Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Texas State (Fiesta Bowl Tournament)
Bulldogs Edged by Texas State in Night Cap
2/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 13, 2004
PHOENIX - No. 23 Fresno State dropped the night cap, 5-4, to Texas State at the Fiesta Bowl Tournament but not without a little pop and some clutch hitting.
The Bulldogs, who fell to 1-1 on the season, hit two home runs and collected a double after scoring four runs on nine hits. Texas State, which improved to 6-0 on the season, picked up five runs on 11 hits while connecting for a solo shot.
As the visiting team for the second straight game, Fresno State got on the board first. In the top of the first inning with one out, junior right fielder Jamie Southern and sophomore shortstop Christina Clark connected for back-to-back home runs for an early 2-0 lead.
However, Texas State answered right back with a solo shot by second baseman Katie Bard in the bottom of the frame off Bulldogs' sophomore right-hander Laura Ferreira.
The Bobcats, who lost to Texas at the NCAA Regional championship game a year ago and has received votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Top 25 poll, took a 3-2 lead after scoring two runs in the bottom of the third. With two outs, third baseman Brittany Hodge roped a 2-run double to right center.
Fresno State took a 4-3 lead after six innings of play. In the top of the sixth, junior second baseman Leticia Pacheco was hit by pitch to lead the inning off. Junior first baseman Shasta Lewis then doubled down the left field line. With runners on second and third, senior center fielder Mitzi Ing tied the game with a RBI single to center field as Pacheco scored. Sophomore third baseman Veronica Green came into the game to pinch hit for freshman catcher Rachel Donaldson and hit a deep fly to center field to score Lewis.
Ferreira, who held the Bobcats at bay since the fourth inning, allowed a leadoff single to leadoff batter and center fielder Kristen Zaleski to start the seventh. After inducing Bard into a pop up caught by Green, catcher Rachael Bonetti connected for a hit into right center before moving up to second on a throw home. With runners on second and third, junior pitcher Amanda Wolf came into the game with two inherited runners. On the second pitch delivered by Wolf, first baseman Hannah Snow hit a bleeder up the middle for the winning run.
Ferreira, who took the loss, was tagged for all five runs after allowing 10 hits, two walks while striking out seven. After posting a 34-9 record a year ago, Texas State's Nicole Neuerburg improved to 4-0 this spring after giving up four runs, walking two and striking out 10.
The Bulldogs have two games tomorrow with Western Michigan at 8:30 a.m. (PST) and Syracuse (1:00 p.m. (PST).
