Matt Weir / Collegian File Photo
As the Bulldogs̢۪ softball team enters the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) Tournament as the No. 1 seed, players and coach Margie Wright said they do not feel any pressure and are confident they will do well in the tournament.
“We all know you got to play the game, so I don’t think there’s any pressure,â€Â Wright said.
Earning their 10th WAC regular season title, the ̢۪Dogs are preparing themselves to face the tough competition ahead of them.
Wright said that all the teams competing in the tournament pose a threat to Fresno State, but she expects all the players will play a vital role in all the games and will come out on top when the tournament is over.
“Whoever’s in the game and whoever we’ll call upon will play a significant role,â€Â Wright said. “Whether it is a runner or a hitter, it doesn’t matter. They all will play a huge role.â€Â
Some of the Bulldogs̢۪ players did exceptional jobs this season, which were recognized by the WAC. One of them was the April 27th Hitter of the Week, centerfielder Brooke Phipps.
The junior earned the award after she hit a .692 (9-of-13) on their doubleheader against Boise State April 24-25, which included two homeruns and seven RBI. She was the only Bulldog to steal a base and she did not get a walk or a strike out in that series.
Phipps was excited, yet surprised to be named Hitter of the Week for the first time and said at the time, she was more focused on helping her team win against the Broncos.
“I was more happy that I could help out the team,â€Â Phipps said. “We needed someone to step up and hit, so I was more than happy to help my team come through. Getting Hitter of the Week just made that win a whole lot better.â€Â
Phipps said that the Bulldogs came out of the season strong, so she expects them to do well in the tournament.
“I think we’re going to do well; I expect us to,â€Â Phipps said. “We’ve been a good team, we’ve been hitting the ball really good, plus we’re playing at home, so we’re playing in front of our fans.â€Â
Although Phipps said she considers the other teams in the tournament as tough competition, she said their team will have no problem playing against them.
“All the other teams are threats, that’s why we have to play all of them in the same mindset,â€Â Phipps said.
Other WAC honoree is former Pitcher of the Week, sophomore Morgan Melloh. Melloh received her eighth Pitcher of the Week award on April 20 after throwing two complete shutouts against the Nevada Wolf Pack on April 17-18. Melloh ushered the Bulldogs to win the series 2-1. She finished the season with a 1.55 ERA and 387 strikeouts.
“It feels great that I did my best out there and it all paid off,â€Â Melloh said.
Melloh believes that they played good as a team throughout the season and despite WAC being considered a tough conference, she is confident that they will win the tournament.
“There’s pressure coming into this tournament as No. 1, but we just have to keep our cool and play the game,â€Â Melloh said. “It just makes us know we need to come out in the tournament as strong as we were in the conference.â€Â
The one thing Melloh is more excited about than entering the tournament is having a familiar face in the crowd acting as her personal cheerleader.
“My dad is coming down to watch me finally,â€Â Melloh said. “He’s flying here from Indiana.â€Â
Since they are the No. 1 seed, the Bulldogs will get a bye on the first round where according to Wright, the team will be using it to practice and focus on school.
They are expected to play against the winner of the game between San Jose State and Boise State on the second day of the tournament.
Last time Fresno State won the WAC Tournament was in 2007. This year, the Bulldogs expect they will win the entire tournament and make it all the way to the NCAA playoffs.
“I’m hoping we can come out on top, we have to play our very best,â€Â Wright said. “It’s going to be a great tournament.â€Â