Fresno State captured its first WAC Softball title since 1999 with a come-from-behind win over Nevada at Bulldog Diamond in Fresno, Calif.
A crown of 1,143 fans packed Bulldog Diamond to see Fresno State take home the title. Robin Mackin earned her fourth win of the of the tournament en route to the Most Valuable Player honor. After allowing the Wolf Pack to jump out to an early 3-0 lead, the All-American shut down the Wolf Pack not allowing another run. In her four starts, she did not allow an extra base hit.
Nevada scored three early runs off of Mackin and the Bulldogs. Brittany Puzey, who had late-inning heroics for the Wolf Pack yesterday, was 2-for3 with one RBI and one run scored. But after the first inning the Wolf Pack were shut down.
The Bulldogs slowly chipped away at the Nevada lead scoring one in the first and one in the second before adding three runs over the last two innings.
The Bulldogs have now advanced to all 26 NCAA Softball Championships. Fresno State will find out who they play Sunday, May 13 on ESPNEWS from 12-1 PT.
2007 WAC Softball All-tournament team
Nichole Willis, Fresno State
Kristi Randall, New Mexico State
Kelly Harrison, San Jose State
Ashley Cameron, Louisiana Tech
Jordan McPherson, Nevada
Haley Perkins, Fresno State
Jenna Cervantez, Fresno State
Brittany Puzey, Nevada
Alana Power, Hawai`i
Sam Bias, Nevada
Robin Mackin, Fresno State (MVP)
WAC Softball Tournament Day Three
This was the second-straight season, Nevada (28-31) advanced to the finals of the WAC Softball Tournament by eliminating top-seeded Hawai`i (46-11), 3-1 in eight innings. The defending WAC Tournament Champions eliminated Hawai`i from the tournament last season. Junior Jordan McPherson earned her second win of the day, allowing only one run in eight innings.
Brittany Puzey's 13th home run of the season gave the Wolf Pack the 3-1 win. Justine Smethurst took the loss (17-8), allowing only four hits and two earned runs in the loss. This was the first time this season that the Rainbow Wahine have lost two games in a row this season. This was the first extra inning game in the WAC Tournament since Fresno State defeated San Diego State in the 1999 tournament.
Second-seeded Fresno State used great defense and timely hitting to defeat top-seeded Hawai`i, 9-3, in the first game on Friday. The Bulldogs handed WAC Pitcher of the Year, Kate Robinson, her first loss of the season (15-1). Sophomore Robin Mackin earned her 34th win of the season going the distance and allowing three runs. Fresno State got things started fast scoring three runs in the bottom of the first. Lisamarie Coronado made a fantastic play rightfield robbing WAC Player, Tyleen Tausaga off a home run.
San Jose State was eliminated by fourth-seeded Nevada, 2-1. The Wolf Pack are having another strong WAC Tournament. The defending WA Tournament Champions made it to the final three behind the strong pitching of junior Jordan McPherson, who seems to come alive at the WAC Tournament. The 2006 WAC Tournament MVP allowed only one earned run, scattering five hits over seven innings.
WAC Softball Tournament Day Two
Day two of the WAC Softball Tournament began with top-seeded Hawai`i defeating seventh-seeded Louisiana Tech, 5-2. Justine Smethurst allowed two runs, while striking out 10 batters for the win. Louisiana Tech's Krissi Oliver kept the potent Rainbow Wahine offense in check for the most part, allowing only four earned runs with six hits. Hawai`i broke the game open in the bottom of the second, scoring four runs.
Fresno State's Jenna Cervantez had two singles and a double Thursday afternoon, but her biggest hit of the game came in the top of the seventh inning with the score tied 2-2. Cervantez hit a one-out solo home run over the left field fence, leading to a 3-2 Fresno State victory over New Mexico State on the second day of the WAC Tournament at Bulldog Diamond.
Fresno State Tournament Central
Utah State was the first team eliminated from the WAC Tournament, falling to fifth-seeded San Jose State 9-1 in five innings. It was the first eight-run rule game of the tournament. Kelly Harrison went the distance for the Spartans who improved to 22-27 this season. The Aggies end the season 17-36.
Fourth-seeded Nevada made a second inning three-run hom erun by Katie Stith standup as the Pack beat the No. 7 La Tech Lady Techsters 3-2.. With the win, Nevada improved to 26-30 overall and will face the winner of the San Jose State game tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. Katie Holverson (11-14) picked up the win for Nevada. She threw 3.2 innings, scattered two hits and struckout five. Krissi Oliver (17-27) took the loss for the Lady Techsters. She threw a complete-game and allowed five hits and three runs (one earned).
The last team to advance to the final four was fifth-seed San Jose State, upsetting third-seed New Mexico State, 3-1.Roxanne Bejerano earned her 15th win of the season allowing only one run on seven hits. The Spartans beat their second Aggies squad of the day also defeated Utah State to start the day. Natasha Hawkins drove in her fourth run of the day to give the Aggies the lead in bottom of the sixth.
WAC Softball Tournament Day One
The fifth WAC Softball Tournament began Wednesday, May 9 with a trio of games. In the first game of the tournament, seventh-seeded Louisiana Tech out-muscled sixth-seeded Utah State to capture its first WAC Tournament win, 8-1. This was the Aggies first WAC Tournament game after missing the tournament last season.
In the second game, second-seeded Fresno State defeated fifth-seeded San Jose State, 5-0. First-team all-WAC honoree Robin Mackin thew a complete game five-hitter to earn her WAC-leading 32nd win of the season. Sophomore Haley Perkins was 3-for-3 with two RBI at the plate. The Bulldogs will take New Mexico State game at 1:30 p.m. The Aggies shutout fourth-seeded Nevada, 4-0 to round out the day one competition. Kim Watson moved to 19-14 with the win. Nevada will now face the loser of the game between top-seeded Hawai`i and seventh-seeded Louisiana Tech at 6:15 on Thursday.