Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Michigan (Judi Garman Classic)
Stiglich Powers `Dogs Past No. 6 Michigan
3/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 20, 2008
FULLERTON, Calif. -Freshman Caitlin Stiglich had three hits and four RBI's and was just a triple shy of the cycle as the No. 14 Fresno State softball team hung on to defeat No. 6 Michigan in the Bulldogs first game of the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif., Thursday afternoon 6-5 in seven innings.
Morgan Melloh struck out two Michigan batters in the first and left it up to her defense and bats to do the rest. Melloh allowed five runs on nine hits and struck out five and picked up her 16th win of the year as she is now 16-3 and the Bulldogs are 26-5, tied for the best start since the 1999 season.
The Bulldogs now lead the series with Michigan 7-3. It was Fresno States first win over the Wolverines since 2001.
Haley Gilleland got the first hit of the game in the bottom of the first with a single to right field for the Bulldogs.
Freshman catcher Caitlin Stiglich followed with a single to left field to put runners on first and second with one out.
The runners would advance on a passed ball and Gilleland would score on a fielder's choice which sent Stiglich to third and Aja Scheuber to first as the Bulldogs took the 1-0 lead.
An Ashley White single on the first pitch to left field would give the `Dogs a 2-0 lead and Stiglich scored from third.
Fresno State would leave two runners on but take the early lead.
Maggie Viefhaus would get the first hit of the game for Michigan in the top of the second to lead off the inning.
After a walk to Roya St. Clair, Teddie Ewing would hit a single to right field to bring in Viefhaus from second for the Wolverines first run of the game and would leave the bases loaded after a ground out to the Bulldogs third baseman White.
It was 2-1 after two innings of play.
With two outs, Haley Perkins would reach first on an error and Gilleland would hit a perfect bunt to advance Perkins and reach first.
Stiglich would double, her eighth of the year, to right field to clear the bases as the Bulldogs took the 4-1 lead.
Lisamarie Coronado would get her first hit of the game to lead off the bottom of the fourth with an infield single. Michelle Palazuelos would pinch run and reach third on two sacrifice bunts. With two outs, Stiglich would hit her seventh home run, a two run shot to left field to give the Bulldogs the 6-1 lead.
Molly Bausher and Alessandra Giampaolo would get back-to-back hits for Michigan in the top of the fifth. Bausher would score from second off a single to center field by Angela Findlay.
With one out, Dorian Shaw hit a solo home run to right center field to cut the Bulldog lead to 6-3 in the top of the sixth. It was just the third home run of the year given up by Melloh.
With two runners on and two outs, Giampaolo would hit a bloop double to center field to clear the bases. Michigan would cut the lead down to 6-5.
Michigan would get one on base in the top of the seventh but a pop fly to Perkins at second base gave the Bulldogs the win.
Jordan Taylor, a freshman from Valencia, Calif., recorded the loss for Michigan, just her second of the year as she is now 12-2 and Michigan falls to 22-3.
The Bulldogs will take on Utah tonight at 8 p.m. on field two.
Utah is 14-13 while defeating Cal State Fullerton last weekend and falling to No. 25 Long Beach State at the San Diego Classic II. They also fell to Texas A&M and defeated San Diego at the tournament. Wednesday night they fell 3-0 to No. 1 Arizona State in the first game of the Judi Garman Classic. Fresno State holds a 34-10 advantage over Utah, winning the last 15 meetings dating back to 1997. The last meeting was a 1-0 Bulldog victory in 2006.
All games can be viewed live on gametracker at www.gobulldogs.com. For complete tournament information visit: http://fullertontitans.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/2008-judi-garman-classic.html.
"Join the State- Fresno State!" - For tickets log on to www.gobulldogs.com or call (559) 278-DOGS.
