Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Long Beach State
`Dogs Advance to Regional Championship
5/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 16, 2009
LOS ANGELES - No. 25 Fresno State earned a re-match with the No. 2 UCLA Bruins as the 'Dogs fought through the consolation bracket to defeat Long Beach State 12-2 Saturday night. The 'Dogs improve to 38-19 and will take on UCLA at 12 p.m. in the Regional Championship on Sunday at Easton Stadium.
"I don't have anything to say that isn't positive about our performance in this game, especially after losing the game earlier in the afternoon," said head coach Margie Wright. "The first game took a lot out of us and I am really proud of the team for stepping up and doing a great job to win this game."
The 'Dogs combined for the 12 runs on 14 hits, led by Haley Perkins with four hits, four RBI and three runs.
Perkins led off the game for the 'Dogs with an infield single. Haley Gilleland then followed with an infield single and Perkins reached third on an error by LBSU's starting pitcher Brooke Turner.
A single to left field by catcher Caitlin Stiglich drove in both runs as the 'Dogs took an early 2-0 lead.
Jody Badorine and Perkins back-to-back hits and Gilleland reached on an error by the 49ers shortstop as the bases were loaded with two outs.
The Bulldog first baseman Michelle Moses then hit a grand slam to left field on a 0-2 count as the 'Dogs took a 6-0 lead. It was Moses' first grand slam of her career and the fourth of the year for the 'Dogs. It was her 10th home run of the season, a team-high.
Then with two runners on and two outs, Kelly Cross entered to replace Turner for LBSU and would get the third and final out in the inning on one pitch.
The 'Dogs had six runs on seven hits after two innings.
The first hit for LBSU in the game off of Morgan Melloh came in the bottom of the second with one out.
LBSU would get two runners on but back-to-back strikeouts by Melloh ended the inning.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Gilleland hit her second triple of the season to right field. Then with two outs during Stiglich's at bat, GIlleland stole home as the 'Dogs went up 7-0.
With one out in the top of the fifth, Nicole Angene walked followed by a base hit to left field by Brooke Phipps.
Perkins would drive in two more on a double to left center as the 'Dogs took a 9-0 lead after four and a half.
LBSU would cut into the lead and break up the Bulldogs hope of an eight run rule five inning game. A single, double and a single would get two in for the 49ers in the bottom of the fifth.
Melloh would strikeout the final two batters of the inning and the last would be her 900 of her career as she becomes just the second Bulldog and WAC pitcher to reach the milestone in her career along with Jamie Southern.
Angene lead off the seventh with a single to left center and a walk to Phipps started another Bulldog scoring rally.
Perkins had her second two-RBI double of the night with one out to put the 'Dogs on top 11-2.
Moses singled up the middle as the 'Dogs scored the final run of the game.
Melloh picked up her 30th win on the season and ended with 10 strikeouts in the game and now has 902 in her career. On the season, Melloh has 444 strikeouts, just 10 shy of the single-season record she set last year.
Fresno State will take on No. 2 UCLA at 12 p.m. on Sunday in the Los Angeles Regional Championship. If Fresno State wins game one, a second game and deciding game will be played at the conclusion of game one to determine who advances to Super Regionals.
UCLA defeated Fresno State 4-2 Saturday afternoon in the first winner's bracket game. Long Beach State defeated UNLV 3-1 in 13 innings eliminating UNLV and LBSU is eliminated after the loss to the Bulldogs.
Game one can be heard live on 790 the Deuce ESPN Radio on Sunday with Guy Haberman calling the plays. If a game two shall be played, that game can be heard live on 1430 ESPN Radio.
"Join the State - Fresno State!" - Fresno State continues play in the Los Angeles Regional of the NCAA Tournament.
