Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Loyola-Chicago (Campbell/Cartier Tournament)
No. 16 Bulldogs Open Tourney Play On Winning Side
2/20/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 20, 2004
POWAY, Calif. - Flexing its muscles early, No. 16 Fresno State was glad it did as the Bulldogs defeated Loyola-Chicago, 3-2, in the opening game at the 14th Annual Campbell/Cartier Tournament.
With junior left fielder and leadoff batter Porsha Finley sending the second pitch of the game well over the left field fence for an early 1-0 lead, the 'Dogs utilized three pitchers to stave off a hungry Ramblers team that opened their 2004 season this morning.
Fresno State collected a run in the first, second and third inning for a 3-0 lead before a two-out two-run home run by Loyola catcher Becky Marx in the bottom of the third got the Ramblers within one.
Hitless in the final four innings against Loyola starting pitcher Lindsey LaChiana, the Bulldogs were held to four hits and committed no errors. Loyola-Chicago, which chased Bulldog starting pitcher Laura Ferreira out of the game in the fourth, collected six hits and committed three errors.
Fresno State scored its second run in the top of the second when junior second baseman Leticia Pacheco led the inning off with a hit by pitch. Junior first baseman Shasta Lewis then sacrificed Pacheco to second. Senior center fielder Mitzi Ing drew a walk before freshman catcher Rachel Donaldson knocked in Pacheco on a RBI hit up the middle.
In the third, sophomore All-America shortstop Christina Clark walked before advancing to second on a single to center field by third baseman Veronica Green. With two outs and Clark on third and Green on second, Clark scored when Rambler shortstop Keilah Williams struggled in handling a sharply hit ball by Lewis.
Senior Lori Hoffman picked up her second win in as many appearances this season. Relieving Ferreira in the fourth with two outs, Hoffman induced the next batter into a groundout to end the threat. Hoffman went on to pitch 2.2 innings and allowed two hits before junior All-American Jamie Southern came into the circle and closed out the game in the bottom of the seventh with one out to earn her first save of the season.
The Bulldogs (5-1) will meet No. 20 Oregon (6-4) this evening at 5:30 p.m. The Ducks are coming off 5-2 victory this morning over Hawai'i.
