'Dogs open NCAA Regional against Gophers

NCAA LOS ANGELES REGIONAL
May 21 | Los Angeles, Calif. (UCLA)
Live Scoring | Live Stream
Live Updates on Twitter: @FresnoStateSB

vs Minnesota • Fri., May 21 • 5:00 p.m. PT
Series History: Fresno State leads 11-2 | Streak: UM W2 | Last: UM 9-2 (2017)

Fresno State is set to face No. 2 seed Minnesota to open the regional on Friday, May 21 at 5 p.m. PT on ESPNU.

Joining the Bulldogs and Gophers in LA are the host and No.1 (No. 2 National) seed UCLA (41-4, 19-2 Pac-12) and No. 4 seed Long Beach State (30-9, 22-2 Big West).

The Bruins and the 49ers will play at 7 p.m. on Friday. The losers of the two games will face off in an elimination game on Saturday afternoon while the winners will play each other Saturday night.

BULLDOG BITES:

Fresno State finished the regular season with an overall record of 36-10 (20-4 MW).
Fresno State is receiving votes in both the USA Today/NFCA and ESPN.com/USA Softball polls.
Fresno State is coming off a 2-1 weekend, securing the series win over San Diego State.
Fresno State won its first MW Championship since 2016.
Fresno State punched its ticket to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2017, and the 34^th time in program history.
Keahilele Mattson became the first player in MW history to be named the MW Player of the Year and Co-Freshman of the Year.
Hailey Dolcini was named the MW Pitcher of the Year.
Adrianna Noriega was named an All-MW First Team selection and Kaitlyn Jennings was named to the All-MW Second Team roster.
Hailey Dolcini, Kaitlyn Jennings, Vanessa M. Hernandez and Keahilele Mattson were named NFCA All-Region selections.
Fresno State led the MW in 23 statistical categories.
Fresno State owns a team batting average of .297, which ranks 49^th nationally.
Fresno State owns a team ERA of 1.88, which ranks 17^th nationally.
Fresno State has outscored its opponents 269-92, averaging 5.85 runs per game.
Fresno State has five players batting above .300 in Keahilele Mattson (.352), Vanessa Hernandez (.352), Kaitlyn Jennings (.343), Adrianna Noriega (.341) and Hayleigh Galvan (.313).

SCOUTING THE GOPHERS

Minnesota finished the regular season 29-11 (29-11 Big 10), earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.
Minnesota is ranked No. 24.
Minnesota finished second in the Big 10.
This is Minnesota's 15^th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
Minnesota advanced to the NCAA® Women's College World Series in 2019, the Golden Gophers' first trek to the NCAA event in program history.
Minnesota owns a team batting average of .248.
Minnesota owns a team ERA of 2.07.
Autumn Pease leads the Gophers in the circle with an 11-2 record and 1.63 ERA.
Natalie DenHartog and MaKenna Partain have been named First Team All-Big Ten, while Amber Fiser, Emily Hansen, Katelyn Kemmetmueller and Pease garnered Second Team All-Big Ten. Fiser was also named to the All-Big Ten Defensive Team, and Sara Kinch received Big Ten All-Freshman Team honors.

SERIES HISTORY
Fresno State owns the all-time series against Minnesota, 11-2. The last time the two teams met, the Gophers defeated the Bulldogs 9-2 on Feb. 24, 2017.

MATTSON NAMED MW PLAYER OF THE YEAR AND CO-FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

Mattson became the backbone of the Bulldogs' offense in just her first season donning the Fresno State jersey. The freshman came alive in conference play leading the Bulldogs in batting average (.408), hits (29), doubles (6), triples (3), home runs (7), RBIs (23) and slugging percentage (.873).

Overall, the Alta Loma, Calif. native started all 45 games in left field, recorded a hit in 34 games including 14 multi-hit games. She finished the regular season with 44 hits, 32 runs and 37 RBIs in her debut campaign. She leads the MW in slugging percentage, RBIs and total bases. The freshman earned MW Player of the Week once this season.

DOLCINI NAMED 2021 MW PITCHER OF THE YEAR

Dolcini was dominant in the circle for the Bulldogs throughout the season. The Ferndale, Calif. native currently sports an overall record of 21-4 and was named to the USA Softball Collegiate Player Top 25 Finalist List. She led the conference in ERA (1.01), opposing batting average (.169), batters struck out (241), batters struck out looking (73) and wins (21).
Dolcini was in a league of her own, earning seven MW Pitcher of the Week awards this season. In conference play, she owned a 13-1 record and a 0.89 ERA.
Dolcini was crowned the shutout Queen this season -- leading the nation with 13 shutouts, including two perfect games to record the 16th and 17th perfect games in program history. The senior also chalked 12 games with 10 or more strikeouts and tied the program record for most strikeouts in a 7 Inning game with 18 in Fresno State's 6-0 victory over New Mexico on April 2. Dolcini was selected as an All-MW honoree for the third time in her career.

BEST IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST

Fresno State led the MW in 23 statistical categories.
The Bulldogs were at the top of the conference in batting (.297), slugging (.501), on base percentage (.392), runs scored (269), hits (333), RBIs (238), doubles (56), triples (18), home runs (46), total bases (563), walks (146), hit by pitch (46), sacrifice flies (23), stolen bases (85), stolen base attempts (98), ERA (1.88), opposing batting average (.223), batter struck out looking (85), batters struck out (334), wins (36), runs allowed (92) and earned runs allowed (27).

SCHEDULE
Los Angeles Regional Schedule
Friday, May 21
Game 1 – Fresno State vs. Minnesota - 5 p.m. PT - ESPNU
Game 2 – Long Beach State at No. 2 UCLA - 7:30 p.m. PT - ESPN2

Saturday, May 22
Game 3 – Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner – 1:30 p.m. PT – ESPN Family of Networks
Game 4 – Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser – 4 p.m. – PT ESPN Family of Networks
Game 5 – Game 3 Loser vs. Game 4 Winner – 6:30 p.m. PT – ESPN Family of Networks

Sunday, May 23
Game 6 – Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner – 3 p.m. PT – ESPN Family of Networks
Game 7 – Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser (if necessary) – 5:30 p.m. PT – ESPN Family of Networks

"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.

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'Dogs open NCAA Regional against Gophers

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Players Mentioned

Hailey Dolcini

Hayleigh Galvan

Vanessa M. Hernandez

Kaitlyn Jennings

Keahilele Mattson

Adrianna Noriega

Fresno State Athletics

'Dogs open NCAA Regional against Gophers

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Players Mentioned

Hailey Dolcini

Hayleigh Galvan

Vanessa M. Hernandez

Kaitlyn Jennings

Keahilele Mattson

Adrianna Noriega

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