Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Santa Clara (Bingham Toyota Classic)
No. 21/23 Bulldogs Win 14th Straight
3/8/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 8, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - The Bulldogs would pick up their 23rd win of the season and 14th straight with 8-0 wins in five innings over Rhode Island and Santa Clara on day three of the Bingham Toyota Classic at Bulldog Diamond. The 14-game winning streak is the best for a Fresno State team since the 2005 season.
Game 1
Fresno State defeated Rhode Island for the third time in three years as the Bulldogs beat the Rams 8-0 in five innings on day three of the Bingham Toyota Classic.
Haley Gilleland hit a single to center field and advanced to second on the play. She would steal third and score off another single to center field, this time by Jenna Cervantez to give the Bulldogs the 1-0 lead in the first.
The third straight single to center, this time by Caitlin Stiglich would put runners on first and second and Aja Scheuber would walk to set up a bases loaded situation for freshman Nicole Angene.
Cervantez would score from third on a passed ball and Stiglich and Scheuber would advance to second and third with a 2-0 lead.
Angene would hit an infield blooper over starting pitcher, Jill Anderson's head and Cervantez would score.
The Bulldogs would load the bases again with only one out on a single to center by Ashley White.
Starting Bulldog pitcher Ryane Petersen had her first hit of the year and first RBI with a blooper to right center to keep the bases loaded and score White from third. The Bulldogs took a 4-0 lead.
Right fielder Mallory Perkins would then hit a single to right of her own to bring in Angene as the Bulldogs would take the 5-0 lead after one. Seven Bulldogs had hits in the first inning alone.
Petersen would retire the Ram batters 1-3 just like the first inning. Fresno State would come out in the bottom of the second and Stiglich would reach first on an error then score from third off a single to right field by Angene, who would reach third on the play. Angene has hit in eight-straight games and she tied her career-high with three hits in the game.
White would hit a double to left to score Angene from third. At the end of the second, it was 7-0 Fresno State.
Gilleland would hit a bunt single in the bottom of the third with two outs and reach second on an error. She would then steal her ninth base of the season, a team-high. The Bulldogs would leave her on third.
Amanda Sbei would get the only hit of the game for the Rams, a single to center field, but would be caught stealing to end the top of the fourth.
Junior transfer Aubrey Fast made her first appearance of the season behind the plate as she entered in the top of the fifth to replace Stiglich.
Petersen had her second hit of game, a double to left field. Andrea Ortega would run for her and Mallory Perkins would hit her in from second to end the game in the fifth at 8-0.
Petersen made her second start of the year and improves to 2-0 on the season. It was her second complete game as she struck out three and allowed only one hit.
Game 2
Fresno State took on Santa Clara in game two of the day for the Bulldogs. In five, Fresno State would defeat the Broncos 8-0. Ashley Cox made her second appearance on the mound for the Bulldogs in two days, this time starting, her second start of the year and she would pick up her third win on the year.
The Bulldogs would strike early and score one run in the first off a Haley Perkins single to left center. She would advance to second on the play and advance to third on a sacrifice bunt by Cervantez. Perkins would score on wild pitch by the Broncos starting pitcher Jerrica Castagno.
Fresno State would add four runs to its lead in the bottom of the second. Angene would single to right field and eventually score off a single by Gilleland which also scored Phipps who was earlier hit by a pitch.
A single to center by Cervantez scored Gilleland and Perkins who singled to left field to make it 5-0 Fresno State.
Brooke Phipps and Lisamarie Coronado both scored unearned runs in the bottom of the third after Coronado reached on a fielder's choice and Phipps reached on an error and stole second.
The Bulldogs would end the game in the bottom of the fifth when Coronado scored off a single to right field by Gilleland. Fresno State would win its second game of the day 8-0 in five innings.
Cox gave up five hits and struck out one. Haley Perkins had three hits to lead the Bulldogs while Gilleland had three RBI's.
For more information on the Bingham Toyota Classic log on to the official tournament website: http://gobulldogs.cstv.com/sports/w-softbl/08bulldogclassic.html.
Sunday March 9th is National Championship Softball Day as the 1998 Fresno State softball team will be honored in a special pre-game ceremony. Deputy Mayor Jeff Eben will read the proclamation at that time and 11 members from the University's only National Championship will be on hand.
"Join the State- Fresno State!" - The Fresno State softball team finishes up play in the Bingham Toyota Classic on Sunday hosting No. 14 Houston at 3 p.m. The game can be heard live on 1430 ESPN Radio with Christian Lukens calling the action. For tickets log on to www.gobulldogs.com.
