Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
Butler
Softball Blows By Butler, Purdue
3/13/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
March 13, 2012
By Jason Clay
jaclay@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
FRESNO, Calif. - The Fresno State softball team scored 17 runs off of 20 hits in a pair of victories over Butler and Purdue on Tuesday night at Bulldog Diamond.
Fresno State (18-9) hammered Butler (4-12) 12-1 in five innings and came back to beat Purdue (13-7) 5-2 in the second game that ended an eight game home stand where the `Dogs went 6-2.
"I was really pleased with our hitting tonight," head coach Margie Wright said. "I think we could have scored a little more in that last game there, but I was very pleased with how we attacked the ball."
Fresno State pounded out 11 hits and scored a season-high 12 runs in the five-inning mercy-rule victory over Butler.
Stesha Brazil led the team going 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBIs and two home runs. It was the first two-homer game by a Bulldog this year. Brazil also scored three runs in the game one win over Butler.
"I think that's the first ball I've ever seen bounce on to Cedar Avenue," Wright said of Brazil's first home run, a mammoth shot in the first inning that made it to the street beyond left field. "She's got a lot of power and I think she's starting to feel a lot more comfortable and confident.
"She's just a triple threat. She can bunt, hit for power and can beat infield grounders out at first base. I just think she's a really good athlete."
Brenna Moss was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, Vonnie Martin drove in three runs and Moses drove in a pair and scored twice against BU.
In the circle, Moses allowed one run off of four hits with nine strikeouts and no walks in the five inning victory. The win improved her record to 9-7 on the year and her ERA now stands at 1.92.
In the second game of the twin bill the Bulldogs ripped off nine hits, three of which came in the second inning when the `Dogs put up three of their five runs.
Kaitlin Griffin drove in two of those three runs in the second on a double down the right-field line.
Purdue answered that inning with two runs in the third, but the `Dogs came right back to score a run in the bottom half of the inning on Mario Sio's RBI single that scored Courtney Moore.
"I was very proud of our kids for doing that [answering Purdue's runs]," Wright said. "I think that's a big statement and there are a lot of games where we do not do that, so tonight was awesome."
Moore was the only Bulldog with two hits against Purdue, but eight of the nine players in Fresno State's lineup had a hit. Moore was 2-for-3 with a solo home run and two runs scored.
Mackenzie Oakes picked up the win in game two to up her record to 7-2 on the year and a perfect 7-0 at home. She scattered seven hits and only allowed Purdue to score the two runs. Oakes struck out two and overcame four walks in the win.
"I think these last eight games were a really good turning point for us," Wright said. "We played [No. 15] Oregon right with them, we were one strike away from winning that game. We battled back against [No. 1] Cal. I think we know our capabilities, but prior to this weekend we were unsure at times. Now we feel a little more comfortable about who we are."
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