Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UTEP
No. 14 Bulldogs Collect 4-2 Win Over UTEP
5/1/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 1, 2004
EL PASO, Texas - The 14th-ranked Fresno State softball team opened the month of May with a 4-2 Western Athletic Conference road win over UTEP at Tejanas Field.
With both teams tallying seven hits, the Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead before UTEP got within one. However, when the Miners scored late in the game the 'Dogs answered right back with one of its own when senior right fielder Lori Hoffman collected a sacrifice fly to give Fresno State a two-run cushion and eventual win.
Sophomore right-hander Laura Ferreira allowed two runs on seven hits while walking five and striking out six en route to her 11th victory of the year. Looking to find an area that would be to the liking of the home plate umpire during the game, Ferreira persevered as she got out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth before setting down the side in the seventh.
UTEP right-hander Renee DiPuccio took the loss as she gave up four runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts to go to 6-23 overall.
The Bulldogs scored a run in the first, third, fourth and seventh inning while the Miners recorded a pair in the sixth.
Striking first, sophomore All-America shortstop Christina Clark hit a monstrous home run to lead off the game. On a 2-1 pitch, Clark drove a shot three feet over the top of the 24-foot scoreboard in left center for her 19th home run of the year.
In the third, freshman catcher Nichole Willis hit a two-out RBI double to left center to score Clark, who had been walked to lead off the inning.
In the fourth with one out, sophomore third baseman Veronica Green singled to right center to score junior second baseman Leticia Pacheco, who was hit by pitch and went to second on a wild pitch.
In the fifth, UTEP threatened with it loaded the bases with one out. With three consecutive base hits and a strikeout, Ferreira struck out first baseman Jawauna Davis before inducing left fielder Laura Joiner into a ground out to end the scoring threat.
In the sixth with two outs, designated player Megan Whiteaker recorded a two-run single to right center to cut the Bulldogs' lead down to one at 3-2.
In the seventh, Clark led off with a walk. After junior designated player Jamie Southern popped out, Willis was hit by pitch. With Hoffman at the plate, Miner catcher Denise Emmons tried to pick off Clark at second but misfired as the ball went into center field as Clark and Willis moved up to third and second, respectively. On the next pitch, Hoffman hit a deep fly to right that allowed Clark to score.
In the game, Hoffman posted a multiple-hit game after going 2-3 with a RBI for the Bulldogs while shortstop and leadoff batter Kristen Hardy also notched a multiple-hit game after going 2-4 for the Miners. Clark, who scored three of Fresno State's four runs, Willis, Hoffman and Green eached picked up a RBI.
