Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Georgia<BR>(NCAA Regionals)
Another Southern Gem Leads Softball Past Georgia 1-0
5/17/2003 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2003
FRESNO, Calif. - A bases loaded two-out RBI single in the top of the eighth by sophomore second baseman Leticia Pacheco breathed life into the Bulldogs and kept Fresno State's postseason hopes alive after the 'Dogs defeated No. 7 Georgia, 1-0 in eight innings, in an elimination game this morning.
The Bulldogs opened the eighth inning with consecutive hits from junior right fielder Lori Hoffman and freshman designated player Elizabeth Pierce. After senior catcher Pam West was out on strikes, junior first baseman Shasta Lewis lined a shot down the first base line, which ended up being deflected off of Georgia first baseman Kim Wendland's glove. Before the hard hit hugged the line, Lewis stayed alive in her at bat on a dropped foul ball by Georgia catcher Shannon McKeon. Freshman pinch runner Jamie Hamby, who came in for Hoffman, scored the winning run when Pacheco drilled a 2-2 pitch to left center with the bases loaded.
Prior to the game-winning hit by Pacheco, the two teams played scoreless ball through the first seven innings.
Fresno State, the No. 4 seed, had a scoring opportunity in the first when the Bulldogs got their first two batters on via a walk to freshman shortstop Christina Clark and a single to center by sophomore pitcher Jamie Southern.
In the top of the seventh with two outs, Clark was intentionally walked and stole second but was stranded to end the inning.
Georgia, the No. 2 seed, threatened in the sixth. The Bulldogs got a runner at second for the first time of the game when junior center fielder and lead off batter Nicole Barber led off with a single to left center. With one out, Barber stole second and went to third on a throwing error by West. Green then reached first safely on a fielder's choice but Barber, who was running on the play, was gunned down at the plate on an outstanding defensive exchange between Pacheco and West. Pacheco fielded Green's ball and rifled a shot to West, who had home plate completely blocked and tagged out Barber.
Southern (25-11) pitched a two-hitter as she walked three and struck out five. At the plate, she went 2-4. Hoffman (2-4) and Pacheco (2-4) also had multiple-hit games for Fresno State.
Georgia hurler Michelle Green (39-8) gave up one run (unearned) on nine hits while walking three and striking out seven. Barber (1-4) and Wendland (1-2, walk, double) had hits for UGA.
Barber, who is the catalyst for Georgia's offense, set the NCAA's career record in stolen bases with No. 197 in the bottom of the sixth when she snagged her 71st of the season.
Fresno State outhit Georgia, 9-2, while each team committed an error.
Tonight, Fresno State will play at 5:00 p.m. when the Bulldogs face the loser of the UCLA vs. Michigan State game.
