Bulldogs take break from MW play, head to Santa Clara and Cal

Thursday, April 13

Santa Clara, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

Santa Clara

Bulldogs take break from MW play, head to Santa Clara and Cal

4/12/2017 8:53:00 AM | Softball

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

Fresno State Softball travels to Santa Clara on Thursday and Cal on Friday and Saturday

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

Fresno State (24-15, 5-6 MW) at Santa Clara (10-24, 2-1 WCC)
Santa Clara, Calif. – SCU Softball Stadium

Game 40: Thursday, April 13 – 6 p.m. PT
  - TV: None
- Radio: None
- Live Stats: Click Here

Fresno State (24-15, 5-6 MW) at Cal (22-13, 3-8 Pac-12)
Berkeley, Calif. – Levine-Fricke Field

Game 41: Friday, April 14 – 4 p.m. PT
  - TV: None
- Radio: None
- Live Stats: Click Here

Game 42: Saturday, April 15 – 1 p.m. PT
  - TV: None
- Radio: None
- Live Stats: Click Here

Bulldogs take break from MW play, head to Santa Clara and Cal
The Fresno State softball team takes a break from Mountain West play as the Bulldogs travel to Santa Clara on Thursday and Cal on Friday and Saturday. This is the first time in 26 years that Cal will host Fresno State. The 'Dogs are 19-9 in nonconference games this season, including 3-1 against the West Coast Conference and 3-2 versus Pac-12 opponents.

Fresno State owns the all-time series record against Santa Clara 49-2. Santa Clara's wins came in 2003 and 2014. Most recently, the Bulldogs defeated Santa Clara 2-0 and 2-1 in 2015 in Fresno.

The 'Dogs have faced Cal more than any other opponent in program history and owns the all-time series record 64-46, including 20-15 in Berkeley, Calif. Last year, the Bulldogs earned a 7-0 forfeit victory over Cal in Fullerton, Calif. The last time the teams played in Berkeley, the Bulldogs defeated the Bears 5-4 and 1-0 in 1991.

BULLDOG BITES HEADING INTO THE WEEK
• Fresno State has a MW-best RPI of 42. The MW has six teams in the top 100 RPI.
• Fresno State is 11-11 vs. top 100 RPI teams and is 13-4 vs. teams below 100.
• Santa Clara's RPI is 220 and Cal's is 17.
• Fresno State is 19-9 in nonconference games this year (3-1 vs. WCC and 3-2 vs. Pac-12).
• Fresno State leads the all-time series against Santa Clara 49-2. Santa Clara's wins came in 2003 and 2014. Most recently, the Bulldogs defeated Santa Clara 2-0 and 2-1 in 2015 in Fresno, Calif.
• Fresno State leads the all-time series against Cal 64-46. Last year, the Bulldogs earned a forfeit win against Cal in Fullerton, Calif.
• Fresno State leads the MW in runs scored (227), RBIs (209), triples (13) and walks (141). The Bulldogs rank second in home runs (32) and third in total bases (468).
• Fresno State pitchers rank third in the MW in ERA (3.26) and strikeouts (185).
• Fresno State sophomore Morgan Howe leads the team with a .443 batting average, which ranks 21st in the nation as of Monday. She has 10 extra-base hits and only 11 strikeouts in 97 at-bats.
• Fresno State senior Malia Rivers has reached base safely in the last 11 games. She ranks second on the team with a .350 batting average and has notched 11 multi-hit games, a team-high.
• Fresno State senior Kierra Willis owns Fresno State's all-time walks record. She has 28 this season and 118 in her career.
• Fresno State sophomore Vanessa Hernandez leads the team with 16 extra-base hits.
• Fresno State junior utility Savannah McHellon leads the team with eight home runs and 35 RBIs.
• Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung leads the pitching staff with 15 wins, including five shutouts, and has 123 strikeouts in 142.2 innings pitched.
• Fresno State is 2-3 in true road games this season.
• Fresno State is 13-1 when scoring in the first inning.
• Fresno State is 12-3 when the Bulldogs score first.
• Fresno State is 17-2 when scoring five runs or more.

ABOUT THE BRONCOS (10-24, 2-1 WCC)
Series history: Fresno State leads 49-2 (overall)
Last meeting: Fresno State won 2-0 and 2-1, respectively (2/13/15-2/14/15 – Fresno, Calif.)
Last Santa Clara win: Santa Clara 1, Fresno State 0 (4/17/14 – Santa Clara, Calif.)

Santa Clara is under the direction of ninth-year head coach Lisa Mize and comes into the game with an RPI of 220. The Broncos are 1-10 against top 100 RPI teams this season. The team is coming off a 2-1 weekend against conference foe Saint Mary's and is scheduled to face Cal on Wednesday.

Offensively, the Broncos are led by senior Geenamarie Bonilla, who has a team-high three home runs and 18 RBIs this year. She adds a .330 batting average and .515 slugging percentage as well. Junior Micaela Vierra has pitched the most innings for Santa Clara this season, going 5-7 with a 3.67 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 70.2 innings.

ABOUT THE BEARS (22-13, 3-8 Pac-12)
Series history: Fresno State leads 64-46 (overall), 20-15 in Berkeley
Last meeting: Fresno State earned 7-0 forfeit win (3/6/16 – Fullerton, Calif.)
Last meeting in Berkeley: Fresno State won 5-4 and 1-0, respectively (1991)
Last Cal win: Cal 14, Fresno State 9 (2/15/15 – Fresno, Calif.)

Cal, who is receiving votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches' Poll, is under the direction of 29th-year head coach Diane Ninemire. The team has an RPI of 17 this season and is 10-13 against top 100 RPI teams this year. The Bears are coming off a pair of conference losses to Utah and are scheduled to face Santa Clara on Wednesday.

Cal is led on the offensive side of the ball by Jazmyn Jackson (.340 BA, 1 HR, 24 RBI), while Zoe Conley heads the pitching staff with a 12-8 record and 2.94 ERA. Conley has 93 strikeouts in 126.1 innings pitched and has allowed opponents a .215 batting average.

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
April 4 - NR
April 11 - NR

2017 FRESNO STATE
RPI RANKINGS
March 20 - 30
March 27 - 33
April 3 - 40
April 10 - 42

MOUNTAIN WEST RPI RANKINGS (4/10/17)
42 - Fresno State
60 - San Diego State
66 - Utah State
81 - Colorado State
83 - Boise State
89 - San Jose State
105 - Nevada
119 - UNLV
126 - 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 GET SWEPT BY UTAH STATE IN DOUBLEHEADER
Fresno State fell to Utah State 1-0 and 7-4 in a MW doubleheader last Friday, marking the first time since 2012 that the Bulldogs were swept in a conference series. Howe and Willis each recorded home runs in the second game of the day.

BULLDOGS DROP MW SERIES TO NEVADA
Fresno State defeated Nevada with a convincing 9-1 victory in six innings last Friday, but fell 8-4 on Saturday and 7-4 on Sunday. Willmon hit a walk-off three-run home run on Friday and McHellon hit her own three-run home run in the game and added a solo shot on Saturday. Willis became Fresno State's all-time walks leader in the series.

BULLDOGS OUTLAST PACIFIC, 5-4
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 on March 29.

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 559-278-7160.