Looking Back at the NCAA Champions: 1998 Fresno State Bulldogs

Photo courtesy Fresno State Athletics

Fall practice has wrapped up around the country in Division I, which allows us to set our sights on the 2024 season that lies ahead.

Early focus will be centered on the University of Oklahoma as they begin the quest to become the first team in Division I history to win four consecutive national championships.

The Sooners tied UCLA (1988, 1989, 1990) as the only teams to ever win three consecutive titles when they defeated Florida State to claim the 2023 title.

Extra Inning Softball will be reviewing the 41 national champions that have previously hoisted the trophy.

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1998 Fresno State Bulldogs

The Venue: ASA Hall of Fame Stadium, Oklahoma City, Okla.

The Head Coach: Margie Wright

The Players (Women’s College World Series Roster): Lindsay Parker, Kim Peck, Amanda Scott, Jennifer Jokinen, Jennifer Slaney, Janna Todd, Kortney Edge, Amber Wall, Carolyn Wilson, Angela Cervantez, Alicia Dowland, Nina Lindenberg, Jaime Maxey, Vanessa Valenzuela, Laura Berg, Candice Bowlin, Kara Campbell, Daviana Wisener, Becky Witt

The Regular Season: The powerhouse Fresno State program entered the 1998 season with the same goal as every Bulldog team – win the school’s first national championship. Fresno State finished the regular season with a 44-10 overall record and a 28-2 record in the Western Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs finished first in the WAC standings, a full six games ahead of nationally-ranked Hawaii. Fresno State was led by Laura Berg (outfield), Nina Lindenberg (second base), Amanda Scott (utility) and Becky Witt (outfield) who all earned All-America honors following the season. Lindenberg was named the WAC Player of the Year, Scott was selected as the WAC Pitcher of the Year and Witt was named the WAC Freshman of the Year. Berg, Lindenberg, Scott, Carolyn Wilson, Jaime Maxey and Witt were all named the All-WAC team. Berg topped the Bulldogs with a .458 batting average, while Scott belted 14 home runs and Lindenberg drove in 77 runs. Scott had 25 wins and a 0.79 earned run average to lead the Bulldogs.

The Regional/Super Regional: For the 17th consecutive season, Fresno State qualified for the NCAA Tournament. The Bulldogs hosted the Fresno Regional which included Minnesota, California and Cal State Northridge. Fresno State opened the regional with a 6-1 victory over Minnesota setting up a meeting with California. The Bulldogs edged the Golden Bars 6-3 to move to the regional final. Minnesota eliminated California to set up a rematch with the Bulldogs. Fresno State defeated Minnesota 2-1 to secure its 11th Women’s College World Series appearance.

The Field at the Women’s College World Series: Arizona, Fresno State, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Texas, Washington

The Bulldogs at the Women’s College World Series: Fresno State opened play at the WCWS against Nebraska and used the pitching of Amanda Scott and an explosive offense to defeat the Cornhuskers 6-1. Scott went the distance and permitted four hits, no earned runs and she struck out six. The Bulldogs pounded out 13 hits against Nebraska led by Angela Cervantez who had three hits including a home run, while Laura Berg and Scott each had two hits. Scott was even better in the Bulldogs second game as she threw a no-hitter leading Fresno State to an 8-0 victory over Michigan. Amber Wall went 3-for-3 with a home run and Berg had two hits and drove in a pair of runs in support of Scott. The Bulldogs suffered their first loss of the tournament in the next game against Washington as the Huskies downed Fresno State 3-1. Jennifer Spediacci held the Bulldogs offense to three hits and one run and the Huskies scored three runs in the top of the third inning and then held off the Bulldogs. Lindsay Parker turned in a sterling performance in the circle as the Bulldogs avoided elimination by defeating Washington 6-1 in the rematch. Parker went 7.0 innings and allowed three hits and no earned runs. Berg and Becky Witt each had a pair of hits and Jaime Maxey drove in a pair of runs. With the victory, Fresno State secured its place in the national championship game against Arizona. The Wildcats won their three WCWS games by a combined score of 14-0 and were the top-ranked team in the nation.

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