Fortuna’s Dolcini takes conference honors, MW championship
Fortuna high alum and Fresno State pitcher Hailey Dolcini had a big weekend. The righthanded player won the Mountain West Conference pitcher of the week award for the seventh time this season while winning two games for FSU en route to a conference championship.
The senior-year pitcher is the only Bulldogs softball player to earn seven pitcher of the week distinctions in a single since FSU joined the MWC.
The award follows up on the team’s dominant three-game sweep over Boise State, in which Dolcini claimed the win in the first and third of the series, pitching seven innings in both efforts. SHe also pitched one inning in the second matchup, recording a save.
The sweep put the MWC championship in the Bulldogs’ hands as well as a berth in the NCAA national championship. The team makes its comeback after being absent in the national championship tournament since 2017. Fresno State’s softball program has made the trip to the big show 34 times over its history.
In game one of the series, Dolcini threw for a shutout 7-0 win over the Broncos. She only received one hit while dishing out 12 strikeouts from the circle. Teammates Adrianna Noriega, Schuylar Broussard and Miranda Rohleder provided the supporting RBI during the win.
In a game two save, Dolcini kept the two-run distance between Boise State and Fresno State in the final inning of play. She tallied one strikeout while securing her second save of the season.
The third and final game of the series saw the Fortuna High graduate throw out seven batters with six hits received and two full counts given away.
The final win in the three-game series puts Dolcini’s record for the season at 20-3.
Fresno State’s softball team currently holds a total season record of 34 wins and nine losses. In conference activity, the team has won 18 games and lost three.
Dolcini and the FSU Bulldogs will close out their season on the road at San Diego State.