Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Diego State (Clovis Auto Row Softball Classic)
No. 15 Bulldogs Grounded by San Diego State
3/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 11, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - The 15th-ranked Fresno State softball team shot itself in both feet when the Bulldogs could not muster a single ball into the air or keep its fielding clean as an unearned run ended up being all San Diego State needed in a 1-0 victory.
Opening tournament play in its own Clovis Auto Row Softball Classic, the 'Dogs were looking to get back on the winning track after being upset by Virginia two nights earlier.
The Aztecs claimed their run in the top of the second with two outs. Right fielder Bree Boyer led the inning off by painting a pitch down the left field line for the first hit of the game. Designated player Lacey Craft sacrificed Boyer to second before Bulldog starting pitcher Jamie Southern induced Bianca Cruz into a foul pop up near the visitor dugout; and that's when the scoring happened.
Junior first baseman Shasta Lewis, who caught Craft's foul ball, tried to catch Boyer going to third. However, the ball was launched over the head of sophomore third baseman Veronica Green and ricocheted off the Bulldogs' dugout before shooting into left field. Freshman left fielder Rachel Donaldson retrieved the ball and threw it home but the short hop could not be controlled by freshman catcher Nichole Willis as Boyer scored.
Fresno State had its best scoring chance in the fifth. Sophomore second baseman Leticia Pacheco led the inning off with a single through the left side. Senior center fielder Mitzi Ing answered with another single through the left side to put Bulldogs on first and second. Junior designated player Porsha Finley struck and Green struck out before Lewis reached safely on a fielding error by Cruz. With the bases loaded, sophomore All-America shortstop Christina Clark grounded out to Aztec third baseman Megan Hartung for the third time of the game to end the scoring threat.
Southern took the loss and fell to 11-2 overall despite throwing a three-hitter and striking out six. SDSU pitcher Cori Janelli also threw a three-hitter and struck out five to improve to 5-4 overall.
Fresno State (16-7) will look to break a two-game losing streak when it continues tournament play tomorrow with a 5:00 p.m. contest against Long Beach State and a 7:00 p.m. match up versus North Texas.
