Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
21-9-1, 3-0
Boise State
8-26, 0-6
Softball seizes midweek series
3/30/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
BOISE, Idaho - The No. 25 Fresno State softball team trumped Boise State 18-2 to earn the three-game sweep on Wednesday afternoon at Dona Larsen Park. The Bulldogs outscored the Broncos by a 49-12 margin with three straight run-rule victories over a two-day stretch.
Fresno State moves to 20-9-1 on the season and tops the Mountain West with a 3-0 conference start. Boise State is now 8-26 (0-6) while still seeking its first regular season win after being swept by Nevada last week. The `Dogs were coming off a 17-8 MW-opening win followed by a 14-2 triumph on Tuesday.
A two-out grand slam by Lindsey Willmon gave Fresno State an early edge after loading the bases on a single and pair of walks in the first. The junior first baseman went on to add two additional runs on a double to right in the second and crushed her second home run of the game in the fifth to collect a team-leading nine RBI's and 10 total bases on the day.
Additional multi-RBI efforts were generated on a two-run single by freshman Dominique Jackson, along with a two-run homer from senior leadoff batter Bria Kennedy, who had a second-best three runs scored on Wednesday. Junior Kierra Willis drew three consecutive walks in five total plate appearances, adding to her second place ranking in walks within the league and 66th nationally.
Similar to Willmon's three extra base hits and Kennedy's home run, pinch hitter Claire Stucker accounted for her first hit as a Bulldog on a double down the left field line in the top of the fifth. Senior shortstop Whitney Smith went 2-for-2 at the plate with her conference-best ninth sacrifice bunt of the year. Malia Rivers also added to the offensive explosion going 2-for-4 on a pair of singles and executing Fresno State's lone stolen base.
Senior Jill Compton (11-4) earned her 15th game start of the season and second in conference after facing the Broncos in the first game on Tuesday. The righty ace held Boise State to just two runs on eight hits (2.80 ERA) during what was her 18th appearance of the year.
Fresno State leads the all-time series 19-6 and rides a six-game win streak after sweeping the midweek series. The Bulldogs last visited Dona Larsen Park in 2014 and fell 2-1 in the regular season series.
Of the starting lineup, Kennedy led the squad at the plate with six hits in nine at-bats, a .769 on base percentage and one stolen base during the three-game series. The remaining offensive categories rounded out with a tie between Willmon and Villalpando in RBI's (9), Willis in walks (5) and Willmon in total bases (13).
Fresno State topped its single-game record in runs scored (18) that was previously set on Tuesday. In addition the `Dogs had a team game-high 10 walks on Wednesday, after tallying a season-best in at-bats (35), hits (16), RBI's (16), doubles (5) and total bases (29) the day prior.
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 yesterday's action. Fresno State moved two spots after sited No. 20 on March 22 while the Broncos own a national RPI of 218.
Next Up
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: Compton, Jill (11-4)
L: BASSLER, J. (1-9)
Batting:
2B: Willmon, Lindsey 1 ; Stucker, Claire 1
HR: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 2
RBI: Kennedy, Bria 3 ; Castellon, Katie 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 9 ; Jackson, Dominique 2
SH: Smith, Whitney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Rivers, Malia 3 ; Willis, Kierra 2 ; Villalpando, Alyssa 1 ; Rodriguez, Christina 1 ; Gumz, Paige 2 ; Willmon, Lindsey 3 ; Jackson, Dominique 1 ; Howe, Morgan 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1 ; Stucker, Claire 1 ; Smith, Whitney 1
SB: Rivers, Malia 1
Batting:
HR: LAMB, M. 1
RBI: CERVANTES, R 1 ; LAMB, M. 1
SH: SOROKINA, T. 1 ; HUGHES, T. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: LAMB, M. 1 ; DOYLE, K. 1
