Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Pacific
No. 19/16 Softball Escapes with Sweep Over Pacific
4/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 7, 2005
STOCKTON, Calif. - Despite costly hiccups, the No. 19/16 Fresno State softball team came away with a sweep over Pacific after escaping with a 7-6 win over Pacific in the night cap.
The Bulldogs, who had a 7-3 lead going into the bottom of the seventh, survived a three-run rally from the Tigers as freshman left-hander Amanda Nesbitt recorded the win and reliever Laura Ferreira picked up her first collegiate save.
Collecting seven runs on eight hits with four errors, Fresno State trailed early when Pacific, which scored six runs on eight hits and had one error, jumped out to a 1-0 lead after two innings of play.
Fresno State bounced back and tallied six runs in the third before adding its final run in the fifth.
However, Pacific chipped away at the Bulldogs lead as it scored a run in the fourth and fifth inning. The Tigers would not go away either as they plated three runs in the bottom of the seventh.
Nesbitt improved to 6-4 overall after yielding five runs (three earned) on six hits while walking one and striking out two in 6.0 innings of work. While Nesbitt faced on batter in the seventh and that Tiger reached on a fourth Bulldog fielding error, Ferreira gave up two hits and a run in three batters faced. While there was one out and a runner on first, Ferreira stood firm as she recorded a strikeout and induced a come backer to end the game.
Pacific starter Alyce Jorgensen took the loss and fell to 7-8 overall after giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits with five walks in 3.1 innings. Reliever Kristen Allen allowed one run on four hits and walked one and struck out one in the final 3.2 innings.
Pacific jumped out to an early 1-0 lead on a home run by second baseman Lizzie Hagen in the second inning.
In the top of the third, Fresno State got a two-run double from sophomore left fielder Rachael Donaldson, a RBI single from senior centerfielder Kristy Villasenor and a two-run single from junior All-American Christina Clark, who posted her 200th career hit.
In the fourth, UOP scored a run on a bases loaded fielding error by Clark, who tried to corral a juggling ball. In the fifth, the Tigers got their third run on a solo home run by first baseman Jennifer Curtier.
In the fifth with one out, Clark made amends by connecting for her 10th home run of the season down the left field line. The home run was No. 48 of her career, a mark that now ranks No. 21 in NCAA Division I history.
Pacific (18-17) kept the pressure on the Bulldogs in their final three at bats. While the first Tiger reached on a dropped ball at first base by second baseman Jenna Cervantez, Pacific used its extra life by stringing together a double and a single for a run before Fresno State got the first out in the bottom of the seventh. Ferreira then gave up a two-run single to designated player Michelle Annunciation before getting the final two Tigers out.
Fresno State (26-8) will be back in action next Wed., April 13, 6:00 p.m. against UNLV as the Bulldogs begin an eight game home stand.
