Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Ohio State
No. 14 Bulldogs Defeat Ohio State, 1-0
3/26/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - The 14th-ranked Fresno State softball team picked up a 1-0 win over visiting Ohio State in the first game of a non-conference doubleheader at Bulldog Diamond.
The Bulldogs made their lone run stand up after scoring in the first on a RBI single by freshman catcher Nichole Willis.
Junior All-America pitcher Jamie Southern tossed her third two-hitter of the year after striking out nine. With the nine strikeouts, she moved up to No. 23 all-time in career strikeouts on the NCAA Division I level. Improving to 18-5 overall with 14 shutouts, Southern is eight strikeouts shy of sharing the No. 21 spot with former UCLA All-American Debbie Doom (952, 1982-85).
Ohio State pitcher Kristi DeVries took the loss and fell to 6-5 overall after allowing a run on four hits with three walks and nine strikeouts.
In the first with one out, Southern drew a walk before senior designated player Lori Hoffman beat out an infield single. With runners on first and second, Willis looped a single into right center as Southern scored.
Ohio State got one runner past second when a Buckeye got to third base in the top of the third. After shortstop Jennifer Johnson led the inning off by reaching first safely on a dropped fly ball by Bulldog left fielder Rachel Donaldson, center fielder Meghan Rowlands sacrificed Johnson to second. Leadoff batter and left fielder Megan Schwab then grounded out to move Johnson to third. However, Southern struck out Buckeye speedster and second baseman Nycole Koyano to end the threat.
