Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Iowa State (Fiesta Bowl Tournament)
No. 15 Softball Salvages Last Day at Fiesta Bowl
2/9/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 9, 2003
PHOENIX - The 15th-ranked Fresno State softball team wrapped up tourney action at Arizona State's Fiesta Bowl Tournament with an 8-1 victory over Iowa State.
The Bulldogs, who halted a four-game losing streak, recorded their first win on the year behind the bats of five 'Dogs and a solid pitching performance by sophomore All-America right-hander Jamie Southern.
Freshman shortstop Christina Clark, who went 1-4 with two runs, connected for her second home run on the year when she hit a one out, two-run bomb to left in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Senior catcher Pam West, who went 2-4 with a run, also picked up two RBI with a one out, two-run single in the fifth.
Junior right fielder Lori Hoffman tied her career-high in hits when she went 3-4 with two runs, a double and a RBI. Junior first baseman Monnaye Bernal collected her first RBI as a Bulldog after going 1-4 while junior designated player Shasta Lewis went 1-3 with a RBI.
Southern, who recorded her first victory of the year, tossed a three-hitter while walking three and striking out 10. The 10-strikeout performance was her second on the weekend and 21st of her career.
Iowa State struck first when it put a run on the scoreboard in the top of the first. Leadoff batter Julia Lindsey stroked a single to left field but Bulldog left fielder Angelina Diaz could not stop the ball as Lindsey advanced to third on the second pitch of the game. After the No. 2 batter Adi Blackmon reached first on a walk, Blackmon stole second and on a delayed steal, Lindsey went home when the throw to second was not cut off by Bulldog second baseman Leticia Pacheco.
Fresno State answered the call, however, when it posted three runs in the bottom of the first. After two leadoff walks to Pacheco and junior center fielder Mitzi Ing, Hoffman stroked a RBI single to center field to score Pacheco. Southern then reached first base on an error by the Cyclones' second baseman that allowed Hoffman to advance to second and Ing to score. With one out and the runners on second and third, Bernal looped a single to left field to knock in Hoffman.
The Bulldogs tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Clark reached first on an error by the Cyclone shortstop before Hoffman singled to center field. With runners on first and second, Southern singled to left field to load the bases. West then roped a shot into center field that allowed Hoffman and Clark to score. Bernal reached base on a fielder's choice and pushed West to second while freshman outfielder Daisy Gaynor, who came in to pinch run for Southern, was out at home plate trying to advance on the play. Lewis then singled to right center to score West from second.
In the sixth, Fresno State added a pair of runs. With one out, Ing beat out an infield single to short. Clark then followed with her second home run of the weekend with a long blast to left field.
The Bulldogs tallied eight runs on 12 hits and committed one error while Iowa State was held to one run on three hits and had three errors.
Fresno State will play next weekend in San Diego at the 13th Annual Campbell/Cartier Tournament in Poway, Calif., at the Sportsplex USA. The Bulldogs will square off against Central Florida and No. 4 Michigan on Friday, Feb. 14. The next day, Fresno State will tangle with Kansas and Oregon before closing out the tournament on Sunday, Feb. 16, against New Mexico.
