Pinch-hit home run claims weekend series

Saturday, April 9

Albuquerque, N.M.

12:00 PM

Fresno State

26-9-1, 8-0

New Mexico

18-16, 3-5

Fresno State

New Mexico

Freshman Dominique Jackson put the 'Dogs up 4-2 on a two-run knock in the sixth.

Pinch-hit home run claims weekend series

4/9/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

April 9, 2016

By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com

FS-NM2

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.- The No. 23/25 Fresno State softball team topped New Mexico 6-2 on Saturday at Lobo Field. The Bulldogs advance to 26-9-1 and sport a perfect 8-0 Mountain West record with three-straight conference series wins.

"We finally strung some hits together and had a pinch-hit home run by our freshman Dominique [Jackson] who clutched up for us big-time," head coach Trisha Ford said. "We were looking for a good pitch and needed something long, Jackson has that potential and didn't miss. New Mexico's pitcher made a mistake and she cleared the stadium."

Bulldog catcher Paige Gumz had the first hit of the game on a double to left-center in the top of the second and reached home safely on a ball up the middle by designated player Morgan Howe (2-for-4).

New Mexico tied the game on a bases-loaded single up the middle and took the lead on an RBI ground-out before the 'Dogs escaped the third inning.

Junior infielder Lindsey Willmon (3-for-4) reached base on a two-out double and scored the game-tying run on Howe's shallow base hit behind first. Pinch hitter Dominique Jackson followed up with a two-run homer to put Fresno State up 4-2 heading to the middle of the sixth.

Willmon leads the squad in overall doubles (10) and Jackson is within a two-way tie for the Bulldog's second highest count of combined home runs (7) this season.

The Bulldogs added two runs to New Mexico's deficit on a wild pitch and a base-hit RBI from Willmon in the seventh, and captured its 14th contest with a double-digit hit (12) figure.

Freshman Kamalani Dung (5-0) earned her seventh game start and became the winning pitcher for the second time during MW play. Senior Jill Compton took the circle at the start of the sixth and garnered her second save of the year. The duo combined for two strikeouts while allowing just three hits and a pair of runs during the seven-inning stretch.

Additionally, Whitney Smith contributed a pair of hits in three at-bats meanwhile Bria Kennedy, Katie Castellon, Kierra Willis and Gumz each tallied one hit on Saturday. Fresno State's 12 hits were generated off eight singles and four extra base hits including one multi-run knock.

In this week's two contest combined, Smith is leading the team offensively with an even .800 average (4-for-5), as Willmon (5-for-8) and Gumz (5-for-8) are tied with a second-best .625.

Fresno State has now won 18 straight Mountain West games dating back to the 2015 season and is riding an eight-game conference streak for the first time since the 2004 squad opened the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) season 9-0.

Two weeks into the regular season, Fresno State sits atop the league standings and holds a two-game lead over San Jose State. New Mexico (18-16, 3-5 MW) is positioned fifth after dropping last week's series to Nevada, 1-2, and previously taking two-of-three at home against Utah State on March 24-26.

The 'Dogs were coming off an 11-5 triumph on Friday night as senior Alyssa Villalpando solely accounted for five runs batted in while going 5-for-5 with her seventh home run of the season.

Fresno State will be back in action looking for its third three-game sweep on Sunday at 11 a.m., Pacific Standard Time.

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-May1). The remaining regular season slate rounds out with Nevada (May 6-8) and Fresno State's 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.

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."