Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Syracuse at ASU Stadium (Fiesta Bowl Tournament)
No. 23 Bulldogs Go Long Against Syracuse
2/14/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 14, 2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - No. 23 Fresno State made it a clean sweep on day two of the Fiesta Bowl Tournament after downing Syracuse, 6-3, to improve to 3-1 in tournament action.
After blanking Western Michigan, 3-0, in the morning, the Bulldogs' home run bats stayed alive and well as they banged out three this evening, including a grand slam by sophomore third baseman Veronica Green.
Not only did Green hit the 11th grand slam in Bulldog softball history but she managed to hit another home run in her very next at bat as well to post her first and second home runs of her young Bulldog career.
On a day that could make any player green for envy, she went 2-3 with two runs and five RBI as she racked up eight total bases for a 2.667 slugging percentage. With her second round tripper going as far as 240 feet to left center, Green is the latest Bulldog to hit a pair of home runs in a single game since sophomore All-America shortstop Christina Clark did the same against Long Island on March 18, 2003.
While Green spearheaded the long ball attack, in the circle senior Lori Hoffman tossed shutout ball in the final four innings of play to pick up her first win since her freshman year. Allowing two hits and striking out one, she relieved starter Amanda Wolf, who pitched 3.0 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) while striking out three.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second. Willis led off with a double to left center. Pacheco beat out an infield hit before junior first baseman Shasta Lewis drew a walk. With the bases loaded, Green lofted a 0-1 pitch to left for her first collegiate home run - a grand slam.
In the top of the fourth, the Orangewomen flexed their muscles as well. With the leadoff batter getting on by a Bulldog fielding error, shortstop Alexis Switenko lofted a 1-0 pitch to dead center to cut the deficit to 4-2. Designated player Cassie Morales followed suit when she took the very first pitch she saw off Wolf and just sneaked one out over the center field fence to pull Syracuse within one.
In the bottom of the frame, however, Green struck again as she drilled a 3-2 pitch to left center that not only cleared the six foot wall at ASU's Farrington softball stadium but the chain link fence behind it as the ball sailed an estimated 240 feet.
Fresno State added another insurance run in the fifth. With one out, junior designated player Jamie Southern roped a 2-1 pitch to left center for a 6-3 lead.
Fresno State, which collected eight hits while committing three errors, also saw freshman catcher Nichole Willis and junior second baseman Leticia Pacheco post multiple-hit games. Willis went 2-3 with a run and a double while Pacheco went 2-3 with a run.
Syracuse, which fell to 0-3 on the year, got three runs on five hits. Haley Larsen, who pitched 3.1 innings, took the loss and fell to 0-2 after allowing five runs on five hits with two walks and a strikeout.
Fresno State concludes tournament play tomorrow morning against No. 18 Texas A&M when the Bulldogs meet the Aggies at 7:15 a.m. (PST).
