From the Archives: 1998 Fresno State Bulldog Softball . . . what a year and team to remember
3/20/2018 4:22:00 PM | Softball
Fresno State captured its first national title and gave the university its first NCAA championship crown by any sport on May 25, 1998 while capping its season off with a No. 1 national ranking in the final USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 Poll on May 28.
On the 20th anniversary of the program becoming a varsity spot, The 1998 Fresno State softball team accomplished what no other Bulldog athletic team had ever done -- bringing home an NCAA championship title to the university and making the city and surrounding communities swell with pride.
The stage was set in the fall of 1997 with a 22-player squad and a committed coaching staff. With the fans support and their faith in the Bulldogs, the ultimate dream was achieved in Oklahoma City, Okla., at the Don E. Porter Hall of Fame Stadium.
Taking it step-by-step, the Bulldogs captured a Western Athletic Conference title (their 13th league championship overall), won their 11 NCAA Regional crown, and made history at the 1998 NCAA Women's College World Series by becoming only the fifth program to win an NCAA title.
Making its 17th straight NCAA Regional appearance and 21st postseason showing overall, Fresno State appeared in its 11th NCAA Women's College World Series out of 17 postseason championships. As the No. 7 seed, the Bulldogs captured their first softball national title in their fifth appearance in the NCAA championship game after posting a 1-0 shutout win over #1 seed and top-ranked Arizona.
With a 7-1 postseason record in 1998, the Bulldogs notched a final record of 52-11 while recording the fewest losses in the program's history for the fourth time. Fresno State posted a 4-1 record in WCWS action and became the first non-Pac-10 team to win the national title since Texas A&M in 1987 after beating the top four seeds in the series (#1 Arizona, #2 Nebraska, #3 Michigan, and #4 Washington).
The Bulldogs broke Arizona's 29-game win streak as senior second baseman Nina Lindenberg's sixth inning home run snapped a string of 52-consecutive scoreless innings by Arizona pitchers. With the run, Fresno State tied its own single-season record in runs (374) that it set in 1997 in 69 games. The Bulldogs also broke their own season record in batting average (.340) and fewest fielding errors (58).
Sophomore RHP Amanda Scott shut down the Wildcats, allowing just three hits and striking out six for her 14th shutout and 25th win. Scott tied three WCWS records for lowest ERA (0.00), fewest earned runs allowed (0), and fewest walks (0). In addition, Fresno State's team ERA of 0.00 tied for the series best.
Four Bulldogs were named to the 1998 NCAA All-College World Series team in senior centerfielder Laura Berg, who finished her career ranked No. 1 all-time in career hits at Fresno State and No. 2 all-time in NCAA history, sophomore first baseman Angela Cervantez, Scott, and Lindenberg. It marked the third time in school history that four Bulldogs were selected to an all-series team.
In addition, four Bulldogs were named All-Americans in first team selections Berg, Lindenberg, and Scott and freshman outfielder Becky Witt (second team), who also captured WAC Freshman of the Year honors.
Fresno State, which was the only program to have qualified for each of the first 17 NCAA Division 1 Women's Softball Championships, owned a 62-35 (.639) NCAA postseason record.
In her 13th season as head coach of the Fresno State softball program, Margie Wright directed the Bulldogs to their first national title after being national runner-up three previous times.
