Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Utah
`Dogs Hand Texas First Loss
2/25/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Feb. 25, 2010
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. - The No. 19/21 Fresno State softball team got off to hot start at the Cathedral City Classic winning its first two games of the tournament vs. No. 13/14 Texas and Utah. The `Dogs are now 9-1 on the season and on a three-game winning streak. It's also the best start by a Fresno State team since the 1999 team also went 9-1.
Game One
It was the first of four ranked opponents of the weekend for the `Dogs as they handed No. 13 Texas its first loss of the season and dropped the Horns to 11-1.
Morgan Melloh picked up her fifth victory (5-1) with 11 strikeouts.
Texas took a 2-0 lead in the first inning with a double by Nadia Taylor. Taylor ended up with all four RBIs in the game for Texas as she also hit a two run home run in the fourth.
The 'Dogs hit two home runs themselves in the game with a solo shot by Courtney Moore in the second to cut the lead to one and then a three-run bomb by Michelle Moses in the third. The fourth Bulldog run was scored by Morgan Melloh off of a single by Jody Badorine.
The Longhorns threatened in the top of the seventh with two on, but Bulldog right fielder Lisamarie Coronado caught the final out by falling over the fence.
The `Dogs had eight hits in the game, six off of Texas Starter Kim Bruins who took the loss in 2.1 innings of work and allowed all five runs.
"I felt like the team really showed a lot of character in the first day to battle back from a deficit to get a lead and be able to hold it against an undefeated team," said head coach Margie Wright. "I was really please with how we played."
Haley Gilleland had two hits to lead the way and six other `Dogs tallied hits as well.
Fresno State evened the overall series with Texas 5-5 and now has won the last two meetings.
Game Two
The `Dogs continued their hot hitting in game two as they downed Utah 11-0 in five innings.
Mackenzie Oakes picked up the win in the circle as she improves to 4-0 where she allowed only two hits and struck out two.
Fresno State exploded for seven runs in the second inning which began when starting designated player Hannah Williams reached first on an error. Kaylan Pollard pinch ran for Williams and eventually scored the first run of the game.
Singles by Brooke Phipps, Rebecca Walker and Badorine scored three more. Walks with the bases loaded to Moses, Coronado and Nicole Angene scored the other three runs.
The `Dogs tacked on four more in the third inning with a grand slam by Moses, her second home run of the day.
"I was just thinking to put a bat on the ball and score runs," Moses said. "These wins started our momentum and we are going to take it into the rest of the weekend."
Fresno State had 10 hits in the game, led by Badorine with three.
Walker entered the game with two hits on the season and had two in the game.
"I think it's a great way to start the tournament and hopefully we can keep winning," Wright said.
"We Are Your Team" - The 2010 Fresno State softball continues play in the Cathedral City Classic this weekend. Live stats and audio can be found at www.gobulldogs.com.
