Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
3-0
Seattle University
1-2
Softball grinds out pair of victories
2/14/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
TEMPE, Ariz.- The Fresno State softball team collected two additional wins on Saturday night during the second day of the ASU Kajikawa Classic. The Bulldogs advance to 4-0 coming off victories over Seattle University (7-4) and Boston College (3-1).
"It was a great team effort today," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We played from behind in both games which is good for us, we need to win tight ball games. The team showed a lot of fight and grit with a late-game comeback but we have another opportunity to come out and finish strong tomorrow."
During game one, Seattle University took a 2-0 lead on four hits in the top of the third inning. Fresno State wasted no time answering back as senior Alyssa Villalpando tallied the first of two back-to-back triples to start the third inning rally, followed by junior Kierra Willis and a home run from Bulldog catch, Paige Gumz.
Freshman Kamalani Dung made her collegiate debut in the circle for the 'Dogs at the top of the fourth inning after senior Hannah Harris drew her first start of the season. The duo combined for six innings, allowing eight hits while Dung tossed a game-high three strikeouts. Senior ace, Jill Compton closed out the final inning to get the save.
Leadoff batter, Malia Rivers paced the 'Dogs against SeattleU with two hits in four at-bats (.500) and three RBI while designated player, freshman Dominique Jackson went 2-for-2 with one walk hitting in the seven spot.
The Redhawks cut their deficit by one run in the top of the fifth inning and again in the sixth, but was held short of three runs while Fresno State logged its third consecutive seven-run victory.
The two-game slate continued against undefeated Boston College who had previously accounted for three wins earlier in the tournament. Following a five-inning scoreless stretch, the Eagles gained a one-run advantage in the bottom of the sixth to leave the 'Dogs with only three outs remaining to score.
Junior transfer, Lindsey Willmon accounted for the first hit of the game in the second inning followed by a single from Gumz in the fourth, adding to what was only a two-hit game. The Bulldogs contributed three hits in the fifth, two in the sixth and accounted for a come-from-behind victory in the seven on three runs, one hit and three errors.
The seventh-inning rally was started with two defensive mistakes, placing both Bria Kennedy and Whitney Smith in scoring position. Despite a pitching change, Rivers scored the Bulldogs tying run on a shot down the leftfield line which was followed up with two additional runs to put Fresno State up 3-1 heading into the Eagles' last ups.
"All I thought was to get my job done by keeping the ball on the ground so we can score," Rivers said. "Coming back and getting that win showed just how much fight our team has."
In the circle for Fresno State, Compton (2-0) tossed her first complete game after making her second start of the season, and held Boston College to only one hit through five complete innings. With two strikeouts coming in the first inning, the right-handed ace sat down six Eagle batters while allowing just three runs in her seven-inning showing.
On the day, Rivers led the team going 4-for-8 (.500) with four RBI over the two-game stretch, while three additional Bulldogs tallied multi-hit efforts - Jackson (3-for-6), Gumz (2-for-6) and Willis (2-for-6).
New faces on the field during Saturday's competition included freshman Kaitlyn Jennings as a pinch runner and senior Victoria Trevino who also made an appearance on the base path in the top of the seventh.
Of the nine-team league, the Bulldogs top the Mountain West charts as the lone program with more than two victories. New Mexico and UNLV are tied with a 2-1 opening-weekend record and Nevada and San Diego State round out the top half at 2-2.
Up next, Fresno State will take on Utah (2-1) at 12:30 p.m. (PT) for the final game of the three-day weekend tournament. The Utes run ruled both Georgia State (9-0) and Portland State (8-0) after falling 2-1 to No. 24 Notre Dame on Friday.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 "The Deuce."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dung, Kamalani (1-0)
L: Reuble, A. (0-1)
S: Compton, Jill (1)
Batting:
HR: Ottino, M. 1
RBI: Geronimo, I. 1 ; Campbell, M. 2 ; Ottino, M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bouska, P. 1 ; Ree, K. 1 ; Ottino, M. 2
Batting:
2B: Hernandez, Vanessa 1 ; Jackson, Dominique 1
3B: Villalpando, Alyssa 1 ; Willis, Kierra 1
HR: Gumz, Paige 1
RBI: Rivers, Malia 3 ; Villalpando, Alyssa 1 ; Willis, Kierra 1 ; Gumz, Paige 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Hernandez, Vanessa 1 ; Villalpando, Alyssa 1 ; Willis, Kierra 1 ; Gumz, Paige 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 1 ; Coates, Brooke 1 ; Kennedy, Bria 1
