Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Wisconsin (Fiesta Bowl Tournament)
Softball Outpitched by Wisconsin
2/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 7, 2003
Tempe, Ariz. - The 15th-ranked Fresno State softball team suffered its second straight loss at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament when it dropped an 8-4 decision to Wisconsin.
Outpitched by the Badgers, Wisconsin staved off a late rally by the Bulldogs and put the game away in the seventh when designated player Sheena Padovan hit a two run home run in the top of the seventh off Bulldog pitcher Leslie Poole, who pitched in relief.
The Badgers, who scored eight runs on 13 hits and had one error, wasted little time getting started. The Badgers knocked freshman right-hander Laura Ferreira out of the game in 2.1 innings of play after collecting three runs on five hits.
With Wisconsin up 3-0 going into the bottom of the third, Fresno State charged back with three runs of its own. The Bulldogs had RBI singles from junior right fielder Lori Hoffman and senior catcher Pam West. Freshman shortstop Christina Clark scored on an wide throw to home by Badger shortstop Kristin Zacher.
Wisconsin feasted off Poole's pitching in the top of the fourth when it pushed three more runs across the plate. The Badgers got their leadoff batter on via a Bulldog fielding error by first baseman Monnaye Bernal. After that play, UW strung together four consecutive hits and a sacrifice fly to go up 6-3.
In the bottom of the sixth with one out, West stroked her first collegiate home run with a solo shot over dead center field to cut the lead at 6-4. Sophomore second baseman Leticia Pacheco followed with a double to right center. However, Fresno State's final two batters grounded out to end the scoring threat.
Fresno State scored four runs on nine hits and committed one error. West went 3-3 with two RBI while Pacheco (2-3) and Clark (2-4, run)also had multiple-hit games for the Bulldogs.
The last time Fresno State dropped its first two games in a season happened in 1993 when the Bulldogs opened the year at home against UCLA. In the program's 26-year history, the Bulldogs have only lost their first two games six times (2003, 1993, 1988, 1986, 1984 and 1979).
Fresno State will look to regroup tomorrow afternoon in tournament action with a match-up against No. 24 Texas A&M (3:30 p.m.) and No. 12 Texas (5:30 p.m.).
