Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Pacific
Softball Drops Night Cap to Pacific
4/8/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 8, 2003
STOCKTON, Calif. - Scoring the first run in a game has been the ace in the hole for the Fresno State softball team this season as the Bulldogs have gone 17-1. But the odds turned against the 'Dogs as the dropped a 2-1 decision to Pacific in the night cap of the non-conference doubleheader.
Putting a run on the board after one inning of play, the Bulldogs maintained a 1-0 lead until the bottom of the fourth when Pacific tied the game. The Tigers went on to score the winning run the very next frame when the Bulldogs failed to get out of a 2-out situation.
Freshman shortstop Christina Clark led the game off with a double down the left field line. Freshman third baseman Angelina Diaz sacrificed Clark to third. Junior right fielder Lori Hoffman then followed with a sharp chopper just past the UOP second baseman to score Clark.
Freshman right-hander Laura Ferreira held the Tiger bats at bay for the first three innings. In the top of the fourth, Ferreira allowed a leadoff walk to bite her back when center fielder Estee Okumura hit a one-out double to left center to tie the game.
After getting the first two batters out in the fifth, Ferreira allowed three straight singles and a walk before senior right-hander Leslie Poole came in to relieve the freshman.
Third baseman Kristen Allen, who committed the error in game one, came through in game two with a RBI single to right field for the game-winning hit.
Poole, who pitched 1.1 innings of hitless ball with one strikeout, got out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth to keep Fresno State within one.
Fresno State, which stranded eight Bulldogs, had a runner on base in every inning of the game.
With the Bulldogs totaling three doubles in the game, Diaz and Hoffman each had two hits for the 'Dogs while Clark, freshman designated player Elizabeth Pierce and junior center fielder Mitzi Ing each had one.
Ferreira took the loss and fell to 2-3 overall after giving up two runs (both earned), two walks and striking out three in 4.2 innings. Tiger pitcher Jennifer Dacre improved to 10-7 as she gave up one run (earned) and walked two.
The Bulldogs (21-18, 2-2 WAC) resume Western Athletic Conference play this weekend when the 'Dogs travel to Louisiana Tech on Thur., April 10, 5:00 p.m. (CDT) and Tulsa on Sat., April 12, 1:00 p.m. (CDT).
