Fresno State hosts Boise State in MW showdown

Friday, March 24

Fresno, Calif.

4 p.m. PT

Fresno State

Boise State

Fresno State hosts Boise State in MW showdown

3/23/2017 12:36:00 PM | Softball

Fresno State Game Notes (PDF)MW Softball Standings Results (PDF)MW Softball Statistics (PDF)

Bulldog softball plays on Friday (TBD), Saturday (6 p.m.) and Sunday (11 a.m.) at Margie Wright Diamond

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

Fresno State (RV) (20-10, 2-1 MW) vs. Boise State (20-7, 2-1 MW)
Fresno, Calif. – Margie Wright Diamond

Series history: Fresno State leads 19-6 (overall), 7-2 in MW play
Last year: Fresno State swept series (17-8, 14-4, 18-2)
Last BSU win: BSU 8, Fresno State 1 (3/23/14 – Boise, Idaho)
Last BSU series win: 2014 (BSU won 2 of 3)

Game 31: Friday, March 24 – 4 p.m. PT
- TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Youth in eighth grade or younger receive free admission with a jersey

Game 32: Saturday, March 25 – 6 p.m. PT
- TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
- Live Stats: Click Here
- All active-duty military and veterans receive free admission

Game 33: Sunday, March 26 – 11 a.m. PT
- TV: None
- Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Fans wearing pink receive free admission

FRESNO STATE HOSTS BOISE STATE IN MW SHOWDOWN
The Bulldogs continue MW play in their first home conference series of the season when they host Boise State this weekend at Margie Wright Diamond. Due to potential weather conditions, Friday's game time has been moved to 4 p.m. PT. Saturday's game remains scheduled for 6 p.m. and Sunday's for 11 a.m.

Fresno State and Boise State each lead the MW with 20 wins and are two of four MW teams that are 2-1 in conference play.

The 'Dogs lead the all-time series against the Broncos 19-6, including 7-2 since Fresno State joined the MW. The Bulldogs have won five of seven series between the two teams and three of the last four. In 2014, Boise State took two of three to capture the series.

Last weekend, Fresno State was the only MW road team to win its conference series when the Bulldogs took two of three from San Diego State.

On Tuesday, the 'Dogs defeated CSU Bakersfield, 13-11, in their largest comeback of the season after trailing by seven runs in the first inning.

HOWE NAMED MW PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Fresno State sophomore outfielder Morgan Howe has been named the Mountain West Player of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday. This is Howe's first career weekly honor and the second for a Bulldog this season.

Howe led the Bulldogs to a MW-opening series win against San Diego State last weekend, hitting .600 (6-for-10) with a home run, double, four RBIs, four runs scored and two walks. She also posted a 1.000 slugging percentage and .667 on-base percentage.

In Friday's 10-7 win, the Bulldogs were down 3-0 in the third inning when Howe hit a two-run home run to spark the Bulldogs' comeback. She also walked in the fourth inning and scored her second run of the game to help put the 'Dogs up 7-3.

In Saturday's 7-6 victory, Howe went 3-for-4 with two RBIs. In the fifth inning, Howe came up to the plate with a 1-1 tie and gave the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead with a two-run single. Additionally, she helped limit the damage by the Aztecs when she threw a runner out at home from right field to end the third inning.

In Sunday's 6-3 loss, Howe went 2-for-3 with a double, walk, and two runs scored.

This season, Howe is hitting .471 (33-for-70) with a .548 on-base percentage. Those numbers rank 19th and 20th in the nation, respectively.

She has reached base safely in Fresno State's last nine games and is on a seven-game hitting streak, both season-highs. Howe also has recorded eight multi-hit and seven multi-RBI games this year.

On Feb. 14, junior Savannah McHellon was named MW 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. She hit safely in all five games at the ASU Kajikawa Classic while recording a .706 on-base percentage and a 1.154 slugging percentage.

BULLDOGS OWN AN RPI OF 30 IN FIRST RANKINGS OF THE YEAR
The first RPI rankings of 2017 came out on Monday, with Fresno State placed at a MW-best 30. The Bulldogs have a 12-10 record against teams in the top 100 and are 7-0 against teams below 100. The MW has five teams in the top 100, including San Diego State (58), Colorado State (82), San Jose State (92) and Boise State (98).

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (20-7, 2-1 MW)
Boise State is under the direction of second-year head coach Cindy Ball. The Broncos split a doubleheader with Montana on Tuesday and took two of three from Colorado State last weekend.

As a team, Boise State is hitting .348 with a 2.98 ERA. Offensively, the Broncos are led by sophomore Rebeka Cervantes (.467 BA, 5 HR, 33 RBI, 32 R, 20 BB) and junior Makenzie Sullivan (.442 BA, 7 HR, 30 RBI, 20 R).

Their pitching staff has seen its best production from senior Christina Washington (11-3, 2.28 ERA) who has pitched nine complete games, including four shutouts, this season.

BULLDOGS RALLY TO DEFEAT BAKERSFIELD, 13-11
Fresno State was down by seven in the first inning and came back to defeat the Roadrunners on Tuesday, using four pitchers and needing a grand slam from Howe in the process. Senior Malia Rivers had a career-high four hits in the game while junior transfer Sarah Santana earned the victory in her first appearance of the season.

BULLDOGS WIN FIRST MW SERIES OF THE SEASON
Last weekend, Fresno State defeated San Diego State in two out of three games in its first MW series of the year. The Bulldogs recorded double-digit hits in each game.

On Friday, Fresno State won 10-7, hitting four home runs in the process. On Saturday, the Bulldogs won 7-6 in a back-and-forth game that saw three lead changes. On Sunday, Fresno State fell 6-3 while the Bulldogs sent three pitchers into the circle.

The Bulldogs and Aztecs were picked to finish first and second, respectively, in the MW Preseason Coaches' Poll.

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

2017 BULLDOGS IN NONCONFERENCE (18-9)
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
WAC - 1-0
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)

MOUNTAIN WEST RPI RANKINGS (3/20/17)
30 - Fresno State
58 - San Diego State
82 - Colorado State
92 - San Jose State
98 - Boise State
104 - Utah State
107 - UNLV
135 - Nevada
164 - New Mexico

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 25 of 30 games, and has garnered a .471 batting average (33-70), which currently ranks 20th in the nation. She has added three home runs, including a grand slam, three doubles, two triples and 27 RBIs.

Last weekend, Howe hit .600 (6-for-10) with a home run, double, four RBIs, four runs and two walks, earning her MW Player of the Week. She also recorded a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .667 on-base percentage.

EXTRA BASES CALL TO HERNANDEZ
Sophomore Vanessa Hernandez has a team-high 14 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, has hit four home runs, nine doubles and a triple.

Last Friday, Hernandez hit two home runs against San Diego State, propelling the Bulldogs to a 10-7 victory.

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 (.566) and walks (104), sixth in triples (16) and eighth in home runs (22).

FRESNO STATE INVITATIONAL
Fresno State went 4-1 in the Fresno State Invitational March 10-12 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.