Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
38-9-1, 19-0
Nevada
30-13, 8-8
`Dogs win jackpot in Reno
5/8/2016 12:00:00 AM | Softball
By: Kimberly Fisher
kimfisher@csufresno.edu
GoBulldogs.com
RENO, Nev. - Eager to get on the field after facing a two-day weather delay, No. 18/20 Fresno State swept Nevada during a doubleheader on Sunday at Hixson Park. The Bulldogs (39-9-1, 20-0 MW) outdid the Wolf Pack 7-3 and 10-6 to extend the nation's longest win streak to 21 in a row.
UNR (30-14, 8-9 MW) had last played a game on April 24 after their series at Colorado State was wiped out last week. Mountain West Champion, Fresno State owns the all-time series 45-15 and is 21-7 in games contested in Reno.
Game one featured Fresno State scoring five runs on six hits in the first three frames, including three doubles and two home runs. A two-run knock by Kierra Willis (2-for-4, 4 RBI) gave the `Dogs a 2-0 edge behind a pair of runs scored on a double by freshman outfielder Vanessa Hernandez (1-for-3, 2 RBI). Willis then blasted her second home run of the game as the third inning leadoff.
In the fourth inning, Malia Rivers collected an RBI on what was Fresno State's fourth double of the game, before Bria Kennedy (2-for-4) scored her second run of the game to put the squad up 7-0.
Winning pitcher Jill Compton (23-4, 15-0 MW) left Nevada without a hit over four complete innings and assisted Fresno State's 19th double play to cap the first inning. The senior ace fanned six batters before allowing one run on one hit as Nevada's fifth-inning leadoff cleared the centerfield fence.
The Wolf Pack loaded the bases on three-straight singles and scored their second run of the day on a base hit up the middle in the middle of the sixth. A wild pitch allowed Nevada their third and final run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
In what was her 22nd complete game, Compton exceeded her season game-high with 11 strikeouts while just one shy of tying her career-best (12) accomplished in 2013. Fresno State's offense faced lefty Brooke Bolinger who moved to 14-6 after being credited the loss with all seven earned runs in five innings pitched.
In game two, freshman Kamalani Dung drew her 10th game start of the year and struck out six batters as she remains unbeaten with an 8-0 overall record and 5-0 league mark. After tossing 5.1 innings, senior Taylor Langdon (3-1) took over in the circle to close out the bottom of the sixth and Compton faced the final three batters of the game.
Scoreless heading into the second, Paige Gumz (2-for-4) and Lindsey Willmon (2-for-3) started the frame with a pair of singles behind a three-run home run by Hernandez (2-for-3, 3 RBI) with three knocks on the season.
Fresno State more than doubled their three-run lead after scoring four runs on five hits in the top of the third. Willis (3-for-4, 3 RBI) and Alyssa Villalpando (2-for-4, 2 RBI) started the rally with back-to-back doubles, pinch hitter Morgan Howe had an RBI single and Smith made it a 7-0 game on a deep sacrifice fly to center.
Nevada accounted for one run on a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth followed by a bases-loaded walk and fielder's choice RBI. After a scoreless fifth inning, Willis accounted for her third home run of the day followed by a solo shot by Villalpando to create a 10-3 deficit for the Pack.
Despite picking up three additional runs in the sixth, Wolf Pack pitcher McKenna Isenberg (11-7) was charged the loss after allowing Fresno State 10 runs on 15 hits through seven innings.
Overall during Sunday's doubleheader, Fresno State had at least one batter reach base in all 14 innings and generated 17 runs on 24 hits with six doubles and five home runs. Respectively, Willis paced the squad at the plate with a .625 average (5-for-8), a 1.875 slugging percentage and four extra base hits, including three home runs.
Looking ahead, the Bulldogs will host UNLV for senior weekend beginning Thursday, May 12 at Margie Wright Diamond. The eight-person 2016 graduating class consists of Paige Gumz, Jill Compton, Taylor Langdon, Hannah Harris, Bria Kennedy, Whitney Smith, Alyssa Villalpando and Victoria Trevino.
QUICK HITS
Fresno State clinched its second-straight Mountain West Championship and secured the league's automatic bid into the 2016 NCAA Tournament as of Sunday, May 1. The Bulldogs accomplished this feat with a three-game sweep over second place San Jose State last week.
The Bulldogs have tied the longest winning streak in school history (21) that was last accomplished by the 1999 squad who reached the Women's College World Series. Fresno State has won its last 30 conference games dating back to the 2015 season and is riding the longest win streak accomplished by any MW program in league history.
The nationally-ranked Bulldogs have won 15 MW games with 10 or more hits and were victorious in double-digit fashion during 11 contests this season which includes nine MW matchups.
The No. 18/20 Bulldogs have been ranked in the USA Today/NFCA Top 25 poll for 12 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.
Individually, Compton ranks third in Mountain West history with 670 career strikeouts, is second in all-time wins (86), three starts (131) shy of tying the league leader, has tossed a second-best 85 complete games and ranks second in appearances (132). She has also etched her name in the program record book six times - wins (seventh), game starts (second), innings pitched (eighth), strikeouts (sixth), appearances (second) and complete games (10th).
Over a five-week span the Bulldogs finished the season with a perfect (1.000) record on the road during conference play with series sweeps over Boise State, New Mexico, San Jose State and Nevada. In addition, the `Dogs have taken all three contests from San Diego State, Utah State and Colorado State at home.
When combining the past seven conference series, Fresno State has outscored their opponent 183-81 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.
"Fun. Family. Forever." - The official home of Fresno State Softball is 790 AM ESPN2 "The Deuce."
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Compton, Jill (23-4)
L: BOLINGER, B (14-6)
Batting:
2B: Kennedy, Bria 1 ; Rivers, Malia 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1
HR: Willis, Kierra 2
RBI: Rivers, Malia 1 ; Willis, Kierra 4 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 2
SH: Smith, Whitney 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kennedy, Bria 2 ; Willis, Kierra 2 ; Willmon, Lindsey 1 ; Jackson, Dominique 1 ; Smith, Whitney 1
HBP: Gumz, Paige 1
Batting:
2B: HARGER, H 1
HR: PURCELL, J 1
RBI: PURCELL, J 1 ; ARRIAGA, M 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MARTINEZ, R 1 ; PURCELL, J 1 ; HARGER, H 1
