Fresno State Athletics
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'Dogs picked second, Neiss earns preseason honors
1/30/2025 10:59:00 AM | Softball
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Fresno State softball team was picked to finish second in the Mountain West Preseason Poll, voted on by the league's nine head coaches, it was announced Thursday morning. The Bulldogs received 50 votes in the poll.
This marks the highest preseason ranking for Fresno State since 2021, when the Bulldogs were selected as the conference favorite.
"We appreciate that our peers selected us to finish within the top third of the conference," head coach Stacy May-Johnson said. "This is, and has always been, a competitive conference. With that being said, we are here to win a Mountain West Conference championship and make a run in the NCAA Tournament."
Junior left-handed pitcher Serayah Neiss was named a Preseason All-Mountain West selection, the Bulldogs' sole representative on the list.
Neiss posted a 2.58 ERA over 152 innings last season, recording 105 strikeouts. She also set a program record with five saves in a single season.
In addition to Neiss, the team returns 18 players, including seven starters. The returning core is led by catcher Kennedy Bunker and outfielder Natalie Elias.
Bunker started 51 games behind the plate last season, finishing with a .367 batting average. She recorded 55 hits, seven doubles, and four home runs, while posting a .493 slugging percentage and a .429 on-base percentage.
Elias also appeared in 51 games, starting 49. She hit .354 with a .368 on-base percentage, leading the team with 63 hits.
Fresno State bolstered its roster with 12 newcomers, including three Division I transfers.
Infielder Marissa Montelongo returns home to the Valley from Saint Mary's for her final season. During the 2024 season, she started all 54 games and finished with a .303 batting average. The All-WCC Second Team selection recorded 46 hits and 19 RBIs, along with a .414 slugging percentage and a .352 on-base percentage. She also added 33 stolen bases.
Fresno State opens Mountain West play at home against Boise State (March 14-16). The Bulldogs will also host San Jose State (March 27-29), Nevada (April 5-6), and New Mexico (April 17-19), while traveling to face UNLV (March 21-23), San Diego State (April 2), Utah State (April 11-13), and Colorado State (April 25-27).
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PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (1STÂ PLACE VOTES)
1. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â San Diego State (8)Â Â Â Â Â Â 64Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2.           Boise State                      50         Â
2.           Fresno State                   50
4.           UNLV (1)                           47         Â
5.           Nevada               31
6.           Colorado State          27
7.           Utah State                        22
8.           New Mexico            17
9.           San José State                16
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PRESEASON TEAM – PLAYERS (12):
1.       Sydney Groves, Jr., INF, Boise StateÂ
2.       Mykenzie Hanna, Sr., OF, Boise StateÂ
3.       Sophia Knight, So., OF Boise State
4.       Jailey Wilson, So., INF, Colorado StateÂ
5.       Aaliyah Jenkins, Sr., C, NevadaÂ
6.       Haley Painter, Jr., 3B, NevadaÂ
7.       Cali Decker, Sr., C, San Diego StateÂ
8.       Reina Zermeno, Jr., INF/UT, San José State
9.       Jesse Farrell, So., C, UNLVÂ
10.   Ariana Martinez, Sr., INF, UNLVÂ
11.   Ariel Fifita, Sr., INF, Utah StateÂ
12.   Grace Matej, Jr., C/INF, Utah StateÂ
Â
PRESEASON TEAM – PITCHERS (3):
1.       Serayah Neiss, Jr., Fresno StateÂ
2.       Cece Cellura, So., San Diego StateÂ
3.       Dee Dee Hernandez, Sr., San Diego State
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This marks the highest preseason ranking for Fresno State since 2021, when the Bulldogs were selected as the conference favorite.
"We appreciate that our peers selected us to finish within the top third of the conference," head coach Stacy May-Johnson said. "This is, and has always been, a competitive conference. With that being said, we are here to win a Mountain West Conference championship and make a run in the NCAA Tournament."
Junior left-handed pitcher Serayah Neiss was named a Preseason All-Mountain West selection, the Bulldogs' sole representative on the list.
Neiss posted a 2.58 ERA over 152 innings last season, recording 105 strikeouts. She also set a program record with five saves in a single season.
In addition to Neiss, the team returns 18 players, including seven starters. The returning core is led by catcher Kennedy Bunker and outfielder Natalie Elias.
Bunker started 51 games behind the plate last season, finishing with a .367 batting average. She recorded 55 hits, seven doubles, and four home runs, while posting a .493 slugging percentage and a .429 on-base percentage.
Elias also appeared in 51 games, starting 49. She hit .354 with a .368 on-base percentage, leading the team with 63 hits.
Fresno State bolstered its roster with 12 newcomers, including three Division I transfers.
Infielder Marissa Montelongo returns home to the Valley from Saint Mary's for her final season. During the 2024 season, she started all 54 games and finished with a .303 batting average. The All-WCC Second Team selection recorded 46 hits and 19 RBIs, along with a .414 slugging percentage and a .352 on-base percentage. She also added 33 stolen bases.
Fresno State opens Mountain West play at home against Boise State (March 14-16). The Bulldogs will also host San Jose State (March 27-29), Nevada (April 5-6), and New Mexico (April 17-19), while traveling to face UNLV (March 21-23), San Diego State (April 2), Utah State (April 11-13), and Colorado State (April 25-27).
Â
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH (1STÂ PLACE VOTES)
1. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â San Diego State (8)Â Â Â Â Â Â 64Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
2.           Boise State                      50         Â
2.           Fresno State                   50
4.           UNLV (1)                           47         Â
5.           Nevada               31
6.           Colorado State          27
7.           Utah State                        22
8.           New Mexico            17
9.           San José State                16
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PRESEASON TEAM – PLAYERS (12):
1.       Sydney Groves, Jr., INF, Boise StateÂ
2.       Mykenzie Hanna, Sr., OF, Boise StateÂ
3.       Sophia Knight, So., OF Boise State
4.       Jailey Wilson, So., INF, Colorado StateÂ
5.       Aaliyah Jenkins, Sr., C, NevadaÂ
6.       Haley Painter, Jr., 3B, NevadaÂ
7.       Cali Decker, Sr., C, San Diego StateÂ
8.       Reina Zermeno, Jr., INF/UT, San José State
9.       Jesse Farrell, So., C, UNLVÂ
10.   Ariana Martinez, Sr., INF, UNLVÂ
11.   Ariel Fifita, Sr., INF, Utah StateÂ
12.   Grace Matej, Jr., C/INF, Utah StateÂ
Â
PRESEASON TEAM – PITCHERS (3):
1.       Serayah Neiss, Jr., Fresno StateÂ
2.       Cece Cellura, So., San Diego StateÂ
3.       Dee Dee Hernandez, Sr., San Diego State
Â
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