Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Notre Dame
#7 Softball Drops Opener in Kia Klassic
3/16/2001 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2001
FULLERTON, Calif. - #7 Fresno State outhit 14th-ranked Notre Dame but was unable to come up on the winning side as the Bulldogs dropped a 4-2 decision to the Fighting Irish in their opening game of the Kia Klassic.
The Bulldogs, who tallied two runs on 12 hits while committing an error, had four players record a multiple hit game but Notre Dame's four-run first inning was enough to hold the Bulldogs at bay.
Sophomore right-hander Leslie Poole got the starting nod but Poole only lasted 0.2 innings as she gave up four runs on four hits. Freshman left-hander Lori Hoffman came in relief and pitched 5.1 innings and scattered six hits while striking out one.
For the Bulldogs, senior center fielder Becky Witt went 3-4 and scored both runs for the 'Dogs. Junior third baseman Lindsay Fossatti went 2-4 and collected both RBI. Junior left fielder Tiffany Whipple (2-4) and senior shortstop Alicia Dowland (2-2) notched two or more hits in the loss.
Fresno State struck first with a run in the top of the first. Witt laid down an infield bunt in front of the catcher. Whipple then laid down a bunt up the third base line to reach base safely. Hoffman flied out to left field before Fossatti had a RBI single to left field to score Witt.
Notre Dame, which scored four runs on 10 hits, answered with four runs in the bottom of the frame. The first three Irish reached on base hits to the outfield. A throwing error by Witt led to an Irish run before the No. 4 batter reached safely on a fielder's choice and recorded a RBI for the second run. Third baseman Andria Bledsoe doubled to center field to score the other two Irish runs.
Fresno State tacked on its second run inthe fourth. Witt led off with a single up the middle. After Whipple fouled out to the catcher and Hoffman grounded out to the shortstop, Fossatti stepped up with a RBI single to left field to score Witt.
The loss dropped the Bulldogs to 3-4 record against Top 25 teams as well as 16-5 on the year. Fresno State meets #5 Oklahoma in the night cap.
