Five Bulldogs Named All-WAC; Clark and Mackin Named Player and Pitcher of Year

Perkins, Cervantez and Garvin collect All-WAC accolades as well.

Senior shortstop Christina Clark picked up her fourth straight First Team All-WAC honors and became the first player in conference and school history to be a three-time WAC Player of the Year.

May 10, 2006

FRESNO, Calif. - The Western Athletic Conference announced its 2006 All-WAC Softball Teams this evening and Fresno State was well represented with five all-league honors, including being honored with the WAC Player, Pitcher and Freshman of the Year awards.

Senior All-America shortstop Christina Clark (Santa Ana, Calif.) became the first player in WAC and school history to be selected as a three-time conference player of the year. Hitting .500 in conference action this season, she became the fifth player in the conference annals to bat .500 in league games -- joining three other Bulldogs to accomplish that same feat (1994, Robyn York, .500; 1996, Nina Lindenberg, .535; and 2000, Becky Witt, .500).

As the third WAC player and first Bulldog to post a single-season slugging percentage of 1.000 in league contests, Clark led the league in batting, runs (17) and total bases (40) while sharing league-game high honors in home runs (4). In overall games, the four-time First Team All-WAC selection is ranked in 10 all-time career marks as she leads the WAC in home runs (61), total bases (548) and walks (113).

Freshman right hander Robin Mackin (Newmarket, Ontario) became the second Bulldog and WAC hurler to garner pitcher and freshman of the year accolades in the same season as she joined former Bulldog All-American Jamie Southern, who accomplished the same feat in 2002. Mackin is the seventh Bulldog to be selected as the WAC Freshman of the Year and the seventh Bulldog pitcher to be honored as the freshman of the year.

In WAC games only, Mackin led the league in strikeouts (117) and innings pitched (74.2) while sharing top honors in wins (8) and saves (1). In overall games, she currently leads all pitchers in wins (25), ERA (1.38), innings pitched (232.2) and strikeouts (360).

Freshman third baseman Haley Perkins (Fresno, Calif.) also garnered first team honors. Perkins, who along with Mackin is the eighth and ninth Bulldog freshman to garner First Team All-WAC accolades, hit .375 while playing stellar defense in conference action. In overall games, the rookie currently ranks second in hits (56), third in runs (34) and fourth in batting (.350) while hitting safely in every game but nine in 49 games played.

Sophomore second baseman Jenna Cervantez (Clovis, Calif.) and junior centerfielder Shannon Garvin (Fresno, Calif.) were both selected as Second Team All-WAC performers. Cervantez, who helped turn three double plays last week against San Jose State, and Garvin, who finished among the top 12 hitters in batting (.349) in league play, garner their first All-WAC award as both have started all 49 games for Fresno State.

Sharing top honors for most All-WAC picks, Fresno State head coach Margie Wright has coached 76 All-WAC honorees since 1993 and 125 all-league picks since 1986. In addition, she has coached 11 pitchers of the year (eight in WAC), eight players of the year (six in WAC) and seven freshmen of the year (seven in WAC). Defensively this season, Fresno State set a new WAC record for fielding (.983) in league contests only, besting Creighton's mark set in 1992 (.982).

Beginning tomorrow, Fresno State hosts the 2006 WAC Softball Championship Tournament, which runs Thu.-Sat., May 11-13, at Bulldog Diamond. The Bulldogs play tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. against the winner of the Nevada/New Mexico State game. Tickets can be purchased online at www.gobulldogs.com or through the Bulldog Ticket Office at (559) 278-3647.

First Team
Regan Clark, Louisiana Tech (C)
Tyleen Tausaga, Hawai`i (1B)
Rochelle Sandberg, Louisiana Tech (2B)
Haley Perkins, Fresno State (3B)
Christina Clark, Fresno State (SS)
Kaulana Gould, Hawai`i (OF)
Kristi Randall, New Mexico State (OF)
Emma Barnes, Louisiana Tech (OF)
Courtney Lewis, San Jose State (UT)
Stacey Lien, New Mexico State (DP)
Robin Mackin, Fresno State (P)

At-Large
Justine Smethurst, Hawai`i (P)
Rochelle Gastelum, New Mexico State (OF)

Second Team
Sara Fleming, Utah State (C)
Mailei Hilva, New Mexico State (1B)
Jenna Cervantez, Fresno State (2B)
Jessica Elson, Louisiana Tech (3B)
Quela Leonhardt, Utah State (SS)
Shannon Garvin, Fresno State (OF)
Tanisha Milca, Hawai`i (OF)
Mandy Winkley, San Jose State (OF)
Candice Rainwater, Nevada (UT)
Audrey Andrade, Hawai`i (DP)
Jordan McPherson, Nevada (P)