Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Wisconsin
Stiglich Grand Slam Powers `Dogs Past Badgers
2/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 28, 2009
LAKEWOOD, Calif. - Caitlin Stiglich went four-for-four with two home runs, including a grand slam, the first by a Bulldog since the 2005 season as No. 12 Fresno State defeated Wisconsin 12-3 in five innings in the Bulldogs second game of the night at the Mayfair Tournament in Lakewood, Calif. Fresno State fell in game one, 1-0 to Iowa State. The Bulldogs are 8-4 on the season.
Game One
In the first meeting between Iowa State and Fresno State since 2005, Iowa State got the best of the Bulldogs for the Cyclones first-ever win over Fresno State in four tries.
Morgan Melloh started for the Bulldogs in the circle and struck out two in the bottom of the first. Caitlin Stiglich would throw out Kelsey Kidwell trying to steal second to end the inning. It would be the first of two batters on the night that Stiglich would catch trying to steal.
In the fourth to lead off the top of the inning, Amanda Bradberry would strike out and swing at a ball in the dirt but the throw by Stiglich to Michelle Moses at first went past the Bulldog first baseman and thus make Bradberry safe at first. Melloh did get credit for the strikeout and would strikeout the side so ended with four strikeouts in the inning and nine in the game. Melloh now has 527 strikeouts in her career and ranks No. 8 on the Bulldog career strikeout list and is just nine away from the No. 7 spot and Lori Romeiro's record.
It was a pitchers duel on both sides as Haley Perkins got the first hit of the game for either team in the top of the fourth inning as she hit an infield single off of Cyclones pitcher Charissa Carlin.
In the top of the sixth, Perkins would be hit by a pitch, and Haley Gilleland would single to left field for the `Dogs second and final hit of the game.
Melloh would have a no-hitter in the bottom of the seventh with two outs and a 0-0 game before giving up a single to Iowa State catcher Alex Johnson. Jonshon would score the only run of the game off of a single to right field by Courtney Wray and Iowa State would earn the 1-0 victory.
Carlin improved to 7-3 on the year and Iowa State is 14-5. Fresno State fell to 7-5 after the game and Melloh dropped to 5-3 in the circle.
Game Two
Fresno State came out swinging and had a new season-high in hits in a game with 10 as they would defeat Wisconsin 12-3 in five innings.
A triple by Haley Perkins led off the game. It would be her first triple of the season but the 11th of her career as she is now tied with Amber Wall at No. 9 on the Bulldogs career list.
Gilleland would reach on a fielder's choice and Stiglich would hit a three-run home run to left field to give the Bulldogs a 3-0 lead in the first with no outs.
Leah Vanevenhoven would replace Kristyn Hansen in the circle with one out for the Badgers. Hansen would give up four runs on three hits in the first and take her first loss of the season.
The `Dogs would get one more run in the first as Nicole Angene would ground out but score Lisamarie Coronado from third.
The second inning would be the only inning in the game the `Dogs didn't score but they came right back in the third and extended their lead.
Stiglich led off the inning with an infield single. She would end with four hits, two runs and seven RBI's in the game. A Wisconsin error would send Moses to first. Coronado would then reach on a fielder's choice and Kaylan Pollard, who entered to pinch run for Stiglich, would reach third on the error.
A wild pitch by Vanevenhoven would score Pollard and then a single by Angene to right field would score Moses. Another infield single, this time by Mallory Perkins would bring in Coronado as the `Dogs took a 7-0 lead.
The fourth inning would see the Badgers get their first hit off of Bulldog starter Mackenzie Oakes who would pitch her third complete game and improve to 3-0 on the year. Wisconsin would fight back to get three in the fourth, two off of errors by the Bulldogs.
"The fourth inning was tough," Oakes said. "Overall thought I felt more in control then normal and felt good."
Fresno State would get a run back in the bottom of the fourth as Gilleland and Stiglich would get back-to-back singles to lead off the inning. Gilleland reached third on a fly out to right by Moses and then Ryane Petersen would hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Gilleland for an 8-3 lead.
The Bulldogs would end the game in the bottom of the fifth due to the eight-run rule as they scored four runs in the inning.
Mallory Perkins reached on an error followed by a single by her cousin Haley Perkins in the infield. A wild pitch would advance both runners before Gilleland reached first on a fielder's choice.
With the bases loaded, Stiglich hit her second home run of the game, this time a grand slam to center field for the 12-3 victory. It was the third home run of the season for Stiglich and the first grand slam of her Bulldog career. It was also the first home run by a Bulldog since Christina Clark (hit two) and Rachael Donaldson in 2005.
"The first home run I wasn't really thinking anything just that both of the Haley's started it off well so I wanted to keep it going," Stiglich said. "The last one, I was hoping Haley would get on because I knew the bases would be loaded and the pitcher would have to throw to me and I was feeling good in the game."
This was the second win over the Badgers this season who drop to 5-12 on the year.
Fresno State concludes play in the Mayfair Tournament hosted by Long Beach State at Mayfair Park on Sunday with games at 1 and 3 p.m. vs. Cal State Northridge and Long Beach State. Both games can be found live on gametracker and heard live on www.gobulldogs.com.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs' host the Bayer CropScience Classic Thursday-Sunday March 5-8 at Bulldog Diamond. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
