Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Texas (Fiesta Bowl Tournament)
Softball Endures Fourth Straight Loss
2/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 8, 2003
PHOENIX - The 15th-ranked Fresno State softball team faced perhaps the best collegiate pitcher in the nation in Texas' All-America southpaw Cat Osterman and the Bulldogs had no answer as they were shut out 4-0 and did not record a single hit off the sophomore sensation.
Osterman, in fact, dominated the circle as she recorded a perfect game, struck out 18 and handed the Bulldogs their fourth consecutive loss.
The Bulldogs, who played their third Top 25 team in 12th-ranked Texas, had a Texan of their own in sophomore right-hander Amanda Wolf.
Pitching admirably and holding the Longhorn bats at bay, Wolf pitched scoreless ball for five and one third innings before a hit and three Bulldog fielding errors had Fresno State looking at its fourth consecutive loss.
Texas, which had four runs on six hits, capitalized in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, second baseman Chez Sievers singled to left field for her third hit of the night. The next Longhorn batter walked. With runners on first and second, third baseman Tamara Poppe roped a single into center field to knock in the first Texas run. With runners on second and third, two Bulldog fielding errors and a no-play led to the final three runs.
Wolf went the distance and gave up six hits, four runs - one earned - walked three and struck out one in her sixth collegiate start.
The last time Fresno State went 0-4 to start the season was in 1993. Playing two Top 25 teams to open that year, the Bulldogs dropped a doubleheader to UCLA, lost to Illinois State and Arizona.
Fresno State wraps up tournament play tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m. when it meets Iowa State.
