Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Central Florida (Campbell/Cartier Tournament)
No. 15 Softball Falls to Central Florida
2/15/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2003
POWAY, Calif. - The 15th-ranked Fresno State softball team opened tournament play at the 13th Annual Campbell/Cartier Tournament with a hard-nosed fight against Central Florida but extra inning play found the Bulldogs on the losing end after they dropped at 3-2, 9-inning decision to the Golden Knights.
With the game scoreless through the first four and one half innings of play, UCF put a run on the scoreboard first with a two-out RBI single by right fielder Rachelle Schmidt.
Fresno State answered with a two-out RBI double to left center by right fielder Lori Hoffman, which scored center fielder Mitzi Ing from first base.
Going into the international tie breaker rule in the top of the ninth, shortstop Christina Clark was placed on second base. Hoffman led the inning off with a RBI single to left field to knock in Clark.
With two outs and bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, UCF first baseman Nikki Green hit a rope into center field that got passed a diving Ing and scored two runs to give the Golden Knights the win.
Sophomore All-America pitcher Jamie Southern suffered the loss as she fell to 1-3 on the year while the Bulldogs are 1-5. Southern recorded her third 10-strikeout game on the year with a season-high 11 versus Central Florida (6-5). She gave up six hits and walked three.
Junior right fielder Lori Hoffman went 2-3 with a double, a walk and two RBI in the losing effort.
UCF pitcher Dottie Cupp improved to 2-1 on the season after tossing a five-hitter while walking three and striking out six.
Fresno State continues tourney action tomorrow afternoon with a 12:30 p.m. match up against Kansas and a 3:00 p.m. contest versus No. 4 Michigan.
