Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Fordham
No. 12/14 Bulldogs Shutout Wisconsin
2/6/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 6, 2009
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - The No. 12 Fresno State softball team began the season with an impressive 5-0 shutout of Wisconsin at the Cathedral City Kick-Off Friday night before falling to Fordham 5-2. The Bulldogs are 1-1 on the season.
Game One:
Morgan Melloh continued where she left off in 2008 by pitching a complete game shutout and striking out 13 of the Wisconsin Badgers on the way to earning her first victory of the season.
Haley Gilleland and Andrea Ortega each had two hits for the Bulldogs and Ortega's three-run double in the bottom of the third gave the Bulldogs the lead for good.
Gilleland's double in the fourth would then score the final Bulldog runs. All five of Fresno State's runs came with two outs.
Between the end of the first inning to the third, Melloh stuck out six of seven batters faced.
Game Two:
Freshman Michelle Moses then got her first start in the circle in game two after starting at first base in game one. Moses struck out the first three Ram batters in the bottom of the first. She would end the night with eight strikeouts.
Ortega picked up where she left off in game one with an infield single to third base in her first at bat in the second inning. Nicole Angene would then walk but the Bulldogs would not get a run across.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, Fordham would hit a double to center field to take a 1-0 lead. Moses would then strikeout the next Ram batter, her fourth of the game.
With two outs in the top of the third, Gilleland hit a stand-up double to left field. Caitlin Stiglich would tie the game with a single to left center and advance to third on the throw as Gilleland scored from second.
Fordham would take a 3-1 lead with a two-RBI double in the bottom of the third.
Angene would hit a double in the top of the fourth and Kaylan Pollard would pinch run for her. Ryane Petersen would pinch hit and on an error reach first and score Pollard from third to cut the score to 3-2.
In the top of the sixth, the Bulldogs had two on and one out and would get the bases loaded but were unable to capitalize, heading into the bottom of the sixth still down 3-2.
A Fordham two-run home run would give the Rams a 5-2 lead. Fordham would retire the Bulldogs 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh and hand the Bulldogs their first loss of 2009.
Freshman Jody Badorine got her first start in left field.
The Bulldogs take on Liberty at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday followed by a meeting with No. 13/16 Houston at 6 p.m. The Houston game can be heard live on www.gobulldogs.com on the radio. Gametracker might not be available for both games depending on technical difficulties that we were having tonight.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The Fresno State softball team continues play in Cathedral City Kick-off on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. vs. Liberty. The `Dogs' home opener is Thursday, February 26 against Utah Valley. First pitch at Bulldog Diamond is scheduled for 6:00 pm. Season tickets, mini plans and single game tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
