Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Cal Poly (Hedrick's Chevrolet Classic)
Softball Grinds Out Victory Over Cal Poly
3/7/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 6, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State softball team opened tournament play in its own Hedrick's Hallowell Chevrolet Classic with a 4-3, 9 inning victory over Cal Poly.
Grinding out a win was what it took as the Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead before Cal Poly evened the game at three a piece in the fourth. With the game knotted at 3-3 in the ninth and one out, freshman shortstop Christina Clark, who went 1-4 with two runs, a stolen base and a RBI, knocked in the winning run with a deep sacrifice fly to right field to score freshman third baseman Angelina Diaz from third base.
Sophomore All-America right-hander Jamie Southern (4-5) picked up the win in relief as she gave up one hit in 5.1 innings while walking one and striking out seven. She also became the fastest Bulldog pitcher to reach the 500-career strikeout plateau when she fanned a Mustang in the bottom of the sixth for the second out.
With 503 career strikeouts, Southern eclipsed the 500 mark in just 64 games and currently ranks No. 8 all-time in the school's recordbook. Four-time All-American Amanda Scott tallied her 500th-career strikeout in 94 games.
Besides Clark's knocking in the game-winner, junior right fielder Lori Hoffman went 3-5 with a run and a RBI while freshman designated player Elizabeth Pierce went 2-4 with two RBI.
Fresno State and Cal Poly combined for five errors and left 23 runners on base. The Bulldogs utilized the services of three pitchers while the Mustangs used two in the two and a half hour marathon.
The Bulldogs put a run up in the first and added two in the third as they were the visitors tonight.
With one out, freshman left fielder Nicole Shan singled to left field. Clark reached safely on a fielder's choice but forced out Shan. With Hoffman up at the plate, Clark stole second before Hoffman delivered a RBI single down the right field line.
In the third, Clark started the inning off with a single to left field. Hoffman reached safely on a fielder's choice and Clark was safe at second after an error by the Mustang shortstop. Senior catcher Pam West sacrificed the Bulldogs over a base before Pierce hit a one-out two-run double to left center.
Freshman right-hander Laura Ferreira was steady for the first three innings of play before Cal Poly rallied with three consecutive hits and a pair of Bulldog errors that lead to three runs. Sophomore right-hander Amanda Wolf was called upon next and the Texan faced four batters as she walked one and struck out one in 0.2 innings of work to set the stage for Southern.
Fresno State (5-8), winners of three straight and four out of the last five, continues tournament action tomorrow night with a 6:00 p.m. game against St. John's.
