FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Are you ready for postseason softball?
The Fresno State Bulldogs clinched the No. 5 seed in the 2026 Mountain West softball tournament, then strung together a 2-out rally to force extra innings, defeating San Diego State on Senior Day, 4-2.
Fresno State (23-23, 12-13 MW) secured its tourney spot when Colorado State lost to Grand Canyon earlier Saturday.
Even if the Aztecs held onto their 2-0 lead, the Bulldogs would have triumphed in a 3-way tiebreaker with Boise State and Colorado State, due to them holding the better head-to-head record.
Head coach Charlotte Morgan found this out mid-game. Not wanting her players distracted from the action at Margie Wright Diamond, she said nothing.
Instead, Morgan watched the Bulldogs claw back as if their season depended on it. In some of their minds, it did.
“We heard some rumors,” said sophomore Rylee Bocchini. “We knew for sure that if we won this game, we were going [to the tournament]. Then some people were saying we could make it even if we lost.
“We needed to win this game to put the nail in the coffin.”
Young fans cheer on the Fresno State softball team on Senior Day. Head coach Charlotte Morgan explains what made this class special.
Natalie Elias and Emma Martinez ripped back-to-back triples with 2 outs in the 7th inning, followed by a game-tying single from Alyssa Rebolledo.
All of those players were seniors playing their final home game.
Bocchini capped off the warm May afternoon with her first career home run, a 2-run walk-off shot to center field.
Fresno State takes on No. 4 seed New Mexico in an elimination game on Wednesday at 3 p.m. The tournament is being held at Hixson Softball Park in Reno, NV.
If the Bulldogs win Wednesday, then they enter a double-elimination bracket and face No. 1 seed Grand Canyon at 3 p.m. Thursday.