Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Santa Clara
Bats Come Alive in Opening Sweep
2/12/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 12, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - The 2010 Fresno State softball team showed its explosiveness and talent throughout the lineup as the No. 25 Bulldogs swept Santa Clara on opening night at Bulldog Diamond 10-1 and 12-1 in two five inning games.
All 18 players saw game action between the two games. There were 22 total hits for the `Dogs and three home runs, including a grand slam. The game one win was also the 600th for head coach Margie Wright at Bulldog Diamond.
"We've been working really hard this past fall and winter and this team really wanted to play," Wright said. "They have been very confident and workaholics with their hitting and I was impressed. We got everyone in the game and everyone contributed."
Game One
The `Dogs came out swinging the bats in game one with 11 hits in a 10-1 victory. Three `Dogs were perfect from the plate as sophomores Jody Badorine and Michelle Moses were 3-for-3 each and freshman Hannah Williams went 2-for-2 with a walk.
Junior ace Morgan Melloh struck out three batters to start the game in the circle and made the first six outs strikeouts. She ended the game with 11 and allowed just four hits, one a solo home run in the top of the fifth inning by Briana Knight.
The `Dogs scored two in the first with a single by freshman Hannah Williams that scored Badorine and Moses. Williams had five RBI's in two at bats as she hit a three run home run to left field in the third inning.
Junior shortstop Haley Gilleland also scored in the fifth off a single to right by Moses.
A bunt single by senior Brooke Phipps scored pinch runner Diane Runge for a 7-0 lead after three innings.
The bottom of the fourth started with back-to-back hits by Badorine and Moses. After a four-pitch walk to Williams, Nicole Angene drew a walk with the bases loaded and earned an RBI for an 8-0 lead. A floater to right field by Caitlin Stiglich drove in another Bulldog for a 9-0 lead.
With two outs and the bases still loaded, Becca Walker drew a walk as Angene scored the 10th and final Bulldog run.
Melloh goes to 1-0 on the year in the circle as five Bulldogs got hits in the game and five also recorded RBI's.
Game Two
Mackenzie Oakes got the start in the circle for the Bulldogs in game two and also came away with her own win on opening night in a 12-1 Fresno State victory.
Oakes pitched a complete game and had six strikeouts, just one shy of tying her career-high from last season. She allowed just two hits in the game, one a home run by Knight, her second of the day.
Gilleland led off game two with a double and scored on a single by Badorine and an error by the Bronco third baseman.
In her first at bat at Fresno State, sophomore Courtney Moore hit a double to left center and scored Moses from first.
A double by Andrea Ortega, the starting right fielder, drove in Moore for a 3-0 lead in the first.
After an Angene walk to load the bases, Kaitlin Griffin hit a grand slam to left field for a 7-0 Bulldog lead. It was the first start of Griffins' career behind the plate and just the third hit of her young Bulldog career.
Moore added to the lead with a solo home run to right center in the bottom of the second, also her first in a Bulldog uniform.
The `Dogs added four more runs in the third to seal the game.
Nine Bulldogs scored runs in game two and six had hits. Moore and Alexis Lujan were both perfect from the plate.
"People that were expected to step up stepped up today and it was a great showing," said Gilleland.
Catch the `Dogs in action on Saturday as they take on Sacramento State and Pacific in the Fresno State Kick-Off at Bulldog Diamond beginning at noon.
"We Are Your Team" - The 2010 Fresno State softball team hosts the Fresno State Kick-Off Tournament Feb. 13-14 at Bulldog Diamond.
