Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nebraska (Kia Klassic)
Softball Breaks Out With Victory Over No. 3 Nebraska
3/14/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 14, 2003
FULLERTON, Calif. - The Fresno State softball team broke out with a big win this afternoon as the Bulldogs notched a 7-3 victory over No. 3 Nebraska in the final game of pool play at the Kia Klassic.
Recording its first Top 25 win of the season, the 'Dogs went 1-2 in Pool B play and finished as the No. 2 seed based on runs scored differential.
Notching seven runs on nine hits while committing one error, Fresno State set the tone early as the Bulldogs scored a run in the top of the first.
Freshman shortstop Christina Clark opend the game with a double to left center off Nebraska's hurler Peaches James. After freshman third baseman Angelina Diaz fouled out to the catcher, junior right fielder Lori Hoffman flied out center field to advance Clark to third. Sophomore left fielder Jamie Southern then took a 2-1 pitch up the middle to score Clark.
The Cornhuskers, who scored three runs on nine hits and had one error, answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the frame. With two outs, shortstop Amanda Buchholz hit a solo home run to center field to tie the game at 1-1
In the top of the third, Fresno State put together a three-run frame. Sophomore second baseman Leticia Pacheco started the inning off at first base after being hit by pitch. James then got Clark to hit into a double play. With two outs, Diaz beat out an infield single to third base. Hoffman then walked before Southern, who hit her third home run in two days, lifted an 0-2 count to left field for a 3-1 lead.
Nebraska answered back with two runs in the bottom half. With two outs, left fielder/pitcher Lisa Wangler lined a ground-rule double to right center. Buchholz reached first base on a hit by pitch before first baseman Nicole Trimboli singled to center to score Wangler. Junior centerfielder Mitzi Ing fielded Trimboli's shot and the ball got past Ing and rolled to the fence, which allowed Buchholz to score. Poole then got catcher Amber Burgess to ground out to Clark to end the inning.
In the fourth, the Bulldogs pulled ahead for a 7-3 lead and eventual win as they tallied three more runs. Junior first baseman Shasta Lewis led the inning off with a walk and was sacrificed to second by senior catcher Pam West. With Ing at the plate, Lewis advanced to third on a wild pitch. Ing then was hit by pitch to put Bulldogs on the corners. Pacheco followed with a hard hit shot to the Nebraska shortstop and reached first when the thrown ball went into the dirt at first base. Lewis went home on the pitch and scored for a 4-3 lead.
Nebraska brought in pitcher Summer Tobias to face Clark. With Ing on third and Pacheco on first with one out, Clark reached first base on a fielder's choice as Pacheco was forced out at second. With 'Dogs at the corners again, Diaz singled to left field to score Ing as the runners moved up. Hoffman then took a 1-1 pitch to right field to score Clark from second base.
Though recording a no-decision, senior right-handed pitcher Leslie Poole had a solid pitching performance as the Bulldogs' starter. Poole scattered seven hits and allowed three runs (one earned) while striking out four.
Freshman right-hander Laura Ferreira came into the game in the fourth and was very effective against the Huskers as she allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three in 4.0 innings. Ferreira picked up the win and improved to 2-2 on the year.
Diaz had a big day for the Bulldogs as she went 3-4 with a run and a RBI. Southern had four RBI for the Bulldogs as she went 2-4 with a run and a home run. Pacheco and Hoffman had the other two RBI for Fresno State.
Using three pitchers on the day, James took the loss for the Huskers as she fell to 8-3 on the year. James allowed seven runs (five earned) on four hits, walked two and struck out one. Summer allowed four hits in 1.2 innings of work while Wangler gave up one hit and struck out two in 2.0 innings of play.
Nebraska (15-4) finished pool play with a 1-2 mark and took the No. 3 seed while Notre Dame also went 1-2 in pool play and finished as the No. 4 seed. DePaul won Pool B with a 3-0 mark.
Fresno State (8-14) begins bracket play this evening and will face Hawai'i tonight at 7:00 p.m. The game only will be available on game tracker if the Bulldogs play UH on the main field.
