Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
28-9-1, 10-0
Utah State
19-17, 5-5
Gumz scores ninth-inning game winner
4/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
Bulldogs (28-9-1, 10-0 MW) vs. Aggies (19-17, 5-5 MW)
Fresno, Calif. (Margie Wright Diamond)
Saturday, April 16 (6 p.m.) and Sunday, April 17 (12 p.m.)
FRESNO, Calif. - The 23rd-ranked Fresno State softball team won a combined 23-run battle in nine innings against Utah State on Friday at Margie Wright Diamond. The Bulldogs extended their perfect Mountain West steak to 10-0 and advanced to 28-9-1 on the season following the 12-11 series-opening victory.
Senior catcher Paige Gumz came up clutch with a base-hit that scored the game winning run in the bottom of the ninth. Overall, freshman Dominique Jackson went 2-for-2 with a pair of home runs, three RBI, a team-leading three walks (one intentional) and eight total bases.
"We hit a lot of loud balls tonight that don't show on the hit column, but Paige [Gumz] came up big and knocked in the winning run," head coach Trisha Ford said. "There it is, she's a senior who's caught every single inning of her college career and she came through with a huge walk-off hit which says a lot about her. Dominique [Jackson] is a freshman that has that long-ball power. She has been a little inconsistent but the last couple weeks has really worked hard on finding her swing and she did a great job today. Those were huge hits, against the wind, that really got us back in the game along with Katie's [Castellon] phenomenal catch deep in the hole at second base. It was impressive that we were down by eight runs and came back to win that game."
Fresno State got on the board in the first inning due to a two-run base hit up the middle by senior Alyssa Villalpando, who tied Jackson with a team-leading three RBI on Friday. After going down in order, Utah State took a two-run lead on four hits and two Bulldog errors heading into the third.
Right-handed senior Jill Compton (16-4) drew the start in the circle and tossed two complete innings prior to freshman Kamalani Dung taking over with no outs and two runners aboard in the third as Fresno State faced a 7-2 deficit.
"I think Kama got better as the game went on, she started a little rough but we played good defense behind her," Ford added. "That's what you're looking for in a freshman, to improve as the season goes on and we got to see that tonight as she developed into the pitcher we need her to be."
Dung pitched seven innings and earned her sixth win of the year after fanning a personal game-high 13 batters, exceeding her previous record of six versus Boise State on March 29. Of the eight earned runs Utah State generated, Dung allowed just two in 27 batters faced with only one walk.
Fresno State chipped away at the Aggies lead after scoring on a standup double by Kierra Willis in the third, Jackson's solo knock and a bases-loaded walk by Villalpando in the fourth and Jackson's ninth home run of the year that added two runs in the fifth. Friday's contest was 10-7 in favor of Utah State after five complete innings of play.
Junior Lindsey Willmon got the sixth-inning rally started on an RBI single, followed by freshman Morgan Howe driving in two runs as a pinch hitter and senior Bria Kennedy putting the 'Dogs up 11-10 on a base hit up the middle. The Aggies tied the game on a pair of hits with two away in the top of the seventh.
Three-straight strikeouts by Dung brought the top of the Bulldog lineup to the plate in the bottom of the ninth as Gumz drove in Malia Rivers (2-for-5) from second on a single to right field.
Fresno State has now won 20-straight Mountain West games dating back to the 2015 season and is riding a 10-game conference streak heading into Saturday's matchup at 6 p.m. The three-game series against Utah State will wrap up on Sunday, starting at noon.
QUICK HITS
Fresno State owns a three-game lead in the MW standings over both Nevada (7-3) and San Jose State (7-3). The 'Dogs were coming off three series sweeps against Boise State, San Diego State and New Mexico over the past two weeks.
When combining the 10 conference games played this year, Fresno State has won by a 112-43 margin which includes four run-rule victories. The 'Dogs have additionally outscored their opponent with 10 or more hits in 16 contests and won in double-digit fashion on eight occasions.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Kid's Weekend continues Saturday as each adult gets unlimited youth in for 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.
ON THE HORIZON
After the weekend series versus Utah State, the 'Dogs will make a one-day road trip to Stockton, Calif., for a nonconference game against Pacific on Apr. 19 prior to hosting Colorado State, April 22-24. The squad will visit San Jose State (April 29-May 1) and Nevada (May 6-8), followed by senior weekend versus UNLV, May 12-14.
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.
"Be Bold!" - The official home of Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 "The Deuce."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dung, Kamalani (6-0)
L: BROWN, April (6-4)
Batting:
2B: NAMBA, Kirstyn 1 ; ARMENDARIZ, Alleyah 1 ; DICKSON, Kylie-Rose 1
3B: CHOW, Sarah 1
HR: SAUCEDO, Victoria 1
RBI: NAMBA, Kirstyn 1 ; CHOW, Sarah 2 ; ARMENDARIZ, Alleyah 1 ; SAUCEDO, Victoria 4 ; DICKSON, Kylie-Rose 1 ; CLARKE, Jazmin 1
Base Running:
RUNS: CHOW, Sarah 1 ; ARMENDARIZ, Alleyah 1 ; PEDERSON, Libby 1 ; MAHER, Mia 1 ; JARAMILLO, Sarina 2 ; SAUCEDO, Victoria 2 ; DICKSON, Kylie-Rose 1 ; CLARKE, Jazmin 2
SB: CLARKE, Jazmin 1
Batting:
2B: Rivers, Malia 1 ; Willis, Kierra 1
HR: Jackson, Dominique 2
RBI: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Willis, Kierra 1 ; Villalpando, Alyssa 3 ; Gumz, Paige 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 1 ; Jackson, Dominique 3 ; Howe, Morgan 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Rivers, Malia 2 ; Willis, Kierra 1 ; Rodriguez, Christina 1 ; Coates, Brooke 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 2 ; Jackson, Dominique 2 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1 ; Smith, Whitney 1
SB: Willis, Kierra 1
CS: Willmon, Lindsey 1
HBP: Kennedy, Bria 2
