Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
East Carolina
Melloh Earns 1,000th Career Strikeout
3/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 10, 2010
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State and East Carolina split a doubleheader at Bulldog Diamond Wednesday night with the `Dogs taking game one 1-0 and ECU earning the win the second game, 3-2 in eight innings.
The `Dogs are now 11-8 on the year while ECU is 9-11.
Game One
A solo home run by Nicole Angene in the bottom of the third powered the `Dogs to a 1-0 win over East Carolina in game one of the doubleheader.
The `Dogs got three hits off of ECU pitcher Faith Sutton, the other two by Jody Badorine and Courtney Moore.
Bulldog pitcher Morgan Melloh allowed just three hits and had nine strikeouts. Melloh earned her seventh win of the season.
Game Two
The `Dogs hit ECU pitcher Toni Paisley first with a single by Badorine to lead off the first inning. A single by Haley Gilleland with two outs in the third gave the `Dogs their second hit.
ECU scored first however, with two runs in the top of the fourth off of Bulldog starter Mackenzie Oakes. Charina Sumner and Priscilla Velasquez each had triples in the inning and Kai Clark had a single and an RBI.
Oakes left after 3.0 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.
Melloh entered with no outs in the fourth in relief and the first batter she faced, Vanessa Moreno, she struck out swinging for her 1,000th career strikeout. Melloh struck out the side to get out of the inning. Melloh becomes just the second Fresno State and WAC pitcher with 1,000 career strikeouts. She joins former Bulldog Jamie Southern in the group.
The first nine outs from Melloh were all strikeouts.
"Morgan did a great job coming off the bench and shutting them down," said head coach Margie Wright. "I can't say enough about Morgan. She has done a great job. We just need to score runs, it makes things easier."
A single up the middle led off the sixth by Gilleland. A fielder's choice put Badorine at first and a single to left by Moore got the `Dogs in scoring position. A wild pitch by Paisley and an error by the ECU catcher Clark allowed Badorine to score from third to get the `Dogs within one.
Andrea Ortega tied the game with a solo home run to left field, her first of the year, to lead off the seventh inning.
"It was great for Andrea to hit the home run, it was clutch," Wright added.
A single by Cicely Lopez in the top of the eighth with two outs drove in the winning run for ECU.
Melloh ended with 11 strikeouts in 5.0 innings and 20 on the night. She picked up the loss and is now 7-5.
Live Audio/Stats/Streaming
Live stats for all games this week, including non-Fresno State games during the Bayer CropScience Classic will be provided via gametracker at www.gobulldogs.com. The gametracker links for the Bayer CropScience Classic are available on the tournament website at: http://www.gobulldogs.com/sports/w-softbl/spec-rel/10-bayer-cropscience-classic.html. All Fresno State games can be heard live on 790 the Deuce, ESPN Radio with Nick Papagni calling all of the action from Bulldog Diamond. Beginning this week, Fresno State fans will also have the opportunity to watch live video streaming of all home softball games for a small free via Fresno State All-Access. Fans can purchase the package and watch live events for many Fresno State sports including press conferences and special features.
Vote Now for the All-Decade Team
Fresno State Athletics is giving its fans a chance to vote for their favorite student-athletes from the past decade (2000-2009) in baseball and softball. Voting is open from March 8-21 and the results will be announced on March 23 and March 24. The only requirement to be named to the team is that a student-athlete must have competed at least two years in the decade. Fans will also have a chance to write-in their own candidate in each position if desired.
Click here to vote: http://www.gobulldogs.com/ot/10-basebl-softbl-all-decade-teams.html.
"We Are Your Team" - The 2010 Fresno State softball team hosts the Bayer CropScience Classic beginning March 11 at 4:30 p.m.
