'Dogs set for midweek doubleheader

Tuesday, February 22

Santa Clara, CA

2 PM PT

Fresno State

Santa Clara

Photo by: Samuel Marshall

'Dogs set for midweek doubleheader

2/21/2022 9:41:00 PM | Softball

By: Taylor Martinez / Strategic Communications

Week 3: Fresno State (1-6, 0-0 MW) at Santa Clara (4-6, 0-0 WCC)
Feb. 22 | 2:00 p.m. PT (Doubleheader) | Santa Clara, Calif. | Santa Clara Softball Stadium

Live St ats
Live Stream
Live Updates on Twitter: @FresnoStateSB

THE BONES:

This is the Bulldogs' first midweek game of the 2022 season.
Fresno State is 1-6 this season.
Fresno State has four players batting above .300.
Sophomore Alyssa Orr leads the Bulldogs at the plate with a .455 batting average, 10 hits and five RBIs.
Fresno State Athletics is celebrating its centennial year.
Fresno State brings back nine players and adds 11 newcomers.
The Bulldogs add nine Division I transfers.
15 Bulldogs on the 2022 roster were experienced postseason play in 2022.
May-Johnson enters her first season at the helm of the program after being named the head coach on July 6, 2021.
Fresno State is the reigning MW Champions, after finishing the 2021 season with a 20-4 MW record to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs look to make their 35th postseason appearance in program history.

NEWBIES STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE
Newcomers Alyssa Orr and Kacey Hvitved have made big contributions for the Bulldogs at the plate.

Orr has logged a .455 batting average, 10 hits, five RBIs, a .773 slugging percentage and a .478 on-base percentage. The sophomore has gotten a hit in five out of six games, including two multi-hit games.

Hvitved has recorded .333 batting average, seven hits, three RBIs and a .481 on-base percentage. The senior has also started all seven games at third base.

BIG BATS BACK
Fresno State brings back nine players including its big bats in Keahilele Mattson, Adrianna Noriega and Vanessa M. Hernandez.
Mattson was named the MW Player of the Year, MW Co-Freshman of the Year, an All-MW First Team selection and a NFCA All-Region honoree during her first season with the Bulldogs in 2021. She became the first player in MW history to be named both the MW Player of the Year and Co-Freshman of the Year.

The Alta Loma, Native became the backbone of the Bulldogs' offense leading the team in batting average (.358), hits (49), doubles (10), home runs (12), slugging percentage (.737) and RBIs (41). Mattson's 2021 slugging percentage ranks No. 6 in the program's record book.

Noriega, an All-MW selection, and Hernandez, a NFCA All-Region selection, also bring back depth to the Bulldogs' lineup.

NEW FACES
Fresno State revamps its roster with 11 newcomers.

May-Johnson added eight Division I transfers in Alana Cobb-Adams (Southern Illinois), Emery Nielson (Utah Valley), Casey Dixon (Louisiana), Abby Doughty (Utah Valley), Alyssa Orr (Iowa State), Bailey Williams (Texas), Marley Hanlon (UIC) and Kacey Hvitved (Ole Miss).

The 'Dogs also add three freshmen in Alex Wright, Taryn Irigoyen and Haley Painter.

'DOGS PICKED TO FINISH THIRD
The Fresno State softball team was selected to finish third in the 2022 Mountain West Preseason Poll, voted on by the league's nine head coaches, announced Thursday afternoon. The Bulldogs received 43 points and one first place vote in the poll.

The 'Dogs will open MW play March 18-20 at Boise State. Fresno State will host San Diego State (March 25-27), Utah State (April 8-10), Colorado State (April 22-24) and UNLV (May 12-14) at Margie Wright Diamond.

"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.

Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateSB
Instagram: FresnoStateSoftball
Facebook: FresnoStateSoftball