Fresno State softball coach Margie Wright became the first coach in her sport to reach 1,300 career wins last week. The milestone win was hard-fought, with New Mexico State taking the Bulldogs into extra innings before Wright’s team pulled out the 3-2 win in the bottom of the ninth.

The victory makes Fresno State 47-9 this year, Wright’s 23^rd year with the team. Her career record is now 1,300-455-3, with a 71-44 postseason mark, including a national title, three runner-up finishes and three third-place finishes at the Women’s College World Series.

Wright was inducted into the National Fastpitch Coaches Association’s Hall of Fame in 2000. A native of Illinois and graduate of Illinois State, she is also a member of that state’s softball hall of fame. She coached pitchers and catchers on the 1996 Olympic team that captured the United States’ first-ever gold in the sport.

Wright also played softball professionally for the St. Louis Hummers of the Women’s Professional Softball League from 1977-79. She was the 1977 International Pro Softball Association’s Rookie of the Year.