Mattson, Gilmore earn MW preseason honors

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West Conference announced its 2024 preseason all-conference softball team on Wednesday afternoon. Fresno State earned a pair of preseason selections in left-fielder Keahilele Mattson and right-handed pitcher Taylor Gilmore.

The 2024 MW predicted order of finish, voted on by the league's nine head coaches, was also released Wednesday afternoon. The Bulldogs were selected to finish fourth after receiving 41 points. San Diego State was picked to finish first with 64 points and eight first-place votes, followed by Boise State with 57 points and one first-place vote, Colorado State rounded out the top three with 46 points.

Mattson, a two-time All-Mountain West selection, has started all 151 games of her career at Fresno State. The senior owns a .343 career batting average and a .603 career slugging percentage.

The Alta Loma, Calif. native had a breakout freshman season in 2021, she was named the MW Player of the Year and MW Co-Freshman of the Year, the first player to receive both honors in the same season. She was a 2021 NFCA All-Region Second Team honoree. Mattson was a MW First Team selection in both 2021 and 2023. Last season, Mattson led the Bulldogs in hits (66), RBIs (32) and on-base percentage (.435).

Gilmore joined the Bulldogs last season after spending four seasons at Colorado State. She made an immediate impact in the circle, pitching a team-high 136.1 innings with 10 starts. The Broomfield, Colo. native finished the season with a 3.18 ERA. Gilmore dished 86 strikeouts, pitched two complete games and recorded one save.

Fresno State begins its season hosting the Fresno State Kickoff Classic Feb. 8-11 at Margie Wright Diamond. The Bulldogs will host South Dakota State on Thursday, Feb. 8 at 6 p.m. to open the tournament.

2024 MOUNTAIN WEST PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH
Rank   Team (First-Place Votes)                 Points
   1.    San Diego State (8)                          64
   2.    Boise State (1)                                 57
   3.    Colorado State                                 46
   4.    Fresno State                                    41
   5.    Nevada                                           37
   6.    UNLV                                              28
   7.    Utah State                                      19
   8.    New Mexico                                     17
   9.    San José State                                 15

All-Mountain West Preseason Team:
Taylor Caudill, Sr., RHP, Boise State
MyKenzie Hanna, Jr., OF, Boise State
Jordyn Hutchins, Sr., OF, Boise State
Hailey Smith, Sr., OF, Colorado State
Ashley York, Sr., OF, Colorado State
Taylor Gilmore, Sr., RHP, Fresno State
Keahilele Mattson, Sr., OF, Fresno State
Chelie Senini, Sr., OF, Nevada
Rachael Hathoot, Sr., INF, New Mexico
Mac Barbara, Jr., UTL, San Diego State
Cali Decker, Jr., UTL, San Diego State
Bella Espinoza, Jr., OF, San Diego State
Allie Light, Sr., RHP, San Diego State
Ariana "Nana" Martinez, Jr., INF, UNLV
Maddie Schmidt, Sr., SS/OF, UNLV

Preseason Player of the Year
Mac Barbara, Jr., UTL, San Diego State

Preseason Pitcher of the Year
Allie Light, Sr., RHP, San Diego State

"Fresno State Athletics - Elevate: Imagine the Possibilities" - The Elevate Campaign provides a visionary roadmap to enhance and construct a series of athletic facilities to help further position Fresno State Athletics for sustained competitive success nationally, while also further serving as a source of pride and economic growth throughout California's Central Valley. For more information, visit GoBulldogs.com/elevate.

Fresno State Athletics

Mattson, Gilmore earn MW preseason honors

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