Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
California
No. 12 Bulldogs Season Ends in Regional Championship
5/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 18, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State needed two victories on Sunday vs. Cal to advance to the NCAA Super Regionals and after earning a 3-2 win in game one and overcoming a 5-0 deficit in game two to tie the game at 6-6, the Bulldogs' season ended with a 7-6 loss in nine innings on Sunday night in the Fresno Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
Game One
Haley Perkins reached on an error followed by Haley Gilleland getting hit by a pitch. Caitlin Stiglich then reached first on an infield single to load the bases with no outs in the bottom of the first.
On the 13th pitch of the at bat, Aja Scheuber hit a single to center to score two, for a 2-0 Bulldog lead.
With two outs and no runners on, Cal would load the bases and tie the game in the top of the fifth at 2-2.
The Bulldogs would get a run back in the bottom of the fifth after Scheuber walked and scored on a single to center by pinch hitter Lisamarie Coronado.
Morgan Melloh and Gilleland led the team with two hits a piece.
With the game one win, the Bulldogs handed Cal its first loss of the Regional and forced a deciding game seven.
Game Two
Cal was the visiting team in the Championship game and got an early run in the bottom for the first. They then hit a grand slam off of Morgan Melloh to left field in the bottom of the second for an early 5-0 lead.
After a Melloh single, Gilleland would hit a triple to right center to get the Bulldogs on the board in the top of the third and cut the lead to 5-1. Gilleland then scored from third on a foul pop out by Stiglich. It was 5-2 Bears after three.
Cervantez hit a double to lead off the fourth and was bunted to third by Andrea Ortega. She then scored off a single up the middle by Coronado for the third run of the game for the Bulldogs.
Cal added to its lead in the bottom of the fourth to make it 6-3, scoring on a wild pitch.
Perkins doubled down the left field line to lead off the top of the fifth and reached second on a single by Gilleland.
Marissa Drewrey was then replaced in the circle by Valerie Arioto.
A fielder's choice sent Scheuber to first and brought in Perkins from third to cut the Bear lead to 6-4.
Ortega then reached first on an error which brought in Gilleland for a 6-5 score.
In the top of the sixth, Melloh walked and Michelle Palazuelos would pinch run for her. Perkins then singled and GIlleland walked to load the bases with one out for the new Cal pitcher, Brittany LaRosa.
A wild pitch tied the game at 6-6 in the sixth. Drewrey would re-enter in the circle for the Bears.
Tied at 6-6, the game went to extra innings. Cal would get the bases loaded in the bottom of the eight but the Bulldogs were able to get out of the inning.
With a runner on third, Cal catcher Julie Meyer hit a single to left field to win the game 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth.
The Bulldogs end their season with a 54-13 record and Melloh with a 42-9 record.
Cal advances to the Super Regional in Gainesville, Florida next week vs. No. 1 Florida. To follow the NCAA Tournament log on to www.ncaasports.com.
Fresno All-Regional Team
Co-MVP - Morgan Melloh - Fresno State
Co-MVP - Gina Leomiti - Cal
Marissa Drewrey - Cal
Caitlin Stiglich - Fresno State
Jenna Cervantez - Fresno State
Megan McDonald -SDSU
Hillary Johnson - Sac St.
Aja Scheuber - Fresno State
Bernice Masaniai - Cal
Christina Ross - SDSU
Valerie Arioto - Cal
Haley Gilleland - Fresno State
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