By: Kimberly Fisher, kimfisher@csufresno.edu – GoBulldogs.com
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo.– Announced by the Mountain West on Tuesday morning, the Fresno State softball team has been picked to win the MW regular season title, as voted by the league’s nine coaches in the annual preseason poll.
The Bulldogs acquired 63 votes, including seven first-place votes, placing the `Dogs nine points higher than runner-up, San Diego State (54), who received one first-place vote. UNLV was tabbed to finished third with 44 points and the final first-place vote, placing the Rebels ahead of Colorado State (43) by only one point. San Jose State (34), Boise State (33), Nevada (26), Utah State (18) and New Mexico (9) rounded out the preseason poll.
The `Dogs are coming off a second-place (15-9) finish in Mountain West play and a 31-21 overall mark behind the 2014 top conference champion, San Diego State (40-19, 16-8 MW).
In her third season at the helm of the Bulldog softball program, head coach Trisha Ford returns 13 players including five top position players and one starting pitcher. Highlighting Fresno State’s bright future are All-MW selections Brenna Moss (2014 Defensive Player of the Year) and the `Dogs ace pitcher Jill Compton.
Additionally, the squad welcomes back starting catcher Paige Gumz, infielder Whitney Smith (2014 Most Improved Player), outfielder Kierra Willis (2014 Rookie of the Year) and senior right fielder Michelle Solomon.
Bulldog softball kicks off their 2015 campaign at the Arizona State Kajikawa Classic this Friday, Feb. 6 in Tempe, Ariz. The `Dogs are set to face the 2014 Atlantic 10 Champion, Fordham University and Portland State in the first day of the tournament followed by matchups with Ole Miss and Cal State Northridge on Saturday (Feb. 7). Fresno State will conclude the weekend on Sunday (Feb. 8) against the 2014 WCC runner-up, University of San Diego.
2015 MW Softball Preseason Poll(First-place votes in parenthesis)
1. Fresno State (7)- 63
2. San Diego State (1)-54
3. UNLV (1) -44
4. Colorado State -43
5. San José State -34
6. Boise State -33
7. Nevada -26
8. Utah State -18
9. New Mexico -9
