Fresno State Athletics
Softball welcomes four teams for home showdown
3/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Fresno State Classic
Friday, March 11
Game 1: Weber State (5:00 p.m.)
Game 2: No.7/8 Washington (7:30 p.m.)
Saturday, March 12
Game 3: Weber State (3:00 p.m.)
Game 4: No. 7/8 Washington (5:30 p.m.)
Sunday, March 13
Game 5: CSU Bakersfield (2:00 p.m.)
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Weekend Links: Tournament Central, Live Video Footage
Live Stats: Links to follow live stats for each game can be found on the schedule page at GoBulldogs.com
Official Hashtag: #GoDogs
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
Following a 10-game road stretch, the Bulldogs will host their second and last tournament, the Fresno State Classic on March 11-13 at Margie Wright Diamond. Fresno State welcomes Weber State, CSU Bakersfield, No. 7/8 Washington and Mountain West foe San Diego State for the three-day slate.
The Bulldogs are 5-0 in home games after beating Kansas twice, Sacramento State two times and UC Riverside as the host of the home opening Fresno State Kick-Off (Feb. 19-21). The squad is 14-5-1 coming off a 2-2-1 mark at the 11th annual Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
Fresno State departed Fullerton with a 7-1 victory over Northwestern, a pair of losses to No. 22/24 Baylor and Wisconsin, its first tied contest in 30 years versus Oregon State and obtained a forfeit win over Cal during the tournament finale on Sunday.
Head coach Trisha Ford has put on the annual Fresno State Classic since her arrival in 2013 and has since logged a winning record for the past three seasons. The team went 4-1 last year, 3-2 in 2014 and 2-1 with two cancellations due to weather conditions in 2013.
All 12 games played during the Fresno State Classic will be steamed live on the Mountain West Network, free of charge to viewers. Fans can also listen to Fresno State's contests on 790 AM ESPN2 "The Deuce" or follow live stats via StatBroadcast.
NATIONAL RUN
As of Tuesday, March 8, Fresno State was positioned No. 24 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and checked in at No. 22 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball listings. No new teams entered or dropped out of the polls this week.
The Bulldogs have now been ranked in both major top 25 polls for four 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. Records reflect games played through Feb. 28, 2016.
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 includes 13 teams that competed in the 2015 NCAA Tournament. So far this season, Fresno State has faced Regional contestant Baylor (L, 5-4) and California (W, 7-0), 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 No. 22/24 Bulldogs' early-season test is highlighted with notable wins over then-ranked No. 8 Tennessee (7-3) and No. 23 Utah (2-0).
Tournament play will wrap up at the San Diego Classic II on March 18-20 where the ‘Dogs will take on Long Beach State, BYU, Ohio State, Princeton and San Diego. The team will make its way back to Fullerton, Calif., for a single non-conference matchup with Cal State Fullerton on March 22 prior to opening the regular season.
Mountain West play will get underway on the road against Boise State starting March 29, followed by a home series against San Diego State (April 1-3). Additional home conference battles include Utah State (April 15-17), Colorado State (April 22-24) and UNLV (May 12-14), with road games against New Mexico (April 8-10), San Jose State (April 29-May 1) and Nevada (May 6-8).
TWOFOLD vs. WEBER STATE Notes
Fresno State has met with Weber State just three times in program history, all of which came in 1983 as the ‘Dogs collected back-to-back victories after falling in the series opener. The first two contests were held in Fresno during a double header on March 18, 1983, prior to the Bulldogs visiting Ogden, Utah the week following (March 25). Fresno State heads into Friday's tournament opener with a 5-3 edge in total runs scored.
The Wildcats are the lone Big Sky program with a double-digit win figure this far in the 2016 season, pacing the eight-team league with an 11-7 overall mark.
Of their seven blemishes, Weber State has fell to a pair of Mountain West programs including San Diego State, 2-1 on Feb. 13 and Utah State, 2-1 on Feb. 19. Prior to facing the Bulldogs, the Wildcats and Aztecs will meet for a second time on Friday at 12 p.m. Fresno State will serve as just the second ranked opponent the Wildcats square off with after going down 5-0 against then-ranked No. 24 Texas (Feb. 28).
The squad is headed by Mary Kay Amicone in her third season. Amicone helped Weber State become the school's first Big Sky Conference champion (38-19) and earn their first trip to the NCAA Regionals in Lafayette, Louisiana.
TOP 10 WASHINGTON
Fresno State is 9-10 all-time against the Huskies and most recently logged a 1-0 victory in 2014 at the Judi Garman Classic. While facing then-ranked No. 6 UW, the ‘Dogs struck out nine batters and allowed just three hits during what was the team's first victory over a top-25 foe since February 25, 2012.
The teams did not face each other last season. Since the series began in 1993, Washington and Fresno State have met during 11 total seasons as both teams have logged a total of 62 runs over 19 contests. The largest deficit between the two programs was 10 runs as the ‘Dogs won 15-5 in 1997 and fell 10-0 in 2011.
Washington remained at No. 7 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Top 25 and eighth in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll as of Tuesday, March 8 and tops the Pac 12 charts with a 16-3 overall record, ahead of Oregon (16-4), Oregon State (16-4-1), Arizona State (18-5), Utah (12-5), Arizona (15-7), Cal (10-7), UCLA (13-8) and Stanford (11-8).
Led by head coach Heather Tarr in her 12th year at the helm, the Husky program made their 22nd consecutive appearance in the 2015 NCAA Tournament and 11th straight under Tarr's leadership. Prior to earning their ninth Super Regional berth in 2014, the Huskies had punched their ticket to the Women's College World Series for the 11th time in program history in 2013.
A LOOK AT CSU BAKERSFIELD Notes 
The Bulldogs are 5-1 all-time against CSU Bakersfield, including a 3-0 record at home. Fresno State had won four straight prior to being edged 5-4 as the visiting team in 2013. The last meeting between the schools came in 2014 when the ‘Dogs defeated the Roadrunners 9-1. Overall, Fresno State has outscored CSU Bakersfield 25-10.
The Roadrunners are currently 4-11 and positioned fifth in the six-team Western Athletic Conference (WAC), ahead of Utah Valley (4-16). So far this season, Bakersfield has gone 3-2 at the Aggie Kick-Off (Feb. 12-14), 0-5 while at the Libby Matson Tournament (Feb. 26-28) and 1-4 during last week's Stacey Winseberg Tournament (March 4-6).
The Roadrunners are coming off their most successful season under fifth-year head coach Crissy Buck-Ziegler who guided the squad to a 21-25 overall finish after reaching the 2015 WAC Championship game.
QUICK HITS
The No. 22/24 Bulldogs produced what was the best start to a season (10-0) in conference history and obtain an undefeated record at home (5-0).
The Bulldogs were off to a 10-0 start 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.
The ‘Dogs were only Mountain West program to open the season with a defeat over a top 25 team while unranked, as San Diego State is the only league competitor to collect a victory over a ranked opponent – No. 22 Cal (2-1) on Feb. 20 and No. 11 Texas A&M (10-5) on March 4.
Fresno State is currently one of 22 teams with five or fewer loses and the lone program with a tied score in the National Fastpitch Coaches Association top 25. In all, there are just two Division I squads in the nation with a perfect record heading into the fifth week of tournament play.
This is the fourth 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 both polls at No. 22/24, No. 20, No. 21/22 and currently No. 22/24.
20 games into the non-conference tournament slate, the Bulldogs have faced eight 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) – and will take on Ali Aguilar (Washington, infield) and Missy Taukeiaho (Cal State Fullerton, infield) prior to the regular season.
AMONG THE NATION'S ELITE
According to the latest NCAA Statistics (Sunday, March 6), Fresno State is only four double plays shy of the national leader (15) and is positioned in the top 50 within two categories – No. 36 home runs (20) and No. 48 winning percentage (.700). The Bulldogs are among 75 Division I programs with five or fewer loses including Mountain West foe Nevada (14-3). National leader Florida (22-0) and UT-Arlington (18-0) are the lone two programs that have remained untouched.
Individually, righty Jill Compton secured the team's highest ranking this week at No. 19 in victories (8) while also sited No. 89 in ERA (1.79). In addition, two Bulldog infielders placed top 50 in the NCAA individual statistics including Alyssa Villalpando (No. 26, two triples) and Dominique Jackson (No. 27, six home runs).
The final 2015 NCAA Women's Softball RPI (June 10) reaped Fresno State (No. 45) and San Diego State (No. 38) as the lone pair of MW programs in the top 50. The NCAA will announce the first 2016 RPI ranking on Monday, March 21, nearly six weeks into season.
BULLDOG STANDOUTS
Fresno State is currently being led at the plate by junior Malia Rivers who has served as the Bulldog's starting second baseman in all 19 contests this season. Rivers has gone 22-for-66 and is tied with senior Alyssa Villalpando hitting .333 over a four-week span. Villalpando has a second-best .583 slugging percentage after batting .571 (8-for-14) last week and knocking in six runs on five singles, one double and two home runs over a five-game slate.
Senior pitching ace Jill Compton is a MW leader in wins (8), innings pitched (74.1), ERA (1.79) and compiled strikeouts (56). Most recently, the righty tossed 17.1 innings at the Judi Garman Classic with a weekend-high seven strikeouts during the ‘Dogs 7-1 victory over Northwestern on Friday.
Additional offensive contributors include catcher Paige Gumz, fellow senior Bria Kennedy and freshman Dominique Jackson. Gumz has a team second-best .316 batting average (18-for-57) and a commanding four doubles while starting all 182 games behind the dish during her four-year career. Kennedy is hitting .315 with four home runs and Jackson has a team-leading .685 slugging percentage with 37 total bases and 12 RBI's on six home runs two doubles and nine singles during her rookie season.
As one of the team's top reserve power-hitters freshman Morgan Howe has appeared in all but one game, as a pinch hitter in 12, started as the designated player in five tilts and as the ‘Dogs right fielder once. Howe is tied with a second-best four doubles and has eight RBI's while trailing seven member of the starting lineup in average (.250) as the team currently sports six Bulldogs batting over .300 in 55 or more at-bats.
CONFERENCE CHOICE
As the preseason favorite, Fresno State (14-5-1) currently sits in second behind Nevada (14-3) who has now held the conference lead for two consecutive weeks. The ‘Dogs remain ahead of the additional seven MW programs including San Diego State (12-7), New Mexico (10-7), UNLV (10-10), Colorado State (9-11), Utah State (6-8), San Jose State (6-15) and Boise State (4-16).
The Bulldogs top the league charts in total bases (231) and fielding percentage (.963) and have the second highest number of walks (72), home runs (20) and at-bats (525). From the rubber, Fresno State is second in ERA (2.76), batters fanned (83), batters struck out looking (26), opposing batting average (.267), saves (2) innings pitched (131.2) and are tied with a conference-leading 14 wins.
Respectively, Whitney Smith (5 sacrifice bunts), Dominique Jackson (6 home runs), Jill Compton (1.79 ERA, 56 strikeouts, 74.1 innings pitched, 8 wins, 11 game starts), catcher Paige Gumz (6 caught stealing) and Lindsey Willmon (8 fielded double plays) pace the league. Among conference competitors, two Bulldogs have tallied an individual game-high including Villalpando (5 RBI's vs. Sacramento State and Oregon State), and Bria Kennedy (10 total bases and 2 home runs vs. Cal State Northridge).
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.
LEAGUE STANDINGS
Nevada (14-3)
Fresno State (14-5-1)
San Diego State (12-7)
New Mexico (10-7)
UNLV (10-10)
Colorado State (9-11)
Utah State (6-8)
San Jose State (6-15)
Boise State (4-16)
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.
