Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
13-3
Northwestern
7-8
Willmon ignites fifth inning surge
3/4/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
FULLERTON, Calif.- The No. 21/22 Fresno State softball team advanced to 13-3 on the season after squaring off with Northwestern (7-8) and collecting a 7-1 victory Friday afternoon at the annual Judi Garman Classic hosted by Cal State Fullerton.
After collecting wins over the Wildcats and Cal State Northridge last week, Fresno State was positioned No. 22 in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Poll and checked in at No. 21 in the ESPN.com/USA Softball listings.
Friday's contest served as the weekend opener for both programs who similarity were coming off a 2-3 desert record. Last week the Bulldogs rallied past Northwestern in an eight-inning battle, after scoring the game-tying run on a bases-loaded walk and taking a 6-4 lead on a pair of home runs in extra innings. This was the 12th all-time meeting as Fresno State extended a four-game advantage (8-4).
Fresno State sported a slight lineup shift in the second go-round with Northwestern as Bria Kennedy led off, Malia Rivers moved to the two spot and designated player Dominique Jackson switched with Alyssa Villalpando batting third.
The Wildcats set the pace of Friday's contest after loading the bases and scoring on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the first. Despite two Bulldog's reaching on a hit-by-pitch, Fresno State was seeking its first hit heading into the fifth inning as Villalpando led off with a walk.
Junior Lindsey Willmon gave the 'Dogs a 2-1 edge on her fourth home run of the season and went 1-for-3 (.333) on the day with a team-leading three RBI's including a sacrifice hit.
"All I was thinking stepping into the box was that Alyssa [Villalpando] just came up with a great at-bat and I wanted to follow up and move her over so we could get the game started," Willmon said. "Once I executed, great things followed."
Senior Jill Compton (8-1) took the rubber for what was her eighth start of the season and ninth overall appearance. The righty ace fanned seven batters and allowed Northwestern just one extra base hit while tossing her ninth complete game. In spite of the Wildcat's solo earned run (1.000 ERA), Compton kept the Bulldogs untouched though the remaining six consecutive innings.
After scoring the go-ahead run on Willmon's shot, the fifth inning rally continued with pinch hitter Morgan Howe reaching on four balls and pinch runner Brooke Coates scoring from third on Malia Rivers' infield single. Coates had advanced around the bath path on a perfectly executed sacrifice bunt from Whitney Smith and took third on her second stolen base of the season.
Rivers went on to score from second on a Wildcat throwing error after capturing her team-leading fifth stolen base of the year. The 'Dogs collected two additional runs in the sixth as Vanessa Hernandez and Kennedy knocked in respective runs and forced a Wildcat pitching change. Fresno State's final run came in the seventh on Willmon's sacrifice fly to right field.
Fresno State tied its second-best game-high in errors forced as the Wildcats mishandled three balls over the seven-inning stretch.
The squad faced senior Amy Letourneau (3-5) for the second time and Nicole Bond for the remaining 1.2 innings on Friday after going against Letourneau, fellow senior Kristen Wood (1-1) and freshman Kaley Winegamer (2-1) last Saturday.
Next Up
Saturday's matchup will feature No. 22/24 Baylor (2:30) for what will be the fifth top 25 opponent Fresno State has faced this season, followed by a 7:30 p.m., start against Wisconsin. The final day of the Judi Garman Classic will round out against No. 22 Oregon State and California who recently dropped out the national polls.
In addition to No. 21/22 Fresno State, host Cal State Fullerton welcomed 11 programs from across the country including six top 25 teams hailing from six conferences - No. 14/18 Missouri (SEC), No. 2/3 Michigan (Big Ten), Long Beach State (Big West), No. 17/19 Arizona State (Pac 12), San Jose State (Mountain West), California (Pac 12), North Carolina (ACC), Wisconsin (Big Ten), Northwestern (Big Ten), No. 22/24 Baylor (Big 12) and No. 22 Oregon State (Pac 12).
Stay Up To Date
Fresno State Athletics continues striving to meet the needs of Bulldog fans around the county, therefore providing several outlets to follow the Dogs' journey in 2016. Stay up-to-date with the latest news via 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.
Come game day, a live stat feed of all home games can be found on StatBroadcast and GameTracker. The Red Wave can watch live on the Mountain West Network or 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 (8-1)
L: Letourneau (3-5)
Batting:
HR: Willmon, Lindsey 1
RBI: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Rivers, Malia 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 3 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1
SH: Smith, Whitney 1
SF: Willmon, Lindsey 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rivers, Malia 1 ; LeeHong, Chase 1 ; Villalpando, Alyssa 1 ; Rodriguez, Christina 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 2 ; Coates, Brooke 1
SB: Rivers, Malia 1 ; Coates, Brooke 1
HBP: Smith, Whitney 1
Batting:
2B: Letourneau 1
RBI: Nelson, M. 1
SH: Marquez, B. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rabin, S. 1
HBP: Filler, A. 1 ; LeBeau, B. 1
