Fresno State's already young softball team will operate with even less experience after leading hitter and second baseman Brooke Ortiz suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Ortiz, a junior who has started all three seasons, was hitting .361 through 18 games when she was hurt while running the bases Feb. 24 against Idaho State. She also was vital to the small-ball game with seven steals in eight attempts.

It was announced Wednesday that she would miss the rest of the year.

"Obviously it's a big blow to us," first-year coach Trisha Ford said. "She's a great leader on this team. She has done a lot for us offensively and defensively and more importantly as a leader."

Fresno State (13-10) is now fielding a starting lineup of three freshmen, three sophomores, three juniors and one senior.

Freshman Whitney Smith has started at second in Ortiz's absence and is hitting .214 with seven RBIs in 56 at-bats.

"We haven't had a lot of practices, so every game is a great opportunity to learn and teach," Ford said. "It's a process. The girls are learning. One of the best ways to learn is through experience."

Fresno State will have to grow up fast if it hopes to return to the NCAA Tournament after missing out in 2012. At this time a year ago, Fresno State was 15-8 but finished 36-23 and saw its record run of 30 straight NCAA berths end in Margie Wright's final season as coach.

The Bulldogs face one of their toughest stretches of games beginning today as No. 6 Cal (15-2), No. 9 Oregon (19-3), No. 23 Oregon State (17-4), Iowa State (9-6) and Saint Mary's (4-9) visit Bulldog Diamond for the Fresno State Classic.

Fresno State opens against Iowa State at 5 p.m. today. The game will be broadcast on KFPT (AM 790).

Oregon State is coached by Laura Berg, the most decorated player in Fresno State history. Saint Mary's is Ford's alma mater.

Despite all the big-name programs coming in, Fresno State leads the all-time series with each school.

Junior first baseman Stesha Brazil has been a source of consistency for the Bulldogs, batting .288 with a team-best six home runs and 13 RBIs. Leadoff hitter and center fielder Brenna Moss is hitting .338 with 10 RBIs and has been successful on 17 of 18 stolen-base attempts.

Ford, as she committed to before the season began, has given playing time to all four of her young pitchers. Freshman Jill Compton has thrown a team-high 74 2/3 innings (out of 153 total innings for the staff).

Compton is 6-7 with a 3.28 ERA. Fellow freshman Taylor Langdon (5-1, 1.73) is the reigning Mountain West pitcher of the week.

"I'm excited to see where this team is going," Ford said, "and how they'll stack up with some of the best teams in the country."