Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Texas (OSU/ Palm Springs)
`Dogs Beat Second Top 25 Team in Two Days
2/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 22, 2008
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - In the highest scoring game of the season for the Bulldogs, Fresno State fell early to No. 25 Texas but behind the pitching of Ashley Cox and Morgan Melloh and the Bulldog bats, the Bulldogs defeated the Longhorns for the first time in four years, 9-7. Fresno State improves to 7-2 on the season and Melloh earned her sixth win.
Desiree Williams hit a single to left field and stole second for Texas in the top of the first and Lauren Johnson hit a two run home run to right field to give the Longhorns the early 2-0 lead.
Tallie Thrasher then hit a solo home run to left field off of Nicole Angene which led coach Margie Wright to bring in Cox for her first appearance of the season. Cox got Texas to fly to left field and strike out to end the inning.
"I just came in knowing I had to get the job done. I really trusted my defense and knew they would be behind me," said Cox.
Cox struck out Torrey Schroeder, a family friend that she played three years against in high school. Cox played at Clovis West HS and Schroeder at Buchanan.
"When I pitched against Torrey, I really calmed down because I felt at home," added Cox.
The Bulldogs responded in the bottom of the second with three of their own. It started with a walk to Aja Scheuber and she moved to second with an infield single by Lindsay Milchovich. With one out, Brooke Phipps was hit by a pitch which loaded the bases.
Mallory Perkins was out at first on a fielders choice which scored Scheuber from third. A Haley Perkins double to left field cleared the bases and tied the game at three.
Fresno State took its first lead of the game in the bottom of third. Caitlin Stiglich doubled to right field then Andrea Ortega came in to pinch run for her. Ortega advanced to third on a sacrifice fly to right field by Jenna Cervantez. A Scheuber single to center scored Ortega from third.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Melloh replaced Cox on the mound. Cox with three innings and gave up one hit with three strikeouts and one walk.
Kelly Melone hit a triple to right field for Texas and Schroeder scored from first to tie it at four. Texas took the lead once again at 5-4 as Melone scored off a bloop single to right field by Crystal Saenz.
Mallory Perkins reached on an error by the pitcher in the bottom of the fourth and a Haley Perkins triple to right field scored Mallory Perkins from first to tie the game at five.
Fresno State took the lead for good in the bottom of the sixth. Melloh singled to left followed by a Phipps walk. Mallory Perkins reached first on a fielders choice which sent Phipps to second.
Haley Perkins, who was a home run shy of a cycle, hit an infield single to load the bases. A double to left by Haley Gilleland scored both Phipps and Mallory Perkins to give the Bulldogs the 7-5 lead.
A single by Stiglich scored two more and Fresno State would take a 9-5 lead, needing just three outs to earn the victory.
Down four runs, the Longhorns mounted a comeback as Desiree Williams hit a solo home run and then a single by Shelby Savony scored a runner from third to cut the lead to 9-7.
That is as close as Texas would get as Melloh struck out Schroeder to end the game.
Haley Perkins and Stiglich led the `Dogs with three hits a piece. Gilleland had a game-high two stolen bases.
Fresno State concludes play in the Palm Springs Classic hosted by Oregon State on Saturday morning as they play Long Island at 10:00 a.m. followed by a game with UMass at 12:30 p.m.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State softball team will play in the Palm Springs Tournament February 21-24. The next home game for the Bulldogs is a doubleheader Monday, February 25 at 6 p.m. against Eastern Michigan. February 25 is Monday Madness and general admission tickets are just $1 on game day.
