Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
20-9-1, 2-0
Boise State
8-25, 0-5
`Dogs sweep doubleheader in Boise
3/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
BOISE, Idaho - Defending Mountain West Champion, No. 25 Fresno State began its quest to a second league title against Boise State at Dona Larsen Park on Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs opened the 2016 regular season with a doubleheader sweep over the Broncos, starting with a 17-8 run-rule victory and closed out the midweek action with a six-inning 14-2 win.
"Today was a great day for us offensively," head coach Trisha Ford said. "It was nice to see us swing the bat with some authority. We still have some things to tidy up and tomorrow will be another opportunity for us to get better."
Fresno State moves to 20-9-1 on the season and 2-0 in Mountain West play. Boise State is 8-25 and 0-5 in conference after being swept by Nevada last week. The Broncos have been run-ruled eight times over 33 combined contests and is now is 0-3 against nationally ranked teams after falling 12-1 against then-ranked No. 8 Washington on March 4.
Fresno State leads the all-time series 18-6 and is riding a five-game win streak heading into Wednesday's contest. The Bulldogs last visited Dona Larsen Park in 2014 and fell 2-1 in the regular season series.
In game one, Fresno State scored four or more runs in each of the initial three frames and loaded the bases at least once in all but two innings. The squad put four runs on the board before suffering their first out and scored 17 runs on three home runs, three extra base hits and 10 combined singles. The go-ahead run was tallied in the midst of a six-run rally on five hits in the second that landed Fresno State a ten-run edge.
Alyssa Villalpando reset the team's RBI game-high with seven after clearing the bases twice on a grand slam in the first inning and standup double in the third. The remaining nine RBI's were generated by Kierra Willis (2), Morgan Howe (2), Paige Gumz (2), Dominique Jackson (1), Vanessa Hernandez (1) and Katie Castellon (1).
Five Bulldogs had a perfect average during the conference opener including Bria Kennedy (3-for-3), Villalpando (2-for-2), Willis (2-for-2), Howe (2-for-2) and pinch hitter Brooke Coates who tripled during her first career plate appearance. Freshmen Howe and Hernandez both accounted for their first home run of the season.
Bulldog senior Jill Compton made the start in the circle and became the pitcher of record in game one after tossing five complete innings with five strikeouts and no walked batters.
Boise State chipped away at the `Dogs lead in four-of-five innings on a two-run home run in the second, a solo shot in the third, four runs scored on four hits in the middle of the fourth and a home run in the fifth. Despite giving up eight runs, Compton advanced to 10-4 on the year.
In the second contest of the day, both the Broncos and Bulldogs went down in order in the first and the game remained scoreless through two complete innings. Fresno State capitalized on a Bronco fielding error to take the lead and pushing across two runs in the top of the third.
Boise State came back to tie it up on a two-run homer in the middle of the fourth prior to Kennedy igniting a fifth inning rally on a leadoff shot over the centerfield fence. Willis drove in Rivers on a home run to give the `Dogs a 5-2 edge prior to Hernandez bringing in two additional runs on a double to left.
Fresno State doubled its amount of runs and gained a 14-2 advantage on seven hits in the top of the sixth inning. Despite Boise State collecting two runs on four hits, the `Dogs earned its fifth run-rule triumph of the season and second on the day.
Freshman Kamalando Dung (4-0) went the distance for the Bulldogs while fanning six Broncos and allowing just four earned runs. The rookie led the `Dogs from the rubber on Tuesday during what was her ninth appearance, fifth start and third complete game of the year.
Offensively, five Bulldogs logged a multi-hit game -- Kennedy (2-for-3), Lindsey Willmon (2-for-4), Hernandez (2-for-4), Rivers (2-for-4) and Willis (2-for-4) -- while Hernandez and Willis led the team with three RBI's apiece.
Overall on Tuesday, Kennedy led the team in hits (5-for-6), total bases (8), stolen bases (1) and drew two walks. Villalpando rounded out the remaining offensive categories with nine RBI's and tied Whitney Smith in doubles (2). Tuesday's home run derby featured five for Fresno State, meanwhile Boise State captured six of the 11 total.
The squad reset several offensive season game-highs against the Broncos including total at-bats (35), runs scored (17), hits (16), RBI's (16), doubles (5) and total bases (29).
The eighth top 25 national rankings were released Tuesday, as Fresno State made its seventh straight appearance in the USA Today/NFCA Division I Softball Coaches Poll at No. 25 and dropped out of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Rankings.
The Bulldogs are the lone Mountain West program in the NCAA Women's Softball RPI top 25, after being positioned 22nd in the second listings heading into today's action. Fresno State moved two spots after sited No. 20 on March 22 while the Broncos are own a national RPI of 218.
Next Up
The opening series will continue with a single game with the Broncos on Wednesday at 11 a.m. Mountain West play will continue April 1-3 as Fresno State hosts San Diego State for a three-game series at Margie Wright Diamond. The Aztecs trail the Bulldogs with the league's second-best RPI (No. 59) and are positioned top five in the MW standings.
Additional home conference battles include Utah State (April 15-17), Colorado State (April 22-24) and UNLV (May 12-14). The `Dogs take the road to compete against New Mexico (April 8-10), San Jose State (April 29-May 1) and Nevada (May 6-8).
Stay Up To Date
Fans can follow the Bulldog's 2016 journey and stay up-to-date with the latest news through several media outlets including Twitter (@FresnoStateSB), Facebook (Fresno State Softball), Instagram (@fresnostatesoftball) and Snapchat (FresnoStateSB). A full recap and final results can be found at GoBulldogs.com following each competition.
A stat feed will be provided for each home game in addition a live stream on the Mountain West Network. The Red Wave can listen on ESPN 790 AM "The Deuce" during select games. Please note, all broadcast schedules are tentative and subject to change.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 "The Deuce."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dung, Kamalani (4-0)
L: McGILL, M. (3-5)
Batting:
2B: Villalpando, Alyssa 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1 ; Smith, Whitney 1 ; Howe, Morgan 1
HR: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Willis, Kierra 1
RBI: Kennedy, Bria 2 ; Willis, Kierra 3 ; Villalpando, Alyssa 2 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 3 ; Howe, Morgan 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy, Bria 3 ; Rivers, Malia 2 ; Willis, Kierra 2 ; Rodriguez, Christina 1 ; Jackson, Dominique 1 ; Coates, Brooke 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1 ; Smith, Whitney 1 ; Howe, Morgan 1
HBP: Stucker, Claire 1
Batting:
HR: CERVANTES, R 2
RBI: CERVANTES, R 4
Base Running:
RUNS: HUGHES, T. 2 ; CERVANTES, R 2
HBP: SHREVES, K. 1
