Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
27-9-1, 9-0
New Mexico
18-17, 3-6
No. 23/25 softball run-rules, sweeps Lobos
4/10/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The twenty-third ranked Fresno State softball team earned its third consecutive Mountain West series sweep with an 11-1 run-rule victory on Sunday at Lobo Field. The Bulldogs are 27-9-1 and have preserved a perfect 9-0 regular season record to tie its all-time best conference start since 2004.
"Sweeping a series especially on the road is tough," head coach Trisha Ford said. "I was especially happy with our bats this weekend, Jill did her thing on the mound and we backed her with a lot of offense. Every conference game is important so we need to keep doing what we do well and take it game by game."
Previous action included an 11-5 triumph on Friday night, followed by a 6-2 win on Saturday. After two weeks of MW play, Fresno State sits atop the league standings and holds a two-game lead over San Jose State, meanwhile New Mexico (18-17, 3-6 MW) fell to sixth.
Out of the gate, Fresno State scored three runs on five hits initiated by leadoff batter Bria Kennedy (3-for-4) with a solo shot deep over the center-field fence. Kennedy is tied for the team's second-highest count in overall home runs (7) this season, with three coming during MW play.
Continuing in order, Malia Rivers (1-for-3) and Kierra Willis (2-for-2) both reached scoring position prior to Fresno State suffering its first offensive out of the game. Junior Lindsey Willmon then knocked in two runs to give the `Dogs a three-run edge through a half-inning of play.
In the top of the second, Kennedy singled through the right side, stole second, reached third on a Lobo error and scored the fourth run of the game on a double by Willis.
Outfielder Vanessa Hernandez added two runs in the third frame on a single up the middle with no outs. Kennedy increased her team-leading RBI total to three on a base hit up the middle to put the Bulldogs up 8-0 heading to the middle of the third.
Fresno State loaded the bases on a walk, hit-by-pitch and single through the infield before pushing its ninth run across on a pinch-hit walk by Dominique Jackson. The final two runs were accounted for on a two-run knock by Bulldog catcher Paige Gumz, giving her three home runs on the year.
Overall on Sunday, New Mexico was unable to strikeout any Bulldog batters over the five-inning stretch as Fresno State scored its 11 runs on 14 hits including a pair of home runs and one double. There were three walks and the `Dogs were struck by a pitch on two occasions with a .559 on-base percentage and 21 total bases.
From the circle, senior Jill Compton (16-4) earned her second game start of the weekend and 19th overall after capturing her second save of the season a day ago. With Sunday's victory, Compton moves to 7-0 in MW action after tossing her 15th complete game and adding three strikeouts to her weekend total of 10.
The Lobos snapped Compton's two-inning no-hitter on a leadoff triple and scored their lone run on a base hit through the right side. All three of New Mexico's hits came in the middle of the third inning as the Bulldogs kept the Lobos hitless in four-of-five innings on Sunday.
In the three contests combined, Gumz and Willmon led the squad offensively going 7-for-11 (.636) with four RBI's each, as Smith trailed with a .571 average (4-for-7) and one walk. Fresno State sported six players that collectively hit above .400 during this week's three-game matchup with New Mexico.
QUICK HITS
Fresno State has now won 19 straight Mountain West games dating back to the 2015 season and is riding a nine-game conference streak for the first time since the 2004 squad opened the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) season 9-0.
The `Dogs have outscored their opponent with 10 or more hits in 15 contests and has won in double-digit fashion on seven occasions during the 2016 season. Sunday was the seventh time Fresno State has run-ruled an opposing team this year, fourth during the regular season and 25th in Ford's four-year tenure.
The 23rd-ranked Bulldogs became the first Mountain West program to sweep a three-game conference series from New Mexico in Albuquerque since 2013.
ON THE HORIZON
The `Dogs will play host to Utah State (April 15-17) and Colorado State (April 22-24) before taking the road for a three-game series with San Jose State (April 29-May 1). The remaining regular season slate rounds out with Nevada (May 6-8) on the road, followed by senior weekend versus UNLV (May 12-14) at Margie Wright Diamond.
ABOUT UTAH STATE
The Aggies are 19-15 on the year and own a fourth-best 5-4 MW record after going 1-2 at home this week against San Jose State. Utah State was topped 9-3 in the series opener on Friday and rallied back to upset the Spartans 8-6 on Saturday, prior to today's 15-3 deficit.
Earlier in the regular season, New Mexico took the series 2-1 against the Aggies, Utah State's three-game slate with Colorado State was then postponed and USU went on to sweep UNLV as the visiting team two weeks ago.
Fresno State owns a 37-12 all-time record when squaring off with Utah State and has dropped just one contest in the last 25 matchups since 2001. In recent history, Fresno State took the 2015 series 2-1 and outscored USU by an 18-6 margin as the visiting team. The last time the Aggies competed at Margie Wright Diamond was in 2014 as they scored just three runs after being shutout two-times during the three-game stretch.
USU is led by head coach Steve Johnson who owned a 37-73 record heading into his third-year at the helm. The Blue and White finished fifth in the league with an overall mark of 19-36 (11-13 MW) and welcomed back six starters while adding 11 to the 2016 squad. Utah State has made one World Series appearance (1984) and has competed in the NCAA Tournament four times, with the last trip in 1993.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Friday's series-opener versus Utah State will feature free admission for all heroes as Fresno Fire Chief and softball alumnae Kerri Donis will throw out the ceremonial first pitch. In honor of kid's weekend, all youth who has camped with Fresno State Athletics will get in free along with "Youth Jersey Friday." The Bulldog sophomore class will be signing autographs postgame on the concourse.
Kid's Weekend continues Saturday as each adult gets unlimited youth in free. In addition, fans are encouraged to bring a book donation to help support our local community and help honor the rich tradition of Bulldog softball.
The weekend will wrap up Sunday with "League Day" as kids (12 and under) receive free admission with a travel or city league jersey. 150 root beer floats will be given away and the area youth are invited to run the bases postgame.
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 (16-4)
L: FORTNER (3-3)
Batting:
2B: Willis, Kierra 1
HR: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Gumz, Paige 1
RBI: Kennedy, Bria 3 ; Willis, Kierra 1 ; Gumz, Paige 2 ; Willmon, Lindsey 2 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 2 ; Jackson, Dominique 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy, Bria 2 ; Willis, Kierra 2 ; Gumz, Paige 3 ; Willmon, Lindsey 2 ; Howe, Morgan 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1
SB: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Willis, Kierra 1
HBP: Willis, Kierra 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 1
Batting:
3B: FRANC 1
RBI: SMITH 1
Base Running:
RUNS: FRANC 1
