26-12, 9-3, 89.2, 2.26, 40, 10
2016 SCHEDULE BREAKDOWN
• 2015 NCAA World Series Qualifers (8 teams) - Oregon, Tennessee
• 2015 NCAA Super Regional Qualifiers (16 teams) - Oklahoma
• 2015 NCAA Regional Tournament Qualifiers (64 teams) - Baylor, Utah, Kansas, Northwestern, Cal State Northridge, Cal, Weber State, Washington, BYU, San Diego State
• 2015 Non-Tournament Qualifiers - Indiana, Seattle, Boston College, Sacramento State, UC Riverside, Loyola Marymount, Baylor, Wisconsin, Oregon State, CSU Bakersfield, Long Beach State, Ohio State, Princeton, San Diego, Cal State Fullerton, Boise State, New Mexico, Utah State, Colorado State, San Jose State, Nevada, UNLV, Pacific
"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.
