Bulldogs host Spartans in MW Showdown

Friday, April 21

Fresno, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

San Jose State

Bulldogs host Spartans in MW Showdown

4/20/2017 3:21:00 PM | Softball

Fresno State Game Notes (PDF)MW Standings and Results (PDF)MW Stats (PDF)

Fresno State Softball hosts SJSU at 6 p.m. PT on Friday, 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

Fresno State (25-18, 5-6 MW) vs. San Jose State (27-14, 7-5 MW)
Fresno, Calif. – Margie Wright Diamond

Game 44: Friday, April 21 – 6 p.m. PT
  - TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Promotion: Heroes Night – All police officers, firefighters, medical personnel and military receive free admission. Also, youth wearing jerseys receive free admission.

Game 45: Saturday, April 22 – 6 p.m. PT
  - TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Promotion: Thanks to My Kid's Dentist, all kids (12 and under) get into the game for FREE with a My Kid's Dentist branded voucher and can enjoy face painting, balloon animals and photos with TimeOut! Vouchers are available by CLICKING HERE - simply print them or show them on your phone - and are also available at the two My Kid's Dentist locations and through events around the community.
- Promotion: Bark in the Park presented by PetER – All dogs receive free admission. Also, all active-duty military and veterans receive free admission.

Game 46: Sunday, April 23 – Noon PT
  - TV: Mountain West Network
- Radio: 790 AM ESPN2
- Live Stats: Click Here
- Promotion: International Day – International students at Fresno State will be spotlighted.

BULLDOGS TAKE ON SPARTANS IN MW SHOWDOWN
The Fresno State softball team returns home this weekend to take on the San Jose State Spartans in an important Mountain West matchup at Margie Wright Diamond. The Bulldogs (25-18, 5-6 MW) took the series against San Diego State and Boise State to start conference play, but have since dropped back-to-back series to Nevada and Utah State.

The 'Dogs own the all-time series against SJSU 87-13 and have taken 27 of 28 series from the Spartans throughout program history, losing two out of three games in 2015. Last year, Fresno State swept SJSU in San Jose, Calif., by scores of 11-5, 13-7 and 6-4.

The Bulldogs currently sit in sixth place in the MW, while the Spartans are tied for second. Fresno State, statistically, leads the MW in runs scored, RBIs, triples and walks, while the Bulldogs pitchers rank second in strikeouts and third in ERA.

The 'Dogs have gone 13-6 at home this season, including 3-3 in conference play. For a team that is averaging just over five runs per game, the Bulldogs haven't scored five or more since March 31 against Nevada, averaging just two runs per game through the last eight games. When Fresno State does score at least five runs, the team is 17-2.

ABOUT THE SPARTANS (27-14, 7-5 MW)
San Jose State is under the direction of 10th-year head coach Peter Turner. Last weekend, the Spartans swept Boise State by scores of 6-2, 1-0 and 3-1. As a team, SJSU batters lead the MW in doubles (55) and pitchers lead the conference in strikeouts (218). The Spartan defense is at the top of the MW when it comes to fielding percentage (.972).

Offensively, San Jose state is led by Georgia Blair, who is hitting .390 with five home runs and 20 RBIs. The Spartan pitching staff has seen most of its production from Katelyn Linford, who is 17-6 with a 2.30 ERA. She has recorded 161 strikeouts in 155.0 innings pitched. Linford is supported by Colette Riggs (7-3, 2.15 ERA), who is allowing opposing hitters a .213 batting average.

BULLDOG BITES HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND
- Fresno State has a MW-best RPI of 46. The Bulldogs are 7-7 vs. teams with an RPI between 51-100.
- San Jose State has an RPI of 70. The Spartans are 1-4 vs. top 50 RPI teams.
- Fresno State is 87-13 all-time against SJSU and has won 27 of 28 series between the teams.
- Fresno State swept SJSU last year in San Jose, Calif. (11-5, 13-7, 6-4).
- Fresno State lost its series against SJSU for the first time in program history in 2015 in Fresno.
- This year, Fresno State has won its MW series against San Diego State and Boise State, but has dropped its last two to Nevada and Utah State.
- Fresno State leads the MW in runs (231), RBIs (212), triples (13) and walks (153). The Bulldogs rank third in home runs (32) and total bases (490).
- Fresno State pitchers rank second in the MW in strikeouts (208) and third in ERA (3.21).
- Fresno State sophomore outfielder Morgan Howe ranks second in the MW in batting average (.417) and on-base percentage (.508). She has struck out just 12 times and is tied for the team lead with 12 multi-hit games.
- Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung leads the MW with six shutouts, most recently blanking Santa Clara on April 13. She also leads the MW with 162.1 innings pitched, ranks second in wins (16) and strikeouts (145) and fifth in opposing batting average (.218).
- Fresno State senior outfielder Kierra Willis leads the MW with 30 walks this season and owns Fresno State's all-time walks record with 120.
- Willis is climbing Fresno State's record books in multiple career categories, including batting average, runs, triples, home runs, slugging percentage and RBIs.
- Fresno State junior utility Savannah McHellon ranks fourth in the MW with eight home runs and fifth in RBIs (36).
- Fresno State senior infielder Malia Rivers leads the team with 10 stolen bases and shares the team lead with 12 multi-hit games. She ranks second on the team with a .348 batting average.
- Rivers ranks fourth in program history with 40 career stolen bases and is just outside the top 10 in career batting average (.342).
- Fresno State senior utility Lindsey Willmon ranks seventh in the MW with 29 runs and has the fifth-best career slugging percentage (.568) in Fresno State history.
- Fresno State sophomore Vanessa Hernandez ranks sixth in the MW with 10 doubles and leads the team with 16 extra-base hits.
- Fresno State is 13-6 in home games this season.
- Fresno State is 13-1 when scoring in the first inning.
- Fresno State is 13-5 when the Bulldogs score first.
- Fresno State is 17-2 when scoring five runs or more.

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
April 18 - NR

2017 FRESNO STATE
RPI RANKINGS
March 20 - 30
March 27 - 33
April 3 - 40
April 10 - 42
April 17 - 46

MOUNTAIN WEST RPI RANKINGS (4/10/17)
46 - Fresno State
48 - San Diego State
62 - Utah State
70 - San Jose State
74 - Colorado State
94 - Boise State
100 - Nevada
127 - UNLV
141 - New Mexico

2017 BULLDOGS IN NONCONFERENCE (20-12)
A-Sun - 1-1
Big 12 - 0-1
Big Sky - 2-0
Big Ten - 4-2
Big West - 5-2
Pac-12 - 3-4
SEC - 0-1
WAC - 1-0
WCC - 4-1

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 WRAPPED UP NONCONFERENCE PLAY IN SANTA BARBARA
Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung tied her season-high with 10 strikeouts and allowed only four hits through the first six innings, but the Gauchos scored twice in the final frame to win 2-1. Junior transfer Savannah McHellon knocked in the Bulldogs' lone run in the top of the fifth on a pinch-hit single up the middle.

BULLDOGS SHUT OUT SANTA CLARA, DROP TWO AT CAL
Fresno State began its spring break with a 2-0 shutout at Santa Clara last Thursday. Sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung recorded her MW-best sixth shutout of the year and allowed just one hit in the game.

Last Friday at Cal, the Bulldogs fell victim to the mercy rule for the first time of the year when the Bears came out ahead 8-0 in five innings. On Saturday, the Bulldogs held a 1-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh until Cal came through and scored two runs to complete the sweep with a 2-1 victory.

BULLDOGS GET SWEPT BY UTAH STATE IN DOUBLEHEADER
Fresno State fell to Utah State 1-0 and 7-4 in a MW doubleheader on April 7, 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.