Bulldogs begin Mountain West play at San Diego State

Fresno State (RV) (17-9) at San Diego State (16-9)
San Diego, Calif. – SDSU Softball Stadium

Series history: Fresno State leads 62-12 (overall) and 8-4 since joining the MW
Last year: Fresno State swept series in Fresno (9-2, 6-3, 8-5)
Last SDSU win: SDSU 3, Fresno State 0 (4/3/15 – San Diego, Calif.)

Game 27: Friday, March 10 – 6 p.m. PT
- TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: None
- Live Stats: Click Here
Game 28: Saturday, March 11 – 4 p.m. PT
- TV: None
- Radio: None
- Live Stats: Click Here
Game 29: Sunday, March 12 – Noon PT
- TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: None
- Live Stats: Click Here

BULLDOG BITES HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND
- Fresno State is receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches' Poll.
- Fresno State seeks its third straight MW Championship.
- Fresno State and San Diego State were selected to finish first and second, respectively, in the MW Preseason Coaches' Poll.
- Since Fresno State joined the MW in 2013, either Fresno State or San Diego State has won the conference.
- This will be the first time Fresno State has opened MW play against San Diego State.
- Fresno State is 9-3 all-time in its MW opening series and is 3-1 in MW openers.
- Fresno State finished 2016 with a 22-1 MW record, falling in its final conference game against UNLV, 10-7.
- Fresno State's 17 wins are tied for the most in the MW.
- Fresno State is 9-0 when scoring in the first inning.
- Fresno State is 10-1 when the Bulldogs score first and 7-8 when their opponent scores first.
- Fresno State ranks 10th in the nation and second in the MW with 0.38 triples per game (10 total).
- Fresno State ranks third in the MW in home runs (18), RBIs (135), runs (150) and walks (81).
- Fresno State leads the MW with 36 batters struck out looking (36) and only 10 home runs allowed.
- Fresno State ranks third in the MW in opposing batting average (.259) and total strikeouts (123).
- Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung ranks second in the MW in wins (11), third in strikeouts (79) and fourth in opposing batting average (.219).
- Fresno State sophomore Morgan Howe ranks third in the MW in on-base percentage (.522) and fourth in batting average (.446).
- Fresno State sophomore Vanessa Hernandez is tied for the MW lead in doubles (8).
- Fresno State senior Kierra Willis' 13 walks this season place her fourth on the Bulldogs' all-time walks list with 103. Willis is 12 walks away from the program record.

ABOUT THE AZTECS (16-9)
San Diego State is under the direction of 21st-year head coach Kathy Van Wyk. The Aztecs enter the weekend on a three-game winning streak, most recently defeating Eastern Michigan, 10-0 (5), Longwood, 5-1, and Harvard, 6-1, at the Louisville Slugger Invitational in Fullerton, Calif.

As a team, SDSU ranks 12th in the nation with a .345 batting average. The Aztecs' pitchers have combined for a 3.18 ERA. Offensively, junior Jenavee Peres leads the way with 31 hits, including seven home runs, four doubles and a triple, and 29 RBIs. Peres is hitting .373 so far this season. SDSU has also received great production from sophomore Molly Sturdivant (.409, 5 HR, 19 RBI).

The Aztec pitching staff has seen four pitchers contributing fairly equally this year. Senior Erica Romero (4-2, 2.92 ERA, 28 K's) leads the squad with 48.0 innings pitched, while freshman Marissa Moreno (6-3, 2.70 ERA) has a team-high 29 strikeouts.

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

2017 BULLDOGS IN NONCONFERENCE
A-Sun - 1-1
Big 12 - 0-1
Big Sky - 2-0
Big Ten - 4-2
Big West - 5-1
Pac-12 - 3-2
SEC - 0-1
WCC - 2-1

2017 BULLDOGS VS RANKED TEAMS
#9 Oregon (L, 4-1 – 2/10/17)
#12 Minnesota (L, 9-2 – 2/24/17)
#8 Washington (L, 5-1 – 3/4/17)
#25 BYU (W, 6-1 – 3/10/17)
#25 BYU (L, 8-6 – 3/11/17)

HOWE SOLIDIFYING HER ROLE IN RIGHT FIELD AND AT THE PLATE
In 2016, Morgan Howe's freshman year, she was the team's go-to pinch hitter, batting .500 (11-for-22) when called upon in 29 games. Throughout that season, Howe played in 46 games total, starting 15, and hit .371 (26-for-70) with a home run, six doubles and 23 RBIs.

This year, Howe has earned the starting role in right field, starting 21 of 26 games, and has garnered a .446 batting average (25-for-56), which currently ranks fourth in the MW. She has added a home run, two doubles, two triples and 18 RBIs, all before conference play.

DUNG AND MCHELLON LOOK TO BE 1-2 PUNCH IN MW PLAY
Sophomore Kamalani Dung (11-5, 2.11 ERA) and junior transfer Savannah McHellon (3-3, 3.59 ERA) look to take on MW competition as a 1-2 punch for the Bulldogs. Dung has pitched 10 complete games, including four shutouts, this season, while McHellon has started nine and went 2-0 with a 0.91 ERA and a save last weekend.

Dung has emerged as Fresno State's No. 1 pitcher, following the departure of MW Pitcher of the Year Jill Compton. Last season, Dung went 8-1 with a 4.41 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 18 appearances. So far this year, she has recorded 79 strikeouts in 17 appearances.

EXTRA BASES CALL TO HERNANDEZ
Sophomore Vanessa Hernandez has 11 extra-base hits so far this year, eclipsing her total of eight in 52 games last year. Hernandez, who has taken the reins in center field for the Bulldogs, is tied for the MW lead in doubles (8) and leads the team with 21 RBIs.

WILLIS IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Senior Kierra Willis has emerged in some top 10 lists in the Fresno State record book. Among the greats in the Bulldogs' program history, Willis ranks fourth all-time in slugging percentage (.559) and walks (103), sixth in triples (15) and eighth in home runs (22).

FRESNO STATE INVITATIONAL
Fresno State went 4-1 in the Fresno State Invitational last weekend with wins against No. 25 BYU (6-1), Oregon State (4-1, 6-2) and Sacramento State (5-2). The Bulldogs fell to No. 25 BYU 8-6 in eight innings.

Over the weekend, McHellon went 2-0 with a 0.91 ERA and notched her first save of the season. She struck out five batters in her three appearances while allowing eight hits and three walks in 15.1 innings. At the plate, McHellon had four hits, including a double, and drove in five runs.

Willis hit her second and third home runs of the season and drove in five runs as well. Hernandez knocked her second ball over the fence and notched four RBIs, while Rivers had a team-high seven hits over the five games, recording five runs and five RBIs.

JUDI GARMAN CLASSIC
Fresno State went 3-2 at the Judi Garman Classic March 2-4 with wins against Long Beach State (4-2), Iowa (11-7) and Indiana (4-3). The Bulldogs fell to No. 8 Washington (5-1) and Northwestern (5-3).

Over the weekend, Dung went 2-1 with a 1.98 ERA and picked up her first save of the season. She struck out a season-high 10 batters against LBSU on March 2 and notched her career-high ninth victory against Indiana on March 3.

The Bulldogs' extra-inning game against LBSU was their third of the season and in their victory over Iowa, scored in double digits for the fifth time this year.

Against Northwestern, freshman Schuylar Broussard hit her first collegiate home run, while sophomore Vanessa Hernandez knocked her first one out this year.

Junior Savannah McHellon's home run against Washington was the only hit for the Bulldogs in the competition.

BULLDOG CLASSIC
Fresno State went 4-2 in the Bulldog Classic Feb. 23-26 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 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.

The Bulldogs played in their first extra-innings game of the season against Cal State Fullerton, defeating the Titans on a walk-off double by Hernandez in the eighth.

Dung went 2-2 over the weekend, including her first collegiate no-hitter against FGCU on Feb. 24, and held opponents to a .208 batting average. Dung, who became the 21st Bulldog pitcher to throw a no-hitter and the first since Jill Compton on March 6, 2015, notched the 73rd in program history. She walked three and struck out six in the game.

Rohleder hit .429 (6-for-14) with four RBIs, five runs scored and three walks, while 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.

The Bulldogs broke the program record for RBIs in a game with 23 against Stanford and tied the records for runs (24) and total bases (40). Rohleder had a stellar showing in the game, going 5-for-5 and coming a double short of hitting for the cycle. She also scored five runs and knocked in three.

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.

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.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Schuylar Broussard

Jill Compton

Kamalani Dung

Maddi Hackbarth

Vanessa Hernandez

Morgan Howe

Dominique Jackson

Savannah McHellon

Samantha Mejia

Kierra Willis