Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UNLV
`Dogs Win Opening Game of NCAA Regionals
5/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 15, 2009
LOS ANGELES - The Fresno State softball team was nothing but impressive in its opening game of the 2009 NCAA Regionals at Easton Stadium on the campus of UCLA on Friday afternoon. The No. 25 Bulldogs, behind a 16 strikeout performance by Morgan Melloh, defeated UNLV 2-1. Fresno State is 37-18 on the year as Melloh improves to 29-14.
"I thought our team played very well," said head coach Margie Wright. "That was a tough game for both teams as both teams played extremely well. We got ourselves out of a few jams that we really needed, had timely hitting and all of those things are good at this point in the season."
Melloh began the game with three strikeouts in the first inning as she followed that by striking out the side in the second, third and fourth innings. She ended with a season/career-high strikeouts in a seven inning game as the first 12 outs recorded were strikeouts by the sophomore.
"Morgan pitched a great game," Wright added. "Every time we needed a strikeout it was there."
UNLV however, recorded back-to-back hits in the top of the second to take an early 1-0 lead.
The first hit of the game for the `Dogs off of UNLV starter Stephanie Bregante was a single up the middle by Lisamarie Coronado with one out in the second.
A one out double to left field by Haley Gilleland in the bottom of the third and a walk to Michelle Moses would bring up Bulldog catcher Caitlin Stiglich. Stiglich battled with Bregante and on a 3-2 count drilled a ball to center field, scoring Gilleland from second to tie the game at 1-1.
Coronado walked to lead off the fourth for the `Dogs and the first pitch to Nicole Angene was up and in as it hit the sophomore third basemen.. That would bring in left hander Traci Odegard for UNLV.
The first pitch to Brooke Phipps was a perfect sacrifice bunt just in front of the catcher to advance the runners to second and third.
A slow roller by Gilleland to the UNLV shortstop allowed her speed to get her to first safely as the `Dogs took a 2-1 lead.
The first out in the first that was a not a strikeout was a sacrifice bunt for UNLV in the top of the fifth. UNLV would get two on in the fifth but Melloh would get her 13th strikeout of the game to end the inning.
The second out of the inning for Melloh was her 15th strikeout of the game which tied her seven inning career total that she record twice earlier in the year against Hawai'i and Pacific.
The Bulldogs had six hits in the game, led by Gilleland and Coronado with two each.
Fresno State will face UCLA at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the winner's bracket. UCLA defeated Long Beach State 4-2 in game two Friday night. UNLV will face the Long Beach State in the first elimination game on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Bulldogs game can be heard live on 790 The Deuce ESPN Radio with Guy Haberman calling the action.
For complete tournament results log on to: http://www.uclabruins.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/09-regionals.html.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - Fresno State takes on UNLV in the Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA Tournament on Friday at 1 p.m.
