Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Houston (Bingham Toyota Classic)
Bingham Toyota Classic Concludes, `Dogs Finish Second
3/9/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 9, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - After winning 14 straight games and being a perfect 11-0 at home on the season, the Fresno State Bulldogs met their match on the final day of the Bingham Toyota Classic. The No. 21 Bulldogs, now 22-4 on the season, fell in a tough 3-0 game to No. 14 ranked Houston, the highest ranked opponent for the Bulldogs this season.
Fresno State, Houston and DePaul finished in a third-way tie for first at 5-1, in the four-day tournament hosted by the Bulldogs. Due to tiebreaker rules, the winner was decided by run differential. With a +18 advantage, Houston won the 2008 Bingham Toyota Classic. Fresno State would finish second and DePaul would be third. Cal Poly would finish fourth at 2-3, Sacramento State would be fifth at 1-3, Santa Clara sixth at 1-4 and Rhode Island seventh at 0-6.
Morgan Melloh got the start for the Bulldogs, and despite striking out eight, she lost only her second game of the year, and is now 13-2 on the season. Melloh has 13 complete games on the season.
Angel Shamblin, the tournament MVP for the Cougars, went seven innings and struck out 10. She held the hot-hitting Bulldogs, who had 16 runs in 10 innings yesterday in two wins, to just five hits today.
Houston scored all three of its runs in the top of the third, after a walk by Christa Raley started the inning. She would advance to second on a sacrifice bunt and then to third on a single by Haley Valis. Raley would score the first run of the game on a wild pitch.
All-tournament team catcher Elaina Nordstrom would hit a two-run shot to left field off of Melloh for the 3-0 score.
Haley Perkins, an all-tournament selection for the Bulldogs had two hits tonight. She hit .333 in the tournament with a triple and six total hits.
Fresno State would leave five runners on base on the night.
Houston is now 21-3 on the year and Shamblin is 10-1.
No. 16 DePaul defeated No. 14 Houston 5-3 and Cal Poly 3-2 and Cal Poly defeated Santa Clara 8-3 on the final day of the tournament.
2008 Bingham Toyota Classic All-Tournament Team
MVP - Angel Shamblin - Houston - Pitcher - Junior
Houston - Elaina Nordstrom - Senior - Catcher
Fresno Sate - Haley Perkins - Junior - 3B
Santa Clara - Jackie Morales - Senior - Pitcher
Cal Poly - Anna Cahn - Freshman - Pitcher
DePaul - Sandy Vojik - Senior - Utility
Sacramento State - Teri Ann Caoagan - Senior - 1B/3B
Rhode Island - Melissa Wilson - Sophomore - Catcher
The Bulldogs will look for revenge against Houston on Tuesday as the Cougars remain in town for a doubleheader beginning at 5 p.m. at Bulldog Diamond.
