Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
35-9-1, 16-0
San Jose State
22-22, 11-5
Bulldogs propel past Spartans in fifth-inning surge
4/29/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
SAN JOSE, Calif. - Undefeated No. 20 Fresno State outdid San Jose State, 11-5, during Friday's series opener at SJSU Field. The unbeaten Bulldogs move to 35-9-1 overall and are riding the nation's longest win streak of 17 in a row including 16 Mountain West matchups.
Aside from previously capturing the best start to a conference season in MW history, Fresno State is ahead of the league by a five-game margin and could clinch their second-straight conference championship on Sunday, May 1 by preserving its perfect streak.
In second place, San Jose State now owns an even 22-22 overall record, is 11-5 in conference play and has fell just three times in nine total contests at home this year.
While facing the reigning Mountain West Pitcher of the Week, Katelyn Linford (7-8), Fresno State put three straight balls in play in the first but went down in order before junior Lindsey Willmon (2-for-4) gave the `Dogs their first hit on a single through the right side in the second.
After reaching on a walk, senior Alyssa Villalpando (2-for-3) scored from second on an RBI single from designated player Dominique Jackson. The Bulldogs headed to the middle of the second with a one-run edge, before San Jose State reached base on a hit-by-pitch and scored on a standup double to left that tied the game with two outs.
Fresno State got the first out of the third inning but then gave up the lead on a three-run home run by the Spartans' number five batter. While facing a 4-1 deficit, Bulldog catcher Paige Gumz opened the fourth inning with a double to left-center before Willmon blasted a two-run homer, her 10th of the season.
SJSU made a pitching change after their lead was trimmed 4-3 and an inning later Willmon forced an error at first base that the `Dogs took advantage of to tie the game. With bases loaded and two away in the fifth, pinch hitter Morgan Howe was struck by a pitch to score the go-ahead run.
Following San Jose State's second pitching change, number nine batter Whitney Smith was hit by the first pitch and logged an RBI before leadoff Bria Kennedy knocked in two additional runs. Fresno State's advantage was cut 8-5 on a solo shot by the Spartan's fifth inning leadoff batter.
With nine hits on the board, Gumz moved two Bulldog runners to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt before Kierra Willis (2-for-3) reached home safely on a Spartan fielding error. As the MW leader in RBIs, Villalpando added a pair of runs to Fresno State's lead on a two-out single that put the `Dogs up 11-5 heading into the final half-inning of play.
Winning pitcher Jill Compton is now 21-4 in 25 overall starts and owns a perfect 12-0 league record after capturing her 84th career win on Friday. San Jose State's Colette Riggs (6-4) was charged Friday's loss as the Bulldogs put up 10 runs after facing a 4-1 deficit through three complete innings.
Compton added three strikeouts to her 654 career total and with eight games still remaining on the 2016 regular season schedule, ranks sixth in all-time program history in strikeouts, seventh in wins, second in appearances (153), eighth in innings pitched (784.2) and 10th in complete games (83).
During the last meeting between Fresno State and San Jose State, the Spartans generated 15 hits in a 9-7 win that captured the weekend series two games to one at Margie Wright Diamond. In the all-time series, Fresno State holds an 85-12 advantage and is 39-8 during games contested in San Jose.
Next up, Fresno State will return to action against San Jose State for a pair of noon starts on Saturday and Sunday. The Bulldogs will then visit Nevada (May 6-8), prior to hosting UNLV for senior weekend starting Thursday, May 12 at Margie Wright Diamond.
QUICK HITS
The No. 20 Bulldogs have been ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll for 11 consecutive weeks. That streak is the second-longest in MW history, trailing only San Diego State, which was ranked for 13 consecutive weeks in the NFCA poll in 2008. In addition, Fresno State is the first Mountain West team to be nationally ranked since New Mexico spent four weeks in the top 25 back in 2012.
The squad is currently 26-0 in conference play dating back to the 2015 season and is riding the longest win streak accomplished by any MW program in league history.
The Bulldogs have won their last 17 contests including 16 Mountain West matchups and a single nonconference game. That stretch tops the longest streak in Bulldog softball history since 2000. The last time the Bulldog softball program opened conference with more than 16-straight wins was a 24-0 stretch, accomplished in 1999.
In the past three weeks the Bulldogs have swept Boise State and New Mexico on the road and took all three contests from San Diego State, Utah State and Colorado State at home. When combining the past four conference series, Fresno State has outscored their opponent 136-56 which includes four run-rule victories and three walk-off wins.
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: Compton, Jill (21-4)
L: RIGGS (6-4)
Batting:
2B: Gumz, Paige 1 ; Smith, Whitney 1
HR: Willmon, Lindsey 1
RBI: Kennedy, Bria 2 ; Villalpando, Alyssa 2 ; Willmon, Lindsey 2 ; Jackson, Dominique 1 ; Howe, Morgan 1 ; Smith, Whitney 1
SH: Gumz, Paige 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Castellon, Katie 1 ; Willis, Kierra 3 ; Villalpando, Alyssa 1 ; Rodriguez, Christina 1 ; Gumz, Paige 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 2 ; Jackson, Dominique 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1
HBP: Howe, Morgan 1 ; Smith, Whitney 2
Batting:
2B: ABACHERLI 1 ; PURDY 1 ; ENTZMINGER 1
HR: MARTINEZ 1 ; AURIN 1
RBI: MARTINEZ 1 ; AURIN 3 ; ENTZMINGER 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MARTINEZ 1 ; MADRID 1 ; HUFSTETLER 1 ; AURIN 1 ; AVILA 1
HBP: HUFSTETLER 1 ; AVILA 1
