Fresno State hosts Bulldog Classic Thursday-Sunday

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team opens its home schedule with the Bulldog Classic on Thursday after beginning its season with road trips to Tempe, Ariz. and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

The Bulldogs (6-4) have ranked as high as 21st in the country this year and are set to face Cal Poly, No. 12 Minnesota, UC Davis and Idaho State this weekend, with all games being played at Margie Wright Diamond.

TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
TICKETS

Thursday, Feb. 23
Game 11: Cal Poly (7 p.m. PT) – LIVE STATS
  - Listen live on 790 AM ESPN Radio
  - Mayor of Fresno, Lee Brand, to throw out first pitch
- Have your favorite Bulldog Softball memory in mind for the Memory Box

Friday, Feb. 24
Game 12: No. 12 Minnesota (5:30 p.m. PT) – LIVE STATS
  - Listen live on 790 AM ESPN Radio
- All Fresno State faculty and staff receive free admission with valid ID

Saturday, Feb. 25
Game 13: UC Davis (5:30 p.m. PT) – LIVE STATS
  - Listen live on 790 AM ESPN Radio
- All veterans and active-duty military receive free admission with military ID
- Show a photo of yourself at a 2015-16 Fresno State softball game for free admission
- Leukemia and Lymphoma Society spotlight

Game 14: Idaho State (8 p.m. PT) – LIVE STATS
  - Listen live on 790 AM ESPN Radio
- All veterans and active-duty military receive free admission with military ID
- Show a photo of yourself at a 2015-16 Fresno State softball game for free admission

Sunday, Feb. 26
Game 15: Cal Poly (11:30 a.m. PT) – LIVE STATS
  - Listen live on 790 AM ESPN Radio

Game 16: UC Davis (2:30 p.m. PT) – LIVE STATS
  - Listen live on 790 AM ESPN Radio

BULLDOG BITES
- Fresno State is receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Coaches' Poll. The Bulldogs began the season at No. 24 and moved up to No. 21 on Feb. 14.

- As a team, Fresno State ranks 17th in the nation and leads the Mountain West with 7.40 runs per game.

- Fresno State is batting .402 with runners in scoring position and .600 (6-for-10) with the bases loaded.

- Fresno State is outscoring opponents 41-16 in the first three innings.

- On Feb. 17 against FGCU, Fresno State sophomore Kamalani Dung became the 21st Bulldog to throw a no-hitter, the MW's first of the season. It was the 73rd in program history and the first since Jill Compton did so against Iowa on March 6, 2015.

- Dung ranks second in the nation with three shutouts and second in the MW in wins (5) and strikeouts (31).

- Fresno State freshman Miranda Rohleder has started the last six games at second base for the Bulldogs and leads the MW in batting average (.560) and on-base percentage (.621).

- When it comes to RBIs, Fresno State holds the top four spots in the MW: McHellon (12), Hernandez (10), Broussard (10) and Rohleder (9).

- Sophomore Vanessa Hernandez has hit safely in the team's last eight games.

- In Feb. 12'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).

PUERTO VALLARTA COLLEGE CHALLENGE
Fresno State participated in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico last Thursday through Saturday, going 2-3 in the tournament and landing three players on the all-tournament team: Dung, Rohleder and senior Kierra Willis. The Bulldogs defeated Florida Gulf Coast, 9-0, and Cal State Fullerton, 12-11, while falling to Mississippi State, 4-1, FGCU, 4-3, and Texas Tech, 9-6.

Dung went 2-2, including a no-hitter against FGCU on Friday, and held opponents to a .208 batting average. Rohleder hit .429 (6-for-14) with four RBIs, five runs scored and three walks. Willis went 5-for-10 (.500) from the plate with seven walks, three runs and an RBI.

ASU KAJIKAWA CLASSIC
Fresno State began its season with a 4-1 record at the Arizona State Kajikawa Classic Feb. 10-12. The Bulldogs shut out Indiana, 2-0, and Purdue, 4-0, and defeated Stanford 24-8. The 'Dogs' first loss came to now-No. 5 Oregon, 4-1.

Dung went 3-0 and recorded the first two shutouts of her career in the tournament, while holding opponents to a .155 batting average and notching 15 strikeouts in 17.0 innings. McHellon was named Mountain West Player of the Week following the tournament after hitting .615 (8-for-13) with two home runs, eight RBIs and a 1.154 slugging percentage.

ABOUT THE MUSTANGS (6-3)
Series: Fresno State leads 39-12
Last meeting: Fresno State 4, Cal Poly 1 (3/15/15 – Fresno, Calif.)

Cal Poly is under the direction of 13th-year head coach Jenny Condon. The Mustangs began the season with a 4-1 record at the ASU Kajikawa Classic and went 2-2 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic last weekend. Cal Poly and Fresno State have had three common opponents this season, both teams defeating Purdue and San Diego, while falling to Oregon.

As a team, the Mustangs are batting .297 with a 1.76 ERA and are outscoring opponents 43-21.

The Cal Poly pitching staff is led by Visalia, Calif. native Sierra Hyland, who pitched a perfect game and a no-hitter in the first weekend of the season, earning her USA Softball's National Player of the Week honor. The senior has also been a force for the offense, batting .370 with a home run and 11 RBIs.

ABOUT THE NO. 12 GOLDEN GOPHERS (9-0)
Series: Fresno State leads 11-1
Last meeting: Minnesota 3, Fresno State 1 (3/14/15 – Fresno, Calif.)
Last Fresno State win: Fresno State 6, Minnesota 0 (5/17/98 – Fresno, Calif.)

Minnesota is under the direction of seventh-year head coach Jessica Allister. The Golden Gophers have climbed the rankings into the No. 12 spot after beginning the season 9-0, their best start in program history, with games played in the Texas Tournament and the B1G/ACC Challenge. Minnesota has most recently notched wins over Notre Dame and NC State.

As a team, the Golden Gophers are batting .319 with a 1.63 ERA and are outscoring opponents 59-17.

The Minnesota pitching staff is led by senior Sara Groenewegen, who is 5-0 with a 0.72 ERA in 29.1 innings pitched.

ABOUT THE AGGIES (5-3)
Series: Fresno State leads 9-0
Last meeting: Fresno State 8, UC Davis 5 (2/14/15 – Fresno, Calif.)

UC Davis is under the direction of third-year head coach Erin Thorpe. The Aggies have begun the season with victories over Santa Clara, Liberty, Utah Valley and Sacramento State. Among common opponents with the Bulldogs, UC Davis fell to Stanford 6-3.

As a team, the Aggies are batting .251 with a 3.17 ERA and have been outscored 26-20 by opponents.

The UC Davis pitching staff is led by freshman Katie Kibby, who is 4-0 with a 1.30 ERA and has held opponents to a .198 batting average.

ABOUT THE BENGALS (0-4)
Series: Fresno State leads 2-1
Last meeting: Idaho State 6, Fresno State 5 (2/24/13 – Santa Clara, Calif.)
Last Fresno State win: Fresno State 5, Idaho State 1 (3/11/11 – Fresno, Calif.)

Idaho State is under the direction of second-year head coach Candi Letts. The Bengals have begun the season with losses to Colorado State, Northern Iowa, UNLV and Hawai'i.

As a team, Idaho State is batting .186 with a 3.46 ERA and has been outscored by opponents 15-5.

The Bengal pitching staff is getting an equally combined effort from junior Ashlyn Ames (0-1, 0.77 ERA) and sophomore Mariah Mulcahy (0-0, 5.00 ERA).

COVERAGE
Fresno State Athletics strives to meet the needs of Bulldog fans around the country 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.

Fresno State hosts Bulldog Classic Thursday-Sunday

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Players Mentioned

Jill Compton

Kamalani Dung

Vanessa Hernandez

Miranda Rohleder

Kierra Willis

Fresno State Athletics