Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Hawai'i
Late Inning Heroics Lifts 'Dogs to 2-1 Victory
4/3/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 3, 2009
FRESNO, Calif. - On a night where "Hope" was the theme and emotions were high, the No. 22 Fresno State softball team put together another exciting rally, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh to defeat Hawai'i, 2-1, in Western Athletic Conference play. The 'Dogs (23-13, 6-1 WAC) remain in first place in the conference standings, having won nine out of their last 10, four-straight and nine-straight home games. Fresno State holds an impressive 12-2 record at home on the season.
Former Bulldog outfielder and cancer survivor Rachael Donaldson returned to Bulldog Diamond to throw out the first pitch on Cancer Awareness/Blood Drive Night. She received a warm welcome as 25 fellow survivors lined the field prior to game time.
Morgan Melloh matched her season-high strikeouts with 15 that she set just three days ago at Pacific. Melloh was just one shy of her career-high, 16, which she threw on March 28, 2008 at Utah State.
Her third strikeout of the game against Julie Franklin in the top of the second gave her 700th in her short career. She becomes just the fourth Bulldog in Fresno State and WAC history to reach the 700 strikeout plateau. Melloh now has 712 career strikeouts and needs 771 to tie Robin Mackin at No. 3. Melloh improves to 17-10 in the circle on the year and 4-1 in the WAC.
"Morgan did a really good job tonight," said head coach Margie Wright. "To lead off the game giving up a double and then to get out of that and strikeout 15 was a great performance."
The first hit off of Hawai'i pitcher Stephanie Ricketts (10-7) was a single to left by Haley Perkins in the bottom of the third. That hit moved Perkins to No. 8 on the Bulldog career list with 254 and to No. 10 in the WAC record books.
Hawai'i (15-20, 3-4 WAC) had the bases loaded in the top of fourth but back-to-back strikeouts by Melloh ended the 'Bows attempt at a lead early on.
Fresno State also had the bases loaded in the bottom of the fourth but was unable to get any runs across.
The lone run of the game for the Rainbow Wahine came in the top of the sixth. After a single by Makani Duhaylonsod, she scored on an error by Bulldog shortstop Haley Gilleland on Clare Warwick's at bat for the 1-0 lead.
The Bulldogs however, responded in the bottom of the seventh as the 7-8-9 hitters came through once again. Ryane Petersen led off the inning with a walk. Jody Badorine entered to pinch run and went to second after Alexis Lujan was hit by a pitch. Lujan pinch hit for Mallory Perkins and Perkins re-entered at first. The first pitch to Haley Perkins was a wild pitch that advanced the runners to second and third.
With two outs, Gilleland singled to left field as Badorine scored easily from third and Mallory Perkins hustled from second around the bag at third. The throw came in to the Hawai'i catcher but it was off line, allowing Perkins to score for the 2-1 victory.
"Coach sent me as soon as she (Gillleland) hit the ball and I was going for it," Mallory Perkins said. "I saw that the catcher was moving outside so I tried to slide inside."
"I made that error and it was a good time to pick myself and my team up," Gilleland said. "I just saw a pitch and a swung for it. This win is really important. It's huge in the WAC and its good motivation."
The 'Dogs had six hits in the game, led by Gilleland with two.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The 'Dogs continue WAC play against Hawai'i. The 'Dogs and Rainbow Wahine close out the series with a doubleheader Saturday afternoon starting at 1 pm. Saturday is Youth Softball Day. All youth softball teams are invited to take the field for the National Anthem. Special ticket packages for all youth softball teams can be purchased by calling the group sales coordinator at 244-5621. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.
