OKLAHOMA CITY, OK -- The 2004 Louisville Slugger/NFCA softball All-America teams were announced at the Womens College World Series in Oklahoma City, Okla. and Fresno State had two Bulldogs earn first-team All-Americans in sophomore shortstop Christina Clark and junior pitcher/utility Jamie Southern.
The Bulldogs' pair led the Western Athletic Conference in virtually every offensive and pitching category during the 2004 season and became the program's 50th and 51st All-Americans overall and the 22nd and 23rd first team All-Americans selected from Fresno State since 1982. For head coach Margie Wright, the pair makes it 49 All-Americans under her tutelage, while coaching all 23 first-team All-America picks.
A second-team All-American as a freshman, Clark becomes the first Bulldog to be a multi All-American at shortstop. The 2004 WAC Player of the Year is the fifth sophomore to garner first-team All-America accolades, joining Laura Berg, Nina Lindenberg, Amanda Scott and Robyn Yorke.
A second-team All-American at utility last year, Southern is a first-team All-American at utility this season after playing three positions effectively, pitcher, designated player and outfield. She is the eighth Bulldog to be a three-time All-American.
Recording her 90th career victory against No. 12 Auburn in NCAA Regional play, Southern became the 23rd NCAA Division I player to amass 1,000 or more career strikeouts. In the 50th game of the season she struck out 10 UTEP Miners at home on April 15 for her eighth 10-strikeout game of the year. Southern is the first Bulldog and WAC pitcher to reach the 1,000-career mark after being the first hurler to reach 900.
In 2004, Southern went 30-7 in the circle with 20 shutouts, three saves and 299 strikeouts for a 0.54 ERA in 259.0 innings as opponents hit .144 against. Posting a career year at the plate, she batted .335 (70-209) with 29 runs, 14 doubles, nine home runs and 34 RBI.