Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
No. 2/1 California
Softball Ends Bayer Classic with Split
3/11/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 11, 2012
By Jason Clay
jaclay@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score | All-Tournament Team
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State softball team split its two games Sunday to end the Bayer CropScience Classic, falling to No. 2/1 Cal before run-ruling Butler to end the weekend at Bulldog Diamond.
Fresno State found itself in an early hole against top-ranked Cal and trailed 8-1 entering the bottom of the seventh. The `Dogs made it interesting, scoring four runs in the inning, but the deficit was too large to overcome in the 8-5 loss.
"I think we played very well. We struggled offensively for a long time, [Cal's Valeria Aritoto] is a good pitcher and we just couldn't wait and be patient," head coach Margie Wright said. "When everybody figured it out and started making the adjustments that we were trying to make, they started working for us and that part of the result is really good.
"We wanted to challenge it with some pride there and do everything we could to score. I thought we did a good job with that, we just came a little bit short."
The Bulldogs came back in game two, and after a slow start, exploded for nine runs in the fourth and fifth innings. Seven of those came in the fifth to kick in the mercy rule and give Fresno State the 9-1 victory in five.
Fresno State ends the tournament with a 4-2 record, its other loss coming on Friday to No. 18/15 Oregon, 5-4. The Bulldogs now stand at 15-9 overall on the year and host Purdue and Butler on Tuesday.
Freshman Brenna Moss led the `Dogs in game one, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs, both that came on a triple in the seventh inning.
In game two against Butler, Fresno State's fifth-inning explosion was sparked by two-run homers from Michelle Moses and Michelle Solomon. Moses' homer was her 10th of the season.
Freshman Maria Sio was 3-for-3 in game two with two runs scored and one driven in.
In the circle, Moses picked up the loss in game one. She came back in game two and recorded her first save of the season, getting the `Bulldogs out of a bases loaded jam in the fifth.
Mackenzie Oakes was the winning pitcher for Fresno State against Butler. She threw 4.1 innings and allowed just one run on six hits. Oakes struck out seven Butler batters in the win.
Brooke Ortiz was 3-for-6 overall on the day with three RBIs and one run scored. She led the `Dogs all weekend at the plate, going 9-for-18 with two doubles, four RBIs and three runs scored. Ortiz and Moses were both named to the Bayer CropScience All-Tournament team.
Moses had 10 RBIs over the weekend and hit three home runs. She also pitched in four games, starting three and finished with a 1-2 record and one save.
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