The Fresno State softball team enters the 2025 season tied for the No. 2 spot in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll, two spots ahead of where they were at this time last season.
The Bulldogs aim to bounce back after a 4-5 loss to Boise State in the 2024 Mountain West Championship Tournament. The team went 33-19 which was an improvement from the 2023 season where they went 23-31.
Head Coach Stacy May-Johnson is hopeful that the team can keep its trajectory up going into the new season, saying that their offensive firepower improved significantly and has been ever since she’s been coaching at Fresno State.
“I think we got better offensively,” May-Johnson said. “I think our ability to score runs continues to improve. We’re [going to] have to score more runs than what we did a year ago. But we’re certainly capable of that.”
Natalie Elias, outfielder for the Bulldogs, explains that this team differs from other teams, even the 2024 Bulldogs. This team has been grittier and more willing to do the hard things asked of them.
“I think we differ from other teams because we’re willing to put the extra work in,” Elias said.“We’re willing to put the extra hours in, take extra reps, do extra pretty much everything. When we get on the field, we don’t want to lose. We’re giving everything up on the field, doing everything that we can, like playing our roles to the best of our ability and being the loudest team.”
One part of their offseason success has been the natural maturity of the players and the experience they’ve obtained since last season.
“We got players that have been returning, that are now older and better,” May-Johnson said.“You don’t typically see a team full of freshmen that goes in there and wins the championship game. It’s typically a team full of juniors and seniors.”
The Bulldogs have also added players through transfers that add speed and strength to an already improved offense. Players like infielder Marissa Montelongo from St. Mary’s College has given Fresno State softball another advantage in the conference.
“[Marissa] might be the best base runner in the conference,” May-Johnson. “[She] will just produce runs with her legs.”
From a player’s perspective, one major offseason change was players stepping up into leadership roles. Kennedy Bunker, who plays catcher and first base, understands that more leaders will result in a better season for the Bulldogs.
“I think that this season, like, we do have a lot of new leaders on the field,” Bunker said. “I think everybody has to lead in their own way and throughout all the positions.”
One area of focus during the offseason was pitching and working on their defense.
“They’re going to have to be excellent in what they’re asked to do,” May-Johnson said. “Those athletes will have to work together to make our bullpen a complete force.”
The Bulldogs will open up the season playing one game in Stanford, California against the University of the Pacific Tigers on Feb. 7.
