Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Nevada
`Dogs Down Wolf Pack in WAC Opener
3/26/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 26, 2010
RENO, Nev. - The Bulldog softball team picked up a huge win on opening day of Western Athletic Conference play with a 4-1 win over Nevada in Reno, Nev., on Friday afternoon. The `Dogs get their 20th win of the season and are now 20-11 and 1-0 in the WAC while Nevada is 13-13 and 0-1.
Michelle Moses was the winning pitcher for the `Dogs and improves to 4-0. She allowed just one run on four hits in 5.0 innings and had eight strikeouts.
Morgan Melloh entered in relief in the sixth and with two on and no outs struck the side. In 2.0 innings, she had four strikeouts and allowed just one hit. She picked up her first save of the year and the fourth of her career.
The `Dogs had seven hits off of Nevada starter Katie Holverson who allowed three earned runs on seven hits in 7.0 innings.
Nevada's only run of the game came in the third as the Wolf Pack took a 1-0 lead as Megan Fincher scored off of a double by Noelle Micka.
The `Dogs tied the game in the top of the fourth as Andrea Ortega doubled, her second of the game, and scored on a single by Moses to right field.
Fresno State took the lead for good in the fifth off of the first home run of her career for Becca Walker to left center with two outs.
"I was seeing the ball really well, got ahead of the count and took away her pitches," Walker said. "It was a big win for our first conference game against a good Nevada team. We started out conference play good."
A double by Haley Gilleland led off the sixth and extended her hitting streak to 11 games. She scored on an error by the first baseman Kelsey Starr during Ortega's at bat for a 3-1 lead.
A solo home run by Caitlin Stiglich led off the seventh inning for the final run of the game.
"Our team played very well for such a cold and windy day," said head coach Margie Wright. "I thought Michelle did a great job on the mound and Morgan came in and really shut them down. It was great to see. It always helps to get really timely hitting and a couple of home runs by Becca and Caitlin."
The three-game series concludes on Saturday as the two teams battle in a doubleheader that begins at 1 p.m. Live audio and stats will be available for free at www.gobulldogs.com.
"We Are Your Team" - The `Dogs will finish their series at Nevada on Saturday the 27th with a doubleheader beginning at 1pm. The team will then head south to take on the Gauchos of UC Santa Barbara on Tuesday, March 30th at noon. Check out GoBulldogs.com for the latest news on Fresno State Athletics.
