Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UC Davis
`Dogs Rally in Eighth for Sweep
3/24/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 24, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - It took another exciting rally at Bulldog Diamond but the No. 23 Fresno State softball team defeated UC Davis 2-1 in eight innings after shutting out the Aggies 3-0 in game one of the non-conference doubleheader on Tuesday night. The `Dogs improved to 19-12 on the season and head to Las Cruces, N.M. for a Western Athletic Conference series vs. New Mexico State beginning Friday.
Fresno State is now a perfect 7-0 against UC Davis all-time and rides a season-high five game winning streak and an eight-game winning streak at Bulldog Diamond.
Game One
Bulldog sophomore Morgan Melloh reached another huge plateau with her 200th strikeout of the season against the Aggies leadoff batter in the game. Melloh had 11 total in game one and picked up her 13th victory on the season allowing five hits, no runs and no walks in the complete game shutout.
The `Dogs got all three runs the first inning. The Haley's led it off as both Haley Perkins and Haley Gilleland reached on errors by the UC Davis shortstop. They both then stole a base, the 26th of her career for Perkins and 28th for Gilleland, moving them both up in the career stolen base record books.
A double then by Ryane Petersen, her first of the year, scored both runners for a 2-0 lead. Those were also the first two RBI's of the season for the sophomore designated player.
Nicole Angene singled next, one of two hits in the game for her as Moses scored for the 3-0 lead.
Gilleland stole her second base of the night in the second inning.
Moses also had two hits in the game as the `Dogs tallied six total off of UC Davis pitcher Jessica Hancock who picked up the loss.
Game Two
The second game of the doubleheader was silent with few hits spread out between the first seven innings. Freshman Mackenize Oakes went 7.1 innings in the circle, allowing five hits and the only UC Davis run in the eighth but earned the no decision. Melloh would pick up her second win of the night and her 14th on the season as she pitched 0.2 innings and allowed one hit and struck out one Aggie batter.
The `Dogs tallied seven hits off of Alex Holmes from UC Davis who allowed both runs earned in the eighth.
It was the fifth extra-inning game of the season for the `Dogs but the first without using the international tie-breaker rules.
UC Davis tried to get on the board in the fifth by being aggressive on the bases but Bulldog catcher Caitlin Stiglich threw out two Aggie runners trying to steal bases in the inning.
Fresno State was also aggressive as Angene hit her fifth double on the year, a team-high, in the bottom of fifth. Brooke Phipps also stole her second base of the year.
The Bulldogs defense saved the game in the top of the seventh. A one-out single by Holmes for the Aggies in the top of the seventh to right center started the Aggies offensive attack. Kelly Harman then lined out to Perkins at second who doubled up Holmes at first to end the inning.
Both teams got to the opposing pitchers in the eighth. Marissa Araujo doubled for UC Davis and scored off of a hit by Sarah Axelson as the Aggies took the 1-0 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
"Our defense came up clutch in the eighth by minimizing it to just one run," head coach Margie Wright said. "I was very proud of the defensive play of the whole team. Our fielding was great and no ground balls really got past us today."
With one out in the eighth, Mallory Perkins walked and Haley Perkins reached on an error by the second baseman which allowed both runners to advance into scoring position.
Gilleland hit an infield single to third base and outran the throw to load the bases.
The second pitch to Caitlin Stiglich hit her in the back to bring in Mallory Perkins from third for the tying run.
Moses then drilled a ball to left center to send Haley Perkins home for the winning run.
It was the second such rally for the `Dogs this season at home, as they defeated No. 9 Cal in the final game of the Bayer CropScience Classic with a rally in the bottom of the seventh.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs' travel to Las Cruces to battle the Aggies of New Mexico State March 27-28. The `Dogs return to Bulldog Diamond Friday, April 3 as they host Hawai'i at 6 pm. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
