Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
San Jose State
No. 14 Bulldogs Defeat San Jose State, 1-0
4/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 29, 2004
SAN JOSE, Calif. - The 14th-ranked Fresno State softball team had to dig deep into the latter part of the game to snap a two-game losing skid and the Bulldogs did just that when they posted a 1-0 Western Athletic Conference victory over San Jose State at Spartan Stadium.
The 'Dogs, who were held hitless through the first 5.1 innings of play, manufactured a run on three hits in the top of the sixth with two outs when freshman catcher Nichole Willis connected for a RBI single.
Sophomore right-hander Laura Ferreira was clutch in her performance in the circle today. She scattered six hits and shut the door on the Spartans when they threatened with one out or less in the third, fourth, fifth and seventh inning.
Ferreira struck out four and walked one to earn her 10th victory and fifth shutout win of the season.
San Jose State starting pitcher Carol Forbes allowed a run on three hits, walked one and struck out three while falling to 7-14 overall.
Willis, junior designated player Jamie Southern and junior first baseman Shasta Lewis each recorded a hit for the Bulldogs.
In the top of the sixth with one out, Lewis got the first hit of the game for the Bulldogs on a single to center field. After sophomore shortstop Christina Clark popped out to right field, Southern followed with a hit to center field before Willis singled to right field to score Lewis.
For SJSU, the Spartans went down 1-2-3 in the first two innings of play before challenging for the right to score first.
In the third, they led off with back-to-back hits. After the next Spartan sacrificed the runners up a base, the bases were loaded when the SJSU leadoff batter got on via a fielder's choice. Ferreira put the clamp on when she struck out the very next Spartan before getting the following batter out on a ground out.
The fourth mirrored the third when SJSU led off with two consecutive hits before advancing both runners on a sacrifice bunt. However, Ferreira induced the next Spartan into a pop up before fanning the final batter on a called third strike.
In the fifth with one out, leadoff batter Courtney Lewis singled to right field. After being sacrificed to second, Lewis tried to score on a base hit to left field by Elisa Barrios. Lewis, however, was called out at home after a strong throw from Bulldog left fielder Rachael Donaldson reached Willis in ample time.
In the seventh, Megan Delgado recorded a walk to lead off the inning. After being sacrificed to second, Delgado went to third on a ground out. However, Ferreira got the final batter out on a pop fly to center field to end the game.
