Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Louisiana Tech
No. 18/17 Softball Shuts Out Louisiana Tech, 6-0
4/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 30, 2005
RUSTON, La. - The No. 18/17 Fresno State softball team powered its way to a 6-0 victory over Louisiana Tech when the Bulldogs hit a trio of two-run home runs in the first game of the Western Athletic Conference doubleheader.
Senior All-America pitcher Jamie Southern threw a three-hit shutout, walked two and struck out six to improve to 21-3 overall. Notching her 14th shutout of the year, Southern also became the school's all-time career leader in shutouts as she threw her 74th, surpassing Bulldog All-American Terry Carpenter.
With 74 career shutouts, Southern now is tied for No. 4 all-time in NCAA Division I history with Sarah Dawson (La.-Monroe and current Louisiana Tech head coach) and Lisa Fernandez (UCLA). Only three other Division I hurlers have thrown more than 74 shutout victories.
Fresno State, which scored six runs on eight hits, put together a four-run fifth before tacking on its final two in the seventh.
In the fifth with one out, senior centerfielder Kristy Villasenor reached on a base hit to deep short. Junior All-America shortstop Christina Clark drove a 1-0 pitch over the left center field fence for her 12th home run of the season. The long ball also was Clark's 50th of her career as she moved up to No. T22 all-time in NCAA Division I history. Southern then singled down the left field line as pinch runner Katrina Jacques came in to run. After sophomore catcher Nichole Willis grounded out, Jacques advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior third baseman Leticia Pacheco then drove a 3-2 pitch over the left center field fence for her second of the season to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 lead.
In the seventh, Clark was walked to lead off the inning. Southern answered with her ninth home run of the year when she drove the second pitch she saw a over the left center field fence.
Louisiana Tech starter Lindsey Meadows took the loss and fell to 13-24 overall after allowing six runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out one.
