Fresno State Athletics
Doubleheader Surges `Dogs to a Sweep
4/8/2015 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FRESNO, Calif.- The Fresno State softball team faced New Mexico in its first regular season doubleheader on Wednesday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond. After edging New Mexico 7-1 on Tuesday, the `Dogs grasped the series with a 4-0 win in the first game of the day and went on to sweep the Lobos with a 4-1 victory in game-two.
"Today was extremely important," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We have to win games that we should win and those were three games we should've won so I'm excited that we took care of business and now we get on a plane tomorrow to take care of business in Utah."
In the first game, Hannah Harris drew the start against the Lobos and helped herself to a perfect showing through two innings of play before giving up the first hit to the Lobos in the third. Three New Mexico batters went down swinging leading the junior righty to a season total of 35 strikeouts.
After tying her season record of three hits during last night's competition, Michelle Solomon tallied a new game-high reaching twice on a hit by pitch in her first two at-bats and went on to record a single and one walk in the first game against the Lobos.
Utilizing four members of their pitching staff, New Mexico allowed four Bulldog base runners on due to being struck by the pitcher and 12 total walks in the first game competing with the 1985 school record of 14 walks in a single game.
Back-to-back leadoff singles from Solomon and Kierra Willis followed by a sacrifice bunt and three walks put the `Dogs up 2-0 in the fifth inning. All four of the `Dogs runs scored off walks with the bases loaded, Bria Kennedy had a team-best of two runs batted in with Alyssa Villalpando and Whitney Smith each recorded one of the remaining pair of runs.
Starting in the circle for game two, Jill Compton kept the Lobos off the base path for the first five innings, throwing a perfect game before allowing New Mexico its first hit in the fifth inning. Giving up two additional late-game hits, Compton allowed the Lobos only three hits and three runners on base with six strikeouts and no walks.
"Today was huge," Compton said. "That's what our goal is to sweep every team we play and we really took it one game at a time today. I always want to do better and I think that I could've attacked the zone a little bit better, I was ahead and could've put them away and I need to take it one pitch at a time rather than worrying about the outcome. I've had a lot of innings and that comes with confidence and knowing my defense can field behind me, I just try to keep the hitters off balance."
The first hit of the second game came in the third inning by Smith who reached on a bunt to give the Bulldogs a total of three baserunners in three innings.
Solomon put the `Dogs up 2-0 in the third on a left-center double scoring Brenna Moss and Malia Rivers who both reached base on a fielder's choice. Two innings later, Kierra Willis had a triple to tack on an additional run for the `Dogs who gained a 3-0 lead heading into the sixth.
Freshmen Katie Castellon and Brooke Coates pinch hit for the `Dogs in the bottom of the sixth. Castellon lead off the inning with a single to left field and Coates made her first collegiate appearance at the plate. Smith doubled to score Castellon and lead the `Dogs to a final score of 4-1 over New Mexico on Wednesday afternoon.
In two days of play, Fresno State allowed only two runs capping the three-game series with a 4-0 shutout and 4-1 victory over New Mexico on Wednesday and outscoring the Lobos 15-2. On a four-game winning streak, the `Dogs advance to a 9-3 regular season record to secure a second place conference seating.
"Our pitching is what helped us this weekend," Ford added. "Jill and Hannah both did phenomenal jobs yesterday and today and when you get good pitching you'll be in a lot of games. We're in a tough stretch, 9 games in 11 days, but it's that time of season so we have to focus and remember what our goals are when we hit those dull moments."
Previous Action
After battling a two-hour rain delay, the Bulldogs and Lobos were able to compete in only a single game on Tuesday rather than a doubleheader at Margie Wright Diamond. Fresno State captured the first game of the series with a 7-1 victory on Tuesday evening, rescheduling the second game for Wednesday afternoon.
Looking Ahead
Fresno State will head to Logan, Utah on Thursday to face Utah State on Friday, April 10-12 to continue its nine-game slate in a matter of only 11 days. Following this week's action, the Bulldogs will host Boise State (April 17-19) and Nevada (April 24-26) for back-to-back Mountain West series at Margie Wright Diamond.
"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.
