Dogs travel to face No. 25 Wildcats

Saturday, April 30

Tucson, AZ

4 PM PT

Fresno State

Arizona

Dogs travel to face No. 25 Wildcats

4/29/2022 6:38:00 PM | Softball

By: Taylor Martinez / Strategic Communications

Week 14: Fresno State (16-30, 8-10 MW) @ No. 25 Arizona (29-16, 6-12 PAC)
Saturday, April 30 • 4 PM PT • Doubleheader

Live Stats: BulldogsLive.com
Live Stream: PAC 12 Network
Live Updates on Twitter: @FresnoState SB

THE BONES:

Fresno State is coming off a series sweep over Colorado State.
Fresno State has won four straight games.
Fresno State has five players batting over .300 in conference play.
Fresno State has an overall ERA 5.94 and 4.31 ERA in conference play.
Keahilele Mattson leads the Bulldogs at the plate with a .297 batting average.
RHP Casey Dixon leads the bullpen with a 4.83 ERA.
Alesia Denby is the reigning MW Player of the Week.
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 WILDCATS
Arizona is 29-16 (6-12 PAC 12) this season, and 21-8 at home. The Wildcats are ranked No. 25 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches poll.

Arizona is on a four-game win streak. The Wildcats posted a series win over Utah and back-to-back wins against New Mexico State.
Arizona has an overall batting average of .330 and a 3.89 ERA.

Jasmin Perezchica owns a team-best .420 batting average. Devyn Netz leads the bullpen with a 3.50 ERA.

LAST TIME OUT
Fresno State posted a series sweep over Colorado State. This was the first series sweep of conference play for the Bulldogs.

Alesia Denby led Fresno State at the plate in the series. She owned a .700 batting average (7-for-10) for a 1.200 slugging percentage and a .727 on-base percentage. She tallied a team-high four RBIs and logged two stolen bases. She recorded two doubles and one home run.

Denby was named the MW Player of the Week for her efforts over the weekend.

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 10 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 two freshmen in Alex Wright and Taryn Irigoyen.

"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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