Fresno State Athletics
Kennedy Knocks In Game Winning Hit
3/1/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif.- In what was a scoreless game until the bottom of the seventh inning, Fresno State tallied its 14th win of the season, defeating Saint Mary's College 1-0 on Sunday afternoon. The `Dogs victory over the Gaels was the final game of the first-annual Fresno State Louisville Slugger Bash and the Bulldogs sixth win at Margie Wright Diamond this season.
"It was nice to see our pitching staff come out today," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We struggled yesterday but did a great job offensively. Today we kind of flipped the pages, our pitching was good and offensively we scraped a win across. The biggest thing about our team right now is that they believe in each other so when somebody isn't carrying their wait, someone else will step up and take that role."
Starting pitcher Jill Compton recorded four strikeouts against the Gaels, three of which came in the just first two innings. Compton's seven inning showing against Saint Mary's marked her fourth complete game on the mound for Fresno State this season.
Fresno State was held to no runs going into the bottom of the seventh inning but had accumulated three hits against the Gaels, including a leadoff double down the left field line from Brenna Moss in the first inning. The `Dogs second hit of the game came in the sixth inning with a single to left field from Malia Rivers.
With two outs and a Bulldog runner on third, Bria Kennedy knocked in the game winning run with a grounder up the middle to score Kierra Willis in the bottom of the seventh inning. The junior designated player led the team going 1-for-1 with a run batted in, after reaching base with a pair of walks earlier in the game.
"It felt good that we won," Kennedy said. "It felt good to do what I could to get the run across, in my mind I just thought get her in any way you can. Our pitching was on which helped and all we needed was that one run."
Bulldog softball (14-5) will spend the week preparing for what is said to be the toughest weekend of competition under Ford's helm. Fresno State will make its way to Fullerton, Calif., for the Judi Garman Classic where they are slated to face Iowa on Friday, No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Oregon on Saturday and will finish the weekend against No. 9 Baylor and No. 15 Arizona on Sunday.
"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.
