Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Virginia
No. 15 Bulldogs Defeat Virginia, 3-1
3/9/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 9, 2004
FRESNO, Calif. - All eyes were focused on Jamie Southern in game one between No. 15 Fresno State and Virginia. The junior All-America pitcher, who posted her 70th career win last night, became Fresno State's and the Western Athletic Conference's all-time strikeout leader when she fanned the fifth batter of the game to give her career No. 852.
Finishing with 10 on the evening, Southern came into tonight needing two strikeouts as she surpassed four-time All-American and 2000 USA Olympic softball alternate Amanda Scott (851, 1997-2000).
Giving up her first earned run in the last 49.2 innings, Southern scattered six hits and walked two as she improved to 11-1 overall.
The Bulldogs' offense came from a RBI double by junior second baseman Leticia Pacheco and a two-run home run by sophomore All-America shortstop Christina Clark.
However, Virginia struck first with a run in the fourth. Center fielder Jessica Taylor led off by beating out an infield hit. Sacrificed to second, catcher Jenn Wynn singled to left center to score Taylor.
Fresno State, which tallied six hits that included four doubles, answered back with a run in the bottom half of the frame. With one out, freshman catcher Nichole Willis doubled to right center. Pacheco then followed with a double to left field to score Willis.
The Bulldogs tacked on two more in the fifth. Junior first baseman Shasta Lewis led the inning off by reaching first base safely on a Cavalier fielding error. After freshman left fielder Rachel Donaldson flied out to right field, Clark then homered to left field.
Virginia pitcher Joanna Barstad took the loss as she fell to 4-3 overall after giving up three runs, one walk and striking out two.
