Fresno State Athletics
Friday, February 10
Tempe, Ariz.
8 a.m. PT
Fresno State
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Fresno State
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Indiana
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’Dogs grab season-opening victory in Garza’s Fresno State coaching debut
2/10/2017 6:16:00 PM | Softball
Box Score 1Box Score 2Photo GalleryFresno State-Indiana box score (PDF)Fresno State-Indiana plays (PDF)Oregon-Fresno State box score (PDF)Oregon-Fresno State box score (PDF)Oregon-Fresno State plays (PDF)Oregon-Fresno State plays (PDF)2017 Season Stats (PDF)2017 Season Stats (PDF)
Fresno State softball defeated Indiana 2-0 and fell to No. 9 Oregon 4-1 on Friday at the ASU Kajikawa Classic
TEMPE, Ariz.- The No. 24 Fresno State softball team and first-year head coach Linda Garza kicked off the 2017 season with a 2-0 shutout over Indiana on Friday morning at the ASU Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz. In their second game of the tournament, the Bulldogs fell to No. 9 Oregon, 4-1.
"Now that the season has started, our coaching staff and players can evaluate where we are and what we need to do to build," Garza said. "I'm glad the first day is over and I'm eager to work on a few things. Our pitching and defense really kept our team in both games. We saw some great plays in the outfield and our infield was consistent."
Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung recorded her first career shutout while striking out seven batters and allowing only three hits and two walks against the Hoosiers (1-1). On the opposite side, Indiana's Tara Trainer tied her career-high with 13 strikeouts over seven innings and allowed three hits and three walks.
"It feels really good to get the first game of the season out of the way because it's always the most nerve-racking and tense," Dung said. "I think we did well for our first day. It set the bar and allowed us to see what we need to work on."
In the top of the second, senior Lindsey Willmon took a one-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball, but the Bulldogs couldn't bring her home.
Finally, in the fourth, freshman Maddi Hackbarth notched a two-out single through the left side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Brooke Coates came in to pinch run and was then brought home by a Vanessa Hernandez double, who would later score on a single by junior transfer Savannah McHellon.
Those three hits would be enough for the Bulldogs to capture their third-straight season-opener.
The 'Dogs then faced the No. 9 Ducks (4-0) in the early afternoon, a team that the Bulldogs haven't defeated since 2008.
McHellon was tasked with pitching against the offensive powerhouse that outscored its previous three opponents with a combined score of 27-6. She would pitch a complete game, striking out four and giving up four earned runs on six hits and allowing seven walks.
With a scoreless game through three innings, the Ducks had stranded six runners, while the 'Dogs were only able to get two on base.
Oregon then opened the game up with a combination of singles and walks to take a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Not to be outdone, Maddi Hackbarth came up to the plate in the bottom of the inning and hit her first career home run over the left field fence.
It would be a back-and-forth defensive game until Oregon scored one more in the top of the seventh to take a 4-1 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, McHellon singled to center, junior Katie Castellon walked, and sophomore Dominique Jackson came up to the plate as a pinch hitter, looking to tie the game, only to end in a strikeout.
Oregon's Maggie Balint pitched six innings for the Ducks, striking out 11 and allowing one run on three hits. Megan Kleist then switched from her designated player role to pitch the bottom of the seventh and recorded her first save of the season.
What's next?
The Bulldogs take on Purdue at 11:15 a.m. PT on Saturday, followed by San Diego at 2 p.m.
On Friday, Purdue fell to Cal Poly, 2-1, and Arizona State, 3-0, while San Diego dropped its game to Cal Poly, 8-6, and is scheduled to face Arizona State Friday evening.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
"Now that the season has started, our coaching staff and players can evaluate where we are and what we need to do to build," Garza said. "I'm glad the first day is over and I'm eager to work on a few things. Our pitching and defense really kept our team in both games. We saw some great plays in the outfield and our infield was consistent."
Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung recorded her first career shutout while striking out seven batters and allowing only three hits and two walks against the Hoosiers (1-1). On the opposite side, Indiana's Tara Trainer tied her career-high with 13 strikeouts over seven innings and allowed three hits and three walks.
"It feels really good to get the first game of the season out of the way because it's always the most nerve-racking and tense," Dung said. "I think we did well for our first day. It set the bar and allowed us to see what we need to work on."
In the top of the second, senior Lindsey Willmon took a one-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a passed ball, but the Bulldogs couldn't bring her home.
Finally, in the fourth, freshman Maddi Hackbarth notched a two-out single through the left side and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Junior Brooke Coates came in to pinch run and was then brought home by a Vanessa Hernandez double, who would later score on a single by junior transfer Savannah McHellon.
Those three hits would be enough for the Bulldogs to capture their third-straight season-opener.
The 'Dogs then faced the No. 9 Ducks (4-0) in the early afternoon, a team that the Bulldogs haven't defeated since 2008.
McHellon was tasked with pitching against the offensive powerhouse that outscored its previous three opponents with a combined score of 27-6. She would pitch a complete game, striking out four and giving up four earned runs on six hits and allowing seven walks.
With a scoreless game through three innings, the Ducks had stranded six runners, while the 'Dogs were only able to get two on base.
Oregon then opened the game up with a combination of singles and walks to take a 3-0 lead in the fourth. Not to be outdone, Maddi Hackbarth came up to the plate in the bottom of the inning and hit her first career home run over the left field fence.
It would be a back-and-forth defensive game until Oregon scored one more in the top of the seventh to take a 4-1 lead.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh, McHellon singled to center, junior Katie Castellon walked, and sophomore Dominique Jackson came up to the plate as a pinch hitter, looking to tie the game, only to end in a strikeout.
Oregon's Maggie Balint pitched six innings for the Ducks, striking out 11 and allowing one run on three hits. Megan Kleist then switched from her designated player role to pitch the bottom of the seventh and recorded her first save of the season.
What's next?
The Bulldogs take on Purdue at 11:15 a.m. PT on Saturday, followed by San Diego at 2 p.m.
On Friday, Purdue fell to Cal Poly, 2-1, and Arizona State, 3-0, while San Diego dropped its game to Cal Poly, 8-6, and is scheduled to face Arizona State Friday evening.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – The Bulldog Scholarship Fund gives Bulldog alumni, fans and friends the opportunity to support Fresno State Athletics and the student-athletes who inspire them. For information about how you can support the Bulldog Scholarship Fund, please visit www.bulldogscholarshipfund.com or call 559-278-7160.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dung, Kamalani (1-0)
L: Tara Trainer (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Hernandez, Vanessa 1
RBI: Hernandez, Vanessa 1 ; McHellon, Savannah 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Coates, Brooke 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1
Batting:
2B: Erin Lehman 1
SH: Katie Lacefield 1
Base Running:
CS: Rebecca Blitz 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
2
R
0
H
1
RBI
1
AB
3
R
0
H
0
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballC
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballRHP
/ Softball
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