Fresno State Athletics
`Dogs Sweep Day-Two of Kick-Off
2/14/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FS-UCD Box Score.
FS-SCU Box Score.
FRESNO, Calif.- The Fresno State Kick-off tournament continued on Saturday for the Bulldog softball team as they picked up two wins against UC Davis (8-5) and Santa Clara (2-1) at Margie Wright Diamond.
With the pair of victories, the Bulldogs improved to 7-2 on the season and 3-1 in the 2015 Fresno State Kick-Off tournament.
"Obviously you always want to finish the day with two wins when you have two games so I thought that was a great job for us to come back," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We hit some balls hard in the last game but they just weren't falling so I thought our girls did a good job or persevering through that and getting a W."
The senior class set the tempo in the first inning against UC Davis with Brenna Moss drawing a walk and scoring off of a single up the middle form Michelle Solomon. Sophomore Kierra Willis kept the first inning rally going for the `Dogs with a two-out triple, driving in two more runs and giving Fresno State a 3-0.
Solomon led the team in runs batted in (3) after drilling a shot over the center fielder's head that scored both Smith and Moss to give Fresno State an early lead of 6-0.
Junior Jill Compton earned her sixth start since her last appearance in the circle against UC Riverside and pitched the duration of one inning before junior Taylor Langdon took the mound for the second time this season in the top of the second inning. The 8-5 victory over the Aggies gives Langdon a record of 1-0 in the 2015 season.
Moss tallied an additional stolen base against the Aggies, leaving her only two shy of breaking the all-time career record (86) for the most bases stolen. The record was set in 2011 by former Bulldog infielder Haley Gilliland.
The team had a strong offensive showing with five Bulldogs recording multiple hits including Moss (2), Malia Rivers (2), Solomon (2), Castellon (2) and Willis (2) to help the team to a total of 11 hits against the UC Davis Aggies.
Entering the starting lineup for the first time this season was freshman Wendy Cardinali against UC Davis and junior Bria Kennedy in the matchup with Santa Clara. Both Bulldog batters hit in the eight spot as the `Dogs designated player.
After a one-game break Fresno State took the field for the final game of the day, facing the Santa Clara Broncos for the second time in the Fresno State Kick-Off.
The Bulldogs tallied five hits in the first three innings and scored the first run of the game in the sixth inning with a two-run homerun from sophomore Kierra Willis, putting Fresno State ahead by two in the top of the seventh.
Compton made her second start of the day on the mound, giving up only two hits in the first four innings against the Broncos. In her seven inning showing, Compton recorded a season high 10 strikeouts to lead the `Dogs to a 2-1 defeat over Santa Clara.
Fresno State (7-2) has won its past two games and will face California at 3:45 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15 for what will be the final game of the Fresno State Kick-Off tournament. Softball fans will have the opportunity to welcome Athletic Director Jim Bartko to Margie Wright Diamond as he is set to throw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the `Dogs matchup with the Bears.
"I expect us to come out with a lot of energy," Ford added. "Obviously it's a big rivalry game for us so I'm excited to see what we bring."
Children, 12 and under, are welcome to run the bases following the 3:45 game against Cal.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of 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.
