Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Showcase Talent vs. USSSA Pride
10/21/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team drew a record breaking crowd to Margie Wright Diamond on Wednesday night as the Bulldogs took on National Professional Fastpitch (NPF) franchise, the USSSA Pride.
Despite falling 4-3 in the last inning, fourth-year head coach Trisha Ford saw the largest home crowd of her career at Fresno State. 1,832 fans attended the mid-week exhibition game, shattering the single-game record within the past five years of 1,640 fans in 2014. Last year, the Bulldogs drew in a season-high of 1,593 members of the Red Wave while facing Boise State on Apr. 18 during conference play.
The Pride sported a 10-person lineup highlighted with Central Valley native and former Olympian, Andrea Duran who hails from Selma, Calif. The professional organization began its third USSSA sponsored fall tour on Oct. 8 versus Arizona State and has since continued west, facing Cal State Fullerton (Oct. 14), Cal State Northridge (Oct. 17), Cal Poly (Oct. 19) and concluded against Fresno State on Wednesday.
The Bulldog starting lineup contained junior transfer Lindsey Willmon, returners Malia Rivers, Alyssa Villalpando, Kierra Willis, Bria Kennedy and Vanessa Hernandez, freshman Morgan Howe, catcher Paige Gumz, shortstop Whitney Smith and senior Jill Compton in the circle, while freshman Dominique Jackson hit for Gumz.
With nothing across for the Pride at the start of the game, Willmon led off with a double to right-center giving the ‘Dogs their first hit of the night in the bottom of the first inning. Fresno State gained an early 1-0 lead in the second inning while Willis scored from second on an outfield error, after drawing a walk.
The Pride tied it up in the top of the fourth inning with one run on a pair of defensive errors, and took a 2-1 lead on a sacrifice fly ball to the outfield. The ‘Dogs answered back in the bottom of the fourth, tying the game for the second time after capitalizing on a defensive error made by the Pride. Jackson drove in base runner Christina Rodriguez from first base with a double to left field.
After five innings of play, the score was tied 2-2 before Fresno State gained yet another one-run advantage. With Willis and Kenedy both reaching base safely, sophomore transfer Claire Stucker made an appearance at the plate as a pinch hitter with runners in scoring position. Willis scored on a ball up the middle giving Fresno State a 3-2 lead.
Only three outs shy of a victory over the Florida-based program, the Pride came up with a pair of runs on a foul ball caught down the right field line to claim the 4-3 win in the final inning.
Fresno State utilized four members of its staff in the circle on Wednesday including Compton in the first four innings before seniors Hannah Harris and Taylor Langdon each made a one-inning appearance and freshman Kamalani Dung closed out the final three defensive outs for the ‘Dogs. Compton had two strikeouts coming against the Pride, one looking, while allowing only two hits over four-innings and Gumz gunned down the lone runner who attempted to steal from behind the plate to close out the top of the third inning.
Following Wednesday's game, fans were able to attend a free autograph session featuring both the Fresno State Bulldogs and USSSA Pride athletes.
Up next, Fresno State is set to face four California Community College Athletic Association programs in a two-week span – Reedley College, College of the Sequoias, Sacramento City College and Allen Hancock. The ‘Dogs remaining fall slate will showcase free admission at Margie Wright Diamond.
2015 Fall Schedule Oct. 21 - NPF Pride (7 p.m.)
Oct. 23 - Allan Hancock (6 p.m.)
Oct. 28 - College of the Sequoias (6 p.m.)
Oct. 30 – Reedley (6 p.m.)
Nov. 7 – Sacramento City College (1 p.m.)
Nov. 7 - Alumnae Game (3 p.m.)
"Be Bold!" - The official home of the Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 The Deuce. For ticket information contact the Bulldog Ticket Office at 559-278-3647 or log on to www.gobulldogs.com.
