'Dogs shutout Indiana, upset No. 8 Tennessee

Friday, February 12

Tempe, Ariz.

4:00 PM

Fresno State

2-0

Tennessee (No. 8)

2-1

Fresno State

Tennessee

Willmon led the team offensively going 5-for-7 with two home runs.

'Dogs shutout Indiana, upset No. 8 Tennessee

2/12/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Feb. 12, 2016

By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com

IND-FS | UT-FS

TEMPE, Ariz.- The Fresno State softball team opened the 2016 season with a pair of victories over Indiana and No. 8 Tennessee on Friday afternoon during the annual ASU Kajikawa Classic at Farrington Stadium.

"We came out today and earned two wins," head coach Trisha Ford said. "That's how we wanted to start this season. Our pitchers did a good job of mixing speeds and hitting spots. We played clean softball today and it was exciting to see some of our new faces contribute to the success. Our lineup, from top to bottom, delivered and we are going to need that throughout the season. We have a long road ahead of us but picking up two wins today was a great start."

As the home team, Fresno State gained the early lead against the Hoosiers as catcher Paige Gumz drove in Kierra Willis from first base to ignite a four-run rally in the second inning.

Freshman Dominique Jackson debuted her collegiate career with an RBI, scoring Gumz on single to right field. Also making her first Bulldog appearance at the plate, junior transfer Lindsey Willmon homered to give the 'Dogs a 4-0 advantage heading into the third.

Following three scoreless innings, Fresno State had yet another multi-run showing in the sixth. Freshman Morgan Howe capitalized on her first pinch hitting opportunity, collecting an RBI on a single up the middle and placed a runner in scoring position to be driven in on a two-run homer by senior, Alyssa Villalpando.

The 'Dogs offensive success was replicated up with a consistent defensive effort as senior ace, Jill Compton tossed six scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and allowed only three hits. Fresno State's errorless showing against Indiana was capped with a double play, giving the Bulldogs their first victory of the season.

Opening day continued with a matchup against one of the top 10 programs in the nation, eighth-ranked Tennessee. Fresno State gained an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a three-run home run from Jackson.

"It was a great going up to bat for the first time hearing the fans and team cheering for me," Jackson said. "I knew that they were behind me and that support allowed me to be more confident at the plate."

Senior Taylor Langdon drew the start in the circle and went three complete innings with two strikeouts facing the Lady Vols. Fellow senior, Hannah Harris made her second appearance of the day and tossed the remaining four innings after facing three batters in the final inning against the Hoosiers.

Fresno State added three runs to UT's deficit in the top of the fourth on four hits including Willmon's second home run of the day that put the 'Dogs up 5-1. During her second collegiate showing, Howe singled to left while pinch hitting in the two spot to score the Bulldogs final run of the inning.

Despite a two-run rally from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) program, Willmon continued her feat going 4-for-4 with a double that gave Fresno State a four-run advantage after five innings of play. With no runs scored during the remaining 12 outs, Fresno State advanced to a 2-0 opening weekend record.

On the day, Willmon led the team at the plate with five hits in seven at-bats with two doubles, a pair of home runs, five RBI and 13 total bases. In addition, six Bulldogs logged three or more hits including Whitney Smith (.600), Willis (.500), Rivers (.429), Gumz (.375) and Jackson (.429), who had a second-best four RBI and six total bases.

Up next, the ASU Kajikawa Classic continues as Fresno State takes the field against Seattle University (6:00 p.m. PT) and Boston College (8:30 p.m. PT) on Saturday evening. The Bulldogs will cap the weekend long stretch against Utah, who checked in at No. 23 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Preseason Top 25 and received 22 votes to be ranked in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Preseason Poll.

"Be Bold!" - The official home of Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 "The Deuce."