Bulldogs' bats cool off at Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

Thursday, February 16

Puerto Vallarta, JAL, Mexico

8 a.m. PT

Fresno State

4-2

Mississippi State

4-2

Fresno State

Mississippi State

Bulldogs' bats cool off at Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

2/16/2017 2:31:00 PM | Softball

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Fresno State softball was defeated by Mississippi State, 4-1, and FGCU, 4-3, on the first day of the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

PUERTO VALLARTA, Mexico – The Fresno State softball team was slowed down on Thursday at the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge, falling to Mississippi State, 4-1, and Florida Gulf Coast, 4-3.

"Today we fell short in adjustments and execution," Fresno State head coach Linda Garza said. "We didn't grow with each at-bat and failed to take care of the ball on defense. Today was a good example of where our lack of experience got the best of us. This was a great learning opportunity."

The No. 21- ranked Bulldogs (4-3) faced Mississippi State's Alexis Silkwood, who allowed no earned runs in seven innings and struck out four.

After a quiet first inning, the Bulldog bats found the ball in the second as senior Lindsey Willmon reached second on an error and was sent home on an RBI single from junior Savannah McHellon.

MSU answered in the second with a solo home run by junior Reggie Harrison and scored two more on a throwing error to first. In the third, Harrison added an RBI single to extend MSU's lead to 4-1, which would be the final score.

Sophomore Bulldog Kamalani Dung threw her third complete game of the season, allowing two earned runs on seven hits and striking out two. Willmon was the only Fresno State batter to have multiple hits in the game.

In the Bulldogs' afternoon game against Florida Gulf Coast, McHellon (1-2) completed the game in the circle for the 'Dogs, allowing no earned runs, three hits, seven walks and notching two strikeouts.

In the bottom of the second inning, FGCU had the bases loaded with two outs when Natalie Lopez hit the ball in the infield, but when the force out was attempted at the plate, the ball was mishandled and two runs scored. The Eagles would end up with four unearned runs in the inning, giving FGCU a 4-0 lead.

It wasn't until the top of the seventh that the Bulldogs' comeback attempt would begin. Sophomore Morgan Howe led the inning off with a pinch-hit double, followed by an RBI double by sophomore Vanessa Hernandez.

Junior Chase LeeHong then reached second on a pinch-hit single that advanced Hernandez to third, causing FGCU to make a pitching change. The Eagles' starter, Riley Randolph, would leave the game after striking out eight batters in 6.1 innings and a 4-1 lead.

Reliever Gabbee Draney came in the game and threw a wild pitch, which would allow Hernandez to score and close the gap to 4-2 with LeeHong on third. Freshman Miranda Rohleder came up to the plate and singled into center, driving in LeeHong. Next, freshman Kindra Hackbarth doubled, advancing Rohleder to third.

McHellon then came up to the plate with the winning runner on second, but would eventually fly out to center and give FGCU the victory.

The Bulldogs will take on FGCU (5-0) again on Friday at 2 p.m. PT, followed by Cal State Fullerton on Saturday at 9:45 a.m. and Texas Tech on Sunday at 7 a.m.

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