'Dogs set to host Rams [April 22-24]

Friday, April 22

FRESNO, CA

6 PM PT

Fresno State

Colorado State

Photo by: Samuel Marshall

'Dogs set to host Rams [April 22-24]

4/21/2022 9:44:00 PM | Softball

By: Taylor Martinez / Strategic Communications

Week 13: Fresno State (13-30, 5-10 MW) vs. Colorado State (14-20, 5-7 MW)
April 22-24 • Fresno, Calif. • Margie Wright Diamond

WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Friday, April 22 | 6 PM PT
Saturday, April 23 | 3 PM PT
Sunday, April 24 | 11 AM PT

Tickets: Link
Live Stats: BulldogsLive.com
Live Stream: MW Network
Live Updates on Twitter: @FresnoState SB

THE BONES:

Fresno State is coming off a 2-0 shutout win over Cal Poly on Tuesday, April 19.
Fresno State has four players batting over .300 in conference play.
Fresno State's bullpen owns a 4.77 ERA in conference play.
Keahilele Mattson leads the 'Dogs at the plate this season with a .296 average.
Casey Dixon owns a team-best 4.62 ERA
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.

SCOUTING THE RAMS
Colorado State is 14-20 (5-7 MW) this season and 1-9 on the road. The Rams have won three out of it's last four games, and are coming off series win over New Mexico.

Colorado State has three players batting over .300. The Rams' pitching staff owns a 3.71 ERA.

Hailey Smith leads the Rams at the plate with a .355 batting average. Sydney Hornbuckle has a team-best 3.23 ERA.

LAST TIME OUT
Fresno State softball team snapped Cal Poly's eight-game winning streak, defeating the Mustangs 2-0 on Tuesday afternoon at Bob Janssen Field.

The Bulldogs posted their second shutout of the season. Right-handed pitcher Casey Dixon chalked the start in the circle. Dixon threw 3.0 scoreless innings and only gave up one hit to the Mustangs. Fellow right-hander Cassidy West came in relief to start the fourth inning. West finished the game with five strikeouts to record her seventh win of the season.

Fresno State tallied five hits on the afternoon. Keahilele Mattson and Alesia Denby recorded one hit and one RBI apiece to lead the offense.

MOUNTAIN WEST PLAY
Fresno State has four players batting above .300 in conference play in Avery Lawley (.364), Bailey Williams (.333), Emery Nielson (.324) and Keahilele Mattson (.306).

Right-handed pitcher Cassidy West leads the 'Dogs in the circle with a 3.44 ERA. She owns a 4-4 record and has held opposing batters to .214 batting average.

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.

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