Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UC Riverside
Softball Blanks UC Riverside in Mercy Run-Rule Game
4/3/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 2, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State softball team picked up its third mercy run-rule victory on the year when the Bulldogs blanked UC Riverside, 8-0, in five innings.
Freshmen Christina Clark and Elizabeth Pierce combined for six of the team's eight RBI as the Bulldogs scored eight runs on 12 hits.
Clark, who plays shortstop, was perfect at the plate after going 3-3 with a run and two RBI. She connected for her ninth home run of the season when she blasted a two-run shot in the second. As the designated player, Pierce went 2-3 with a double and four RBI.
Sophomore All-America pitcher Jamie Southern tossed a three-hit shutout as she improved to 11-8 overall. She struck out eight and walked one while recording her sixth shutout victory. At the plate, she also had a perfect performance after going 3-3 with two runs and a RBI.
The Bulldogs scored all eight runs in the first two innings of play with four runs a piece, respectively.
In the first, Clark led the game off with a hard hit single to center field. Freshman third baseman Angelina Diaz reached on a fielder's choice after Clark was forced out at second. Junior right fielder Lori Hoffman singled to right field. With runners on first and second, Southern singled to right field to score Diaz as runners to put Bulldogs on the corners. Junior first baseman Shasta Lewis followed with a single to right field to load the bases. Pierce then unleashed a bases clearing double to left center for a 4-0 lead.
In the second, sophomore second baseman Leticia Pacheco led the inning off with a double to left center. Clark followed with a two-run home run to left field for her ninth long ball on the season. With two outs, Southern doubled to left center. Lewis was then walked. Pierce followed with a single to right field as Southern scored. Senior catcher Pam West, who was facing a new UCR pitcher, singled to right field to score Lewis.
UCR pitcher Jenell Jackson took the loss as she fell to 1-14 overall. In 1.2 innings of work, she allowed eight runs on nine hits while walking one and striking out one. Relief pitcher Kim Dillon came in and pitched 2.1 innings and allowed three hits to nine batters faced.
