No. 21 Bulldogs go south of the border for Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

Thursday, February 16

Puerto Vallarta, JAL, Mexico

8 a.m. PT

Fresno State

Mississippi State

No. 21 Bulldogs go south of the border for Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

2/15/2017 4:55:00 AM | Softball

Fresno State Game Notes (PDF)MW Weekly Release (PDF)MW Stats (PDF)

The four-day, five-team tournament begins on Thursday as the ’Dogs are set to face Mississippi State, FGCU, CSUF and Texas Tech

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

Tournament Central

FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 21 Fresno State softball team heads to its second tournament of the season when the Bulldogs travel to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico on Thursday.

The 'Dogs are set to face Mississippi State, Florida Gulf Coast, Cal State Fullerton and Texas Tech at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge with all games being played at Campo de Softball Nancy Almaraz.

Thursday, Feb. 16
Game 6: Mississippi State (8 a.m. PT) – LIVE STATS
Game 7: Florida Gulf Coast (11 a.m. PT) – LIVE STATS

Friday, Feb. 17
Game 8: Florida Gulf Coast (2 p.m. PT) – LIVE STATS

Saturday, Feb. 18
Game 9: Cal State Fullerton (9:45 a.m. PT) – LIVE STATS

Sunday, Feb. 19
Game 10: Texas Tech (7 a.m. PT) – LIVE STATS

BULLDOG BITES
- Fresno State moved up three spots to No. 21 in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Coaches' Poll on Tuesday after going 4-1 at the ASU Kajikawa Classic last weekend, outscoring opponents 43-18.

- Fresno State junior utility Savannah McHellon was named the Mountain West Player of the Week after opening the season with a .615 (8-for-13) batting average, eight RBIs, six runs scored and two home runs.

- Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung began the season with a 3-0 record, including two complete-game shutouts, and held opponents to a .155 batting average.

- In last Sunday's 24-8 win against Stanford, the Bulldogs tied the single-game program records for runs scored (24), home runs (6) and total bases (40), while breaking the record for RBIs (23).

- Fresno State ranks ninth in the nation in home runs per game (1.60) and 10th in runs per game (8.60).

- As a team, the Bulldogs lead the MW in batting average (.359), home runs per game (1.60), runs per game (8.60) and slugging percentage (.586).

- During her five-game hitting streak, McHellon leads the MW in batting average (.615), on-base percentage (.706), slugging percentage (1.154), RBIs (8) and RBIs per game (1.60).

- Fresno State sophomore outfielder Vanessa Hernandez leads the MW in runs per game (1.40).

ABOUT THE BULLDOGS (3-2)
Series: Fresno State leads 3-0
Last meeting: Fresno State 11, Mississippi State 3 (3/14/10 – Fresno, Calif.)

Mississippi State began its season with wins over Georgia State, 4-0, and Stephen F. Austin, 2-0 and 2-1, at the Bulldog Kickoff Classic last weekend. The Bulldogs own a 0.70 team ERA and a .221 batting average.

Senior left-handed pitcher Alexis Silkwood leads the offense with a .545 batting average (6-for-11) and .818 slugging percentage, while also pitching two complete games, including a shutout, and owning a 0.45 ERA.

ABOUT THE EAGLES (4-0)
Series: First meeting

Florida Gulf Coast started its season with a four-game sweep of LIU-Brooklyn last weekend, outscoring the Blackbirds 32-1. The Eagles' team ERA sits at 0.29 and they are hitting .468 so far.

Junior Kelsey Huff is pacing the offense, batting .643 (9-for-14) with seven runs and six RBIs. A pair of pitchers have split the majority of the time in the circle, senior Taylor Wade and sophomore Riley Randolph, and have combined for 15 strikeouts and a .180 opposing batting average.

ABOUT THE TITANS (1-3)
Series: Fresno State leads 41-35
Last meeting: Cal State Fullerton 7, Fresno State 1 (5/21/17 – Los Angeles, Calif.)
Last Fresno State win: Fresno State 8, Cal State Fullerton 0 (2/19/12 – Fresno, Calif.)

Cal State Fullerton has had a slow start to its 2017 season, dropping its games against Utah State and Pacific, while defeating North Dakota State at the Easton Invitational last weekend. The Titans are hitting .240 as a team and have notched a 4.50 ERA.

Junior Alexis Gonzalez leads the offense with a .455 batting average (5-for-11), a home run and four RBIs, while senior Kelsey Kessler has recorded the majority of innings pitched, earning an 0-1 record with a 2.31 ERA.

ABOUT THE RED RAIDERS (3-2)
Series: Fresno State leads 5-0
Last meeting: Fresno State 3, Texas Tech 0 (2/25/06 – Cathedral City, Calif.)

Texas Tech began its season at the Century Link Classic at Texas State and earned wins over TAMU – Corpus Christi, Iowa and Abilene Christian. The Red Raiders' team ERA is 1.44, while their batting average is .236.

Sophomore Kiana Workman (.444 BA, 2 HR) and freshman Raina O'Neal (.333 BA, 3 HR) have powered the offense, while freshmen Kassidy Scott and Hannah Broseman have each thrown a complete-game shutout.

BULLDOG CLASSIC ON THE HORIZON
Fresno State returns home next week as the 'Dogs host the Bulldog Classic Feb. 23-26. Participating teams include Cal Poly, Idaho State, No. 13 Minnesota and UC Davis.

All-Tournament tickets for the Bulldog Classic start at $21 for adults and $15 for youth/seniors.

COVERAGE
Fresno State Athletics strives to meet the needs of Bulldog fans around the county by providing several outlets to follow the Dogs' 2017 journey. Stay up-to-date with the latest news via Twitter (@FresnoStateSB), Facebook (Fresno State Softball), Instagram (@fresnostatesoftball) and Snapchat (FSAthletics). A full recap and final results can be found at GoBulldogs.com following each competition.

Select Bulldog home games will also be broadcast live on 790 AM ESPN2 Radio, as well as streamed live on the Mountain West Network.

MARGIE WRIGHT DIAMOND SEASON TICKETS
Fans can purchase season tickets starting at $65 for general admission ($39 for youth/seniors), along with the option to reserve either upper ($78) or lower ($130) deck seating. Tickets can be purchased in person at the Bulldog Ticket Office, online at GoBulldogs.com or over the phone at 559-278-3647.

MARGIE WRIGHT DIAMOND MINI PLANS
Fans can purchase 6-, 8- and 10-game flex plans beginning at $54, $64 and $70, respectively.

MARGIE WRIGHT DIAMOND SINGLE-GAME TICKETS
Single-game tickets start at $7 for adults and $5 for youth/seniors.

"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.