Fresno State Athletics
'Dogs Shutout Nevada on Heroes Night
4/24/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif.- The Fresno State softball team recorded a one-hit, 6-0 shutout over Nevada on what was "Heroes Night" at Margie Wright Diamond. The Friday night victory advances the `Dogs to an overall record of 34-14 and 15-4 in Mountain West action.
Jill Compton drew the start in the circle and sat two Nevada batters on a pair of strikeouts in the top of the first inning to start her outstanding offensive showing. Compton tossed her 21st complete game on Friday night, giving up only one hit, one walk, allowing just two runners on base and worked five 3-up, 3-down innings while recording her eighth shutout of the year.
"Jill was dealing tonight, it was fun to watch," head coach Trisha Ford said. "She had great command and good presence on the mound and I thought her and Paige [Gumz] called a great game, it's fun to see her throw those kinds of games."
Compton broke her single-game high of 10 strikeouts after issuing her 11th on the last out of the game in the top of the seventh inning. The five-time Mountain West Pitcher of the Week now holds a conference-high of 200 strikeouts this season.
"She's put in the hard work," Ford added. "She has put in the time to get to that point but I think the focus of our team is not about individuals, Jill would take a win any day over 11 strikeouts. She is very unselfish and does a great job of executing her game plan."
Brenna Moss reached base on a walk as the `Dogs leadoff batter and was moved to third on a pair of infield singles before being driven home on a triple from Kierra Willis. Hitting in the cleanup spot for the `Dogs, Willis has a team-leading seven triples on the year and led the Bulldogs on Friday scoring three of the `Dogs six runs on two hits.
"It was a close game through six innings and we kept our heads up and didn't let it go," Willis said. "I enjoyed playing on the field behind Jill and backing her up. She's a great pitcher, awesome teammate and doesn't give up."
In what was a 1-0 game through five innings of play, Fresno State added to Nevada's deficit with five additional runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Moss scored Fresno State's second run of the game drawing her second walk with bases loaded. As the current record holder for the most stolen bases and Bulldog leadoff batter, Moss stands only five hits shy of being placed in the top 10 for the most career hits in school history.
Malia Rivers and Whitney Smith contributed offensively posting two-hits on Friday night with Moss, Rivers, Willis and Paige Gumz recording Fresno State's six runs batted in on the night.
Weekend Promotions
All dogs get in free on Saturday for the annual "Bark in the Park" event held on the outfield berm, Fresno State partners with the local Valley Animal Shelter to have an adoptable petmobile placed in the right field corner of the outfield. In addition to Salute to Saturday's where veterans and active military get in free, the Bulldog seniors will be signing autograph cards on the concourse postgame Saturday night. The final 2015 home game will be on Sunday, April 26 where the senior class will be honored before the noon game against Nevada. Join us as we thank our seniors for their hard work and dedication to the Bulldog softball team!
Looking Ahead
Senior weekend (April 24-26) continues at Margie Wright Diamond on Saturday as the `Dogs take on Nevada for the second-game of the series at 6 p.m., and noon on Sunday afternoon. Following the back-to-back home stand, Fresno State will travel to Stockton, Calif., for a single non-conference game with the University of Pacific on Saturday, May 2 before competing in the final regular season series against UNLV at Eller Media Stadium in Las Vegas, Nev.
"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.
