Bulldogs return to MW action, host Wolf Pack

Friday, March 31

Fresno, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

Nevada

Bulldogs return to MW action, host Wolf Pack

3/30/2017 10:23:00 AM | Softball

Fresno State Game Notes (PDF)MW Softball Standings & Results 3.29.17 MW Softball Statistics 3.29.17

Fresno State Softball faces Nevada this weekend at Margie Wright Diamond

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

Fresno State (23-11, 4-2 MW) vs. Nevada (16-14, 2-4 MW)
Fresno, Calif. – Margie Wright Diamond

Game 35: Friday, March 31 – 6 p.m. PT
  - TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Ticket promotion: High school students receive free admission with a student ID

Game 36: Saturday, April 1 – 6 p.m. PT
  - TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Ticket promotion: All active-duty military and veterans receive free admission

Game 37: Sunday, April 2 – Noon PT
  - TV: None
- Radio: None
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Ticket promotion: Children receive free admission with a paid adult

Series history: Fresno State leads 45-15
Last year: Fresno State swept series (7-3, 10-6)
Last Nevada series win: 2014
Last Nevada win: Nevada 5, Fresno State 1 (5/9/14 – Reno, Nev.)

BULLDOGS RETURN TO MW ACTION, HOST WOLF PACK
Fresno State returns to Mountain West action this weekend as the first-place Bulldogs host the Nevada Wolf Pack this Friday through Sunday at Margie Wright Diamond. The 'Dogs have won their MW series against San Diego State and Boise State and look to take their third straight series from Nevada. Friday's and Saturday's games will air live and for free on the Mountain West Network.

Last season, the Bulldogs took both games from the Wolf Pack in Reno, Nev., by scores of 7-3 and 10-6. Nevada's last series win against Fresno State was in 2014 and the Bulldogs have won seven of the last eight series between the teams.

Fresno State is currently in a four-way tie for first place in the MW and is one of two teams with four conference victories (Utah State).

BULLDOG BITES HEADING INTO WEDNESDAY
• Fresno State has a MW-best RPI of 33. The MW has six teams in the top 100 RPI.
• Fresno State is tied for first place in the MW and has a MW-best 23 wins.
• Fresno State leads the all-time series against Nevada 45-15.
• Fresno State has won its last six games against Nevada and seven of the last eight series.
• Fresno State has won its MW series against San Diego State and Boise State this season.
• Fresno State has won its last 16 MW series, dating back to 2015.
• Fresno State senior Kierra Willis' 24 walks this season have her tied with Christina Clark for Fresno State's all-time walks record (114). This year, she ranks second in the MW in walks and triples (3). In MW games only, she ranks second in batting average (.533) and on-base percentage (.682) and leads in walks (7).
• Fresno State leads the MW in runs scored (201), RBIs (185), triples (12) and walks (116). In MW games only, the Bulldogs lead in home runs (7) and walks (30).
• Fresno State sophomore Vanessa Hernandez ranks second in the MW in RBIs (31) and doubles (9). In MW games only, she leads in slugging percentage (1.071), home runs (3), RBIs (10) and total bases (15).
• Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung shares the MW lead with 14 wins and 26 batters struck out looking. She also ranks third in strikeouts (101). In MW games only, she leads in wins (3) and ERA (1.70).
• Fresno State sophomore Morgan Howe ranks fourth in the MW in batting average (.429) and on-base percentage (.505).
• On Wednesday, Fresno State defeated Pacific 5-4, with McHellon hitting her team-leading sixth home run.
• On March 24, Fresno State hit grand slams in consecutive innings for the first time in program history. It was the third time that the Bulldogs have hit two grand slams in the same game.
• Fresno State has tied the program record with four grand slams this season after doing so during the 2009 and 2016 seasons (M. Hackbarth, Hernandez, Howe, McHellon).
• Fresno State is 12-11 vs. top 100 RPI teams and is 11-0 vs. teams below 100.
• Fresno State is 12-4 at home this season.
• Fresno State is 13-1 when scoring in the first inning.
• Fresno State is 11-2 when the Bulldogs score first.

ABOUT THE WOLF PACK (16-14, 2-4 MW)
Nevada is under the direction of first-year head coach Josh Taylor and comes into the game with an RPI of 123. Last weekend, the Wolf Pack went 1-2 against Utah State at home.

As a team, Nevada is batting .278 with a 4.19 ERA. The pitching staff is led by McKenna Isenberg (9-7, 3.46 ERA), who has 106 strikeouts in 93.0 innings pitched. Offensively, the Wolf Pack are led by Erika Hansen, who is hitting .302 with six home runs and 30 RBIs.

CONSISTENCY FROM HERNANDEZ A MAJOR FACTOR FOR BULLDOGS
Sophomore outfielder Vanessa Hernandez has been a major factor in the Bulldogs' success this season, leading the team with 15 extra-base hits and reaching base safely in 28 of 34 games, including the last ten. She is hitting .299 this year with five home runs, nine doubles, a triple and 31 RBIs, while scoring 24 times.

Last weekend against Boise State, she posted a .500 batting average, hit a grand slam on March 24, and notched six RBIs and five walks in the three MW games. She also recorded a 1.250 slugging percentage and .700 on-base percentage.

DUNG BACK IN HER GROOVE
After a rocky start against Bakersfield on March 21, sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung was back in her groove against Boise State last weekend, posting a 0.50 ERA and recording 12 strikeouts in 14 innings against the Broncos.

On March 24, she threw a three-hit shutout that ended by mercy rule in five innings and on March 26, went the full nine innings, a career-high, in a 2-1 extra-innings loss. Over the weekend, she allowed only three walks and a .143 opposing batting average.

On Wednesday, against Pacific, she came in to pitch the final two innings, earning her second save of the year after allowing no runs, one hit and a walk in a one-run game.

WILLIS LEADING THE BULLDOGS INTO MW PLAY
Senior outfielder Kierra Willis is providing leadership to the Bulldogs through the first six games of conference play, hitting .533 (8-for-15) with seven walks and four runs scored. She leads the team in those games with a .682 on-base percentage and is slugging .733.

With 10 walks over the last four games, Willis tied Fresno State's program record for career walks. With 114, she is currently tied with Fresno State's current leader, Christina Clark (2003-06).

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
March 28 – NR

MOUNTAIN WEST RPI RANKINGS (3/27/17)
33 - Fresno State
65 - San Diego State
77 - Colorado State
84 - Boise State
85 - San Jose State
88 - Utah State
112 - UNLV
123 - Nevada
143 - New Mexico

2017 BULLDOGS IN NONCONFERENCE (19-9)
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 - 3-1

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)

BULLDOGS OUTLAST PACIFIC, 5-4, ON WEDNESDAY
McHellon hit a three-run home run in the first inning and earned her fifth victory in the circle, while sophomore Kamalani Dung closed out the last two innings to notch her second save of the year.

The Bulldogs saw five different players get a hit and score a run, while the team walked seven times.

FRESNO STATE TAKES SECOND MW SERIES, DEFEATS BOISE STATE
The Bulldogs won a MW series with Friday and Saturday wins for the second time of the season after defeating Boise State 9-0 in five innings on March 24 and 8-2 on March 25. Fresno State couldn't complete the sweep, falling 2-1 in nine innings on March 26.

Over the three-game span, the Bulldogs were walked 24 times, while the Broncos took only three free passes. Fresno State had three home runs, including two grand slams (McHellon and Hernandez) and an inside-the-park home run. Pitching was a highlight for the 'Dogs, allowing only two earned runs and 12 hits over 21 innings and striking out 17.

On March 24, the Bulldogs hit grand slams in the first and second innings, the first time in program history that Fresno State has hit grand slams in consecutive innings.

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 March 21, 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
Fresno State defeated San Diego State in two out of three games in its first MW series of the year March 17-19. The Bulldogs recorded double-digit hits in each game.

On March 17, Fresno State won 10-7, hitting four home runs in the process. On March 18, the Bulldogs won 7-6 in a back-and-forth game that saw three lead changes. On March 19, 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.

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-