Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Rhode Island
No. 22/17 Softball Defeats Rhode Island, 7-1
3/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 15, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. - Behind 11 hits, the No. 22/17 Fresno State softball team picked up a 7-1 win over visiting Rhode Island.
Reliever Laura Ferreira allowed just one hit over 4.2 innings and struck out a season-high seven to improve to 3-1 on the year. Rhode Island's starting pitcher Jamie Hughes took the loss and fell to 1-4 overall.
Sophomore catcher Nichole Willis went 4-4 with two runs and a RBI to pace the Bulldogs' offense. Senior third baseman Leticia Pacheco and freshman right fielder Lindsay Milchovich also had multiple hit games. Pacheco went 2-4 with two RBI while Milchovich went 2-3 with a RBI.
Fresno State scored a run in the first before adding two in the third, fifth and sixth inning. Rhode Island picked up its lone run in the third.
In the first, junior All-America shorstop Christina Clark reached safely on a Ram error to start the inning. Clark then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch before senior designated player Jamie Southern struck out swinging. Clark advanced home when the Rams catcher threw to first to ensure the out.
In the top of the third inning with one out, first baseman Courtney Wall collected a RBI single to right field as left fielder Nicole Haywood scored after getting on via a leadoff walk.
In the bottom of the third inning with one out, Willis singled up the middle and advanced to second base on a passed ball. Sophomore left fielder Rachael Donaldson was hit by pitch. With freshman first baseman Kristin Sylvester at bat, Willis was caught stealing at third for the second out. Sylvester drew a walk after Donaldson advance to third on a wild pitch. With runners on first and third, Pacheco tripled to center field to clear the bases.
In the fifth, Willis led off with a double to center field. After Donaldson grounded out, Sylvester doubled to left center to score Willis. With Sylvester advancing to third on a wild pitch before Pacheco grounded out, Milchovich doubled to left center to plate Sylvester.
In the sixth with one out, Southern singled to right center. Katrina Jacques came in to pinch run for Southern and advanced to second on a wild pitch and went to third on another wild pitch. Willis then singled to right field to knock in Jacques. While Willis advanced to second on an error by the Ram centerfielder, Donaldson then singled to left field to knock in Willis for the Bulldogs' seventh run.
