Bulldogs head south to compete in Judi Garman Classic

Thursday, March 2

Fullerton, Calif.

12:30 p.m. PT

Fresno State

Long Beach State

Bulldogs head south to compete in Judi Garman Classic

3/1/2017 10:20:00 AM | Softball

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

Fresno State Softball will face five teams in three days at the annual tournament in Fullerton, Calif., beginning Thursday

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team heads to Fullerton, Calif., on Thursday to compete in the annual Judi Garman Classic. The Bulldogs (10-6) are scheduled to face five teams over three days, including Long Beach State, Iowa, Indiana, Northwestern and No. 8 Washington.

All games will be available to live stream through FloSoftball.

Thursday, March 2
Game 17: Long Beach State (12:30 p.m. PT)
Game 18: Iowa (3 p.m. PT)

Friday, March 3
Game 19: Indiana (8 p.m. PT) – LIVE STATS

Saturday, March 4
Game 20: Northwestern (9:30 a.m. PT) – LIVE STATS
Game 21: No. 8 Washington (12:30 p.m. PT) – LIVE STATS

BULLDOG BITES HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND
- As a team, Fresno State is batting .292 with a 3.18 ERA.

- Fresno State is seventh in the nation in triples per game (0.50) and first in the Mountain West.

- Fresno State ranks third in the MW and 36th in the country in runs per game (6.25).

- Sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung leads the MW with four shutouts and ranks second in wins (7), third in strikeouts (43), third in opposing batting average (.196) and fifth in ERA (1.68). Dung flirted with a perfect game last Saturday against UC Davis as the first 14 batters were retired before allowing only two hits and striking out four in the contest.

- Sophomore outfielder Vanessa Hernandez shares the lead in the MW for doubles (6), while no other Bulldog has more than two. She also ranks third in runs scored (13) and RBIs (13).

- Sophomore outfielder Morgan Howe ranks fourth in the MW in batting average (.448), sixth in slugging percentage (.655), sixth in on-base percentage (.528) and shares the lead in triples (2).

- Junior Savannah McHellon is tied for fourth in the MW in home runs (3) and RBIs (13). Her most recent home run came against UC Davis last Sunday.

- Senior Kierra Willis' eight walks this season place her third among MW members, as well as fourth on the Fresno State all-time walks list. She is 17 walks away from securing the program record.

- Freshman Maddi Hackbarth hit her first collegiate grand slam last Saturday against Idaho State, the first grand slam for a Bulldog since Dominique Jackson on April 30, 2016, and the 10th at home since 1991.

- Junior infielder Katie Castellon hit her first walk-off double against Cal Poly in the bottom of the eighth last Thursday to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 victory.

- Freshman pitcher Samantha Mejia notched the complete-game victory last Sunday against UC Davis in her first collegiate start. She allowed two earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.

2017 BULLDOG RANKINGS (USA Today/NFCA)
Feb. 7 - #24
Feb. 14 - #21
Feb. 21 - RV
Feb. 28 - NR

BULLDOG CLASSIC
Fresno State went 4-2 in the Bulldog Classic with wins against Cal Poly (3-2), UC Davis (3-0, 7-3) and Idaho State (11-6). The Bulldogs fell to now-No. 10 and undefeated Minnesota (9-2) and Cal Poly (2-0).

Over the weekend, Dung went 2-1 with a 0.95 ERA, a .215 opposing batting average and notched 12 strikeouts in 22.0 innings pitched. She came close to a perfect game in Feb. 25's contest against UC Davis, as the first 14 batters were retired and she allowed only two hits with no walks in her fourth shutout of the season.

The Bulldogs' competition on Feb. 23 against Cal Poly went into extra innings and Castellon notched her first walk-off double in the 3-2 victory over eight innings.

Freshman Maddi Hackbarth hit her first collegiate grand slam on Feb. 23 against Idaho State, the first grand slam for a Bulldog since Dominique Jackson on April 30, 2016, and the 10th at home since 1991.

Freshman pitcher Samantha Mejia notched the complete-game victory on Feb. 26 against UC Davis in her first collegiate start. She allowed two earned runs on eight hits with three strikeouts.

PUERTO VALLARTA COLLEGE CHALLENGE
Fresno State participated in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico Feb. 23-25, 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 Feb. 24, 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. 4 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 49ERS (5-6-1)
Series: Fresno State leads 35=19
Last meeting: Fresno State 5, Long Beach State 4 (3/18/16 – San Diego, Calif.)
Last LBSU win: LBSU 8, Fresno State 0 (3/6/14 – Fullerton, Calif.)

Long Beach State is under the direction of 11th-year head coach Kim Sower. Last weekend, the 49ers went 1-3 at the Mary Nutter Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., earning a 7-4 victory over Oregon State and falling to now-No. 5 Texas A&M, now-No. 13 LSU and Oklahoma State.

As a team, LBSU is batting .228 with a 4.31 ERA. The 49er pitching staff is led by senior Christina Clermont (4-2, 2.46 ERA) and their offense has seen top production from freshman Aniesa Maulupe (.333 BA, 1 HR, 10 RBI).

ABOUT THE HAWKEYES (2-7)
Series: Fresno State leads 5-2
Last meeting: Fresno State 9, Iowa 0 (3/6/15 – Fullerton, Calif.)
Last Iowa win: Iowa 2, Fresno State 1 (3/21/95 – Sacramento, Calif.)

Iowa is under the direction of sixth-year head coach Marla Looper. The last time out, the Hawkeyes went 0-4 at the ACC/B1G Challenge, falling twice each to Virginia Tech (2-1, 2-1) and Georgia Tech (3-2, 6-5).

As a team, Iowa is batting .213 with a 2.41 ERA. The Hawkeye pitching staff is led by freshman Allison Doocy (1-1, 1.91 ERA) and redshirt senior Shayla Starkenburg (1-0, 2.10 ERA), while senior Kaitlyn Mullarkey has been key for the offense, leading the team with a .438 on-base percentage and four runs scored.

ABOUT THE HOOSIERS (6-8)
Series: Fresno State leads 6-0
Last meeting: Fresno State 2, Indiana 0 (2/10/17 – Tempe, Ariz.)

The Bulldogs and Hoosiers will face off for the second time this season, with Fresno State shutting out Indiana in its season opener. The Hoosiers are under the direction of eighth-year head coach Michelle Gardner. Last weekend, Indiana went 4-1 at the Samford/UAB Tournament, defeating Iowa State (4-1), UAB (7-0, 2-0) and Murray State (6-4). The Hoosiers fell to Samford (4-2).

As a team, Indiana is batting .232 with a 3.41 ERA. The Hoosier pitching staff is led by freshman Emily Goodin (4-3, 2.42 ERA), while many bats are providing production for the offense, including those of junior Aimilia McDonough (.435 BA, 1 HR, 4 RBI) and senior CaraMia Tsirigos (.263 BA, 2 HR, 6 RBI).

ABOUT THE WILDCATS (3-10)
Series: Fresno State leads 8-4
Last meeting: Fresno State 7, Northwestern 1 (3/4/16 – Fullerton, Calif.)
Last Northwestern win: Northwestern 4, Fresno State 3 (2/9/07 – Tempe, Ariz.)

Northwestern is under the direction of 16th-year head coach Kate Drohan. Last weekend, the Wildcats went 2-2 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., defeating NC State, 11-2, and Houston, 3-1, and falling to No. 11 Georgia, 2-0, and No. 8 Washington, 6-3.

As a team, Northwestern is batting .251 with a 3.56 ERA. The Wildcat pitching staff is led by sophomore Kenzie Ellis (1-5, 2.26 ERA), who is also pacing the offense with a .351 batting average, including a home run and 10 RBIs. Sophomore Morgan Nelson has added to that production with two home runs and 12 RBIs of her own.

ABOUT THE NO. 8 HUSKIES (11-2)
Series: Washington leads 11-9
Last meeting: Washington 12, Fresno State 3 (3/12/16 – Fresno, Calif.)
Last Fresno State win: Fresno State 1, Washington 0 (3/9/14 – Fullerton, Calif.)

No. 8 Washington is under the direction of 12th-year head coach Heather Tarr. Last weekend, the Huskies went 4-1 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., defeating Ohio State, 11-4, Northwestern, 6-3, Texas, 7-2, and UC Santa Barbara, 10-2. Washington fell to now-No. 24 Missouri, 9-5.

As a team, the Huskies are batting .340 with a 3.48 ERA. The Washington pitching staff is led by sophomore Taran Alvelo, who is 7-0, including two shutouts, with a 2.62 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 48.0 innings pitched. Freshman Sis Bates (.474 BA, 2 HR, 12 RBI) and senior Casey Stangel (.351 BA, 5 HR, 15 RBI) lead the offensive production for the Huskies.

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.