WEEK 2: Fresno State Kickoff Classic
Feb. 16-19 • Fresno, Calif. • Margie Wright Diamond • Ticket Link
THURSDAY: vs. UIC, 6 p.m. PT
FRIDAY: vs. Iowa State, 4 p.m. PT
Vs. Seattle, 7 p.m. PT
SATURDAY: vs. Seattle 7 p.m. PT
SUNDAY: vs. Idaho State, 2:30 p.m. PT
LIVE STATS:Bulldogslive.com
LIVE STREAM:Mountain West Network
Neutral Site Games
FRIDAY: UIC vs. Iowa State, 10 a.m. PT
Seattle vs. UIC, 1 p.m. PT
SATURDAY: UIC vs. Idaho State, 10 a.m. PT
UIC vs. Idaho State, 1 p.m. PT
Iowa State vs. Seattle, 4 p.m. PT
SUNDAY: Iowa State vs. Seattle, 9 a.m. PT
Iowa State vs. Idaho State, 11:30 p.m. PT
The Fresno State softball team will host the Fresno State Kickoff Classic Feb. 16-19 at Margie Wright Diamond. The tournament features Idaho State (2-3), Iowa State (2-3), UIC (0-3) and Seattle (3-2).
BULLDOG BONES:
Fresno State started the season 3-2 at the Lynn Russel Miller Classic hosted by UC Riverside.
Three players batting above .300 in Keahilele Mattson (.800), Bailey Williams (.500) and Jamie Hicks (.300).
Mattson was named the MW Player of the Week on Feb. 14.
The Bulldogs return seven starters, including 2022 All-MW First Team selection Alesia Denby and 2021 MW Player of the year Keahilele Mattson.
Fresno State adds 17 newcomers, including even pitchers.
The Bulldogs look to make their 35th postseason appearance in program history.
MATTSON NAMED MW PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Keahilele Mattson opened the season with a .800 (8-of-10) batting average at the Lynn Russell Miller Classic. She recorded six RBIs and scored seven runs. The Alta Loma, Calif. native tallied two home runs, two doubles and drew eight walks.
BRING 'EM IN, BAILEY!
Bailey Williams owned a .500 batting average over the weekend. She recorded six hits, with one double and one home run. Williams logged five RBIs.
PITCH BY COMMITTEE
Six pitchers saw time in the circle over the weekend. Freshman Serayah Neiss and senior Shelbi Denman recorded the most innings over the weekend.
Neiss finished the weekend with a 1-1 record, logging the most innings with 11.0 innings. She dished a team-high 10 strikeouts. The freshman owns a 2.55 ERA.
Denman had a 2-0 record on the weekend with a 1.55 ERA. She pitched 8.1 innings and dished six strikeouts.
'DOGS PICKED TO FINISH FIFTH
The Fresno State softball team was picked to tie for fifth in the 2023 Mountain West softball regular season, as voted by the League's nine head coaches.
Boise State was tabbed as the preseason favorite to win the 2023 MW softball regular season title.
Boise State tallied 61 points and five of the nine first-place votes. San Diego State was a tight second place with 60 points and the remaining four first-place votes.
UNLV was voted third with 48 points, Colorado State in fourth with 36 points, Fresno State, Nevada, and San José State all tied for fifth with 25 points each, New Mexico in eighth with 23 points and to round out the MW preseason poll was Utah State in ninth with 21 points.
NEW FACES
Fresno State head softball coach Stacy May-Johnson announced the addition of 17 student-athletes to the Bulldog program. The group of newcomers will join 11 returners to round out the Bulldogs' 2023 roster.
"We are very excited to welcome our incoming class, as this group is both very deep and very talented," May-Johnson said. "It all starts in the circle and we've added pitching and catching that will immediately elevate our program. The class also highlights both power and speed offensively as well as several skilled defenders. The class covers every facet of the game and combined with our returning talent will propel Fresno State back to championship contention."