Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
UCLA
`Dogs Battle in Regional Championship
5/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 17, 2009
LOS ANGELES - The No. 25 Fresno State softball team took an early lead in the Regional Championship game against the No. 2 Bruins Sunday afternoon at Easton Stadium, but the Bruins rallied for a huge seven-run second inning to defeat the `Dogs 9-5 and end Fresno State's season.
"I felt like we battled back but we came up short," said head coach Margie Wright. "I am very proud of this team."
Andrea Harrison got the Bruins on the board early with a solo home run to right center in the top of the first.
Haley Perkins led off the bottom of the first for the `Dogs with a single up the middle off of Bruin starting pitcher Donna Kerr.
Haley Gilleland followed with a bunt single down the third base line.
Michelle Moses, coming off of a huge grand slam Saturday vs. Long Beach State, hit a double to right center scoring both Haley's as the `Dogs took a 2-1 lead. Moses advanced to third on the play.
Caitlin Stiglich was then hit by a pitch and a single to right center by Lisamarie Coronado drove in Moses as the `Dogs went up 3-1 after the first inning.
UCLA would get a run back in the top of the second with a solo home run to left field by Julie Burney and re-take the lead with a triple to right center to clear the bases by GiOnna DiSalvatore. UCLA took a 5-3 lead.
A three run home run to right field by Amanda Kamekona gave the Bruins a 8-3 lead. Morgan Melloh was then replaced in the circle by freshman Mackenzie Oakes for the `Dogs.
It was the first appearance in the postseason for Oakes in her career as she was impressive, going 5.1 innings allowing just four hits and one run.
Brooke Phipps got an infield single to lead off the fourth for the `Dogs and reached second on an error. A bloop single to left field by Jody Badorine put runners on the corners for the `Dogs with no outs.
The third single of the inning was to left field by Perkins as Phipps scored to cut the lead to 8-4.
Nicole Angene hit her fourth home run of the season to field with two outs in the fifth to make it an 8-5 game.
UCLA added one more in the top of the seventh for a 9-5 score.
Melloh took the loss and ended the season with a 30-16 record. She had 450 strikeouts on the season, second at Fresno State in a year, behind her 454 she recorded as a freshman.
Fresno State ends its season with a 38-20 record and its second consecutive appearance in a NCAA Regional Championship.
Perkins was the only senior on the team and leaves Fresno State as one of the most decorated student-athletes of all time.
UCLA advances to the Super Regionals and will take on Missouri who won the Columbia Regional earlier in the day.
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