Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State Outlasts Boise State 4-2
4/17/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif.-The Fresno State softball team (31-14, 12-4 MW) edged the Boise State Broncos 4-2 on Friday's action of Strikeout Cancer Weekend at Margie Wright Diamond.
"I'm waiting for tomorrow already," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We'll go back and look at film and make some adjustments but I was not pleased with our performance tonight. I definitely think the preparation was there but the girls have to come out ready to play, it doesn't matter who's on the other side."
Leaving Boise State without a hit through the first three innings, Jill Compton (20-10)tossed her nineteenth complete game on Friday afternoon, recording her 20th win of the season against the Broncos. Compton gave up only one earned run on five hits and five strikeouts against the 29 batters faced.
As the `Dogs leadoff batter, Brenna Moss set the tone with a single through the left side to give Fresno State its first hit of the game. After reaching base and advancing on a Bronco throwing error, Malia Rivers and Moss were both driven in on a single up the middle by Kierra Willis to give the Bulldogs an early 2-0 lead.
"I was just relaxed and went up knowing I had to score the runners on base," Willis said. "We just have to stay positive, not hit the panic button, and take it one play at a time. It's a new year and a new team every year so we just have to go out there and play how we know how to play. We need to be relaxed and come out here and do what we need to do, which is win."
Following a putout at home on an assist from Moss, Boise State reached home safely in the top of the fourth inning. Bulldog third baseman Alyssa Villalpando gained the lost run with her fifth home run of the season as the leadoff batter in the bottom of the fourth, giving Fresno State a 3-1 advantage.
After a scoreless fifth inning, junior designated player Bria Kennedy tacked on an additional run for the `Dogs on a double to left center.
"Jill struggled today but she worked through it," Ford added. "She's our ace and has earned the right to work through those innings and she came through to get us a W. I would like to see us have better at-bats, especially with runners in scoring position, there's to many balls up in the air. This team has a lot of potential but potential is a very ugly word, we have fight, tenacity, and grit but it's getting the team to understand that every night you have to bring you're a-game because the ball is rolled out and the game doesn't know who's supposed to win."
Previous Action
The Bulldog softball team claimed the conference series against Utah State after an 8-0 run-rule victory last Sunday in Logan, Utah. Fresno State capped the week with a 5-1 record including a three-game conference sweep over New Mexico April 7-8.
Looking Ahead
The Bulldogs looks to continue the weekend action against Boise State on Saturday at Margie Wright Diamond starting at 6 p.m.
"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.
