Bulldogs edge San Diego State, 7-6, to take first MW series

Saturday, March 18

San Diego, Calif.

4 p.m. PT

Fresno State

19-9, 2-0

San Diego State

16-11, 0-2

Fresno State

San Diego State

Photo by: Kiel Maddox

Bulldogs edge San Diego State, 7-6, to take first MW series

3/18/2017 7:19:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Fresno State - SDSU box score (PDF)Fresno State - SDSU plays (PDF)2017 Season Stats (PDF)2017 MW-only stats (PDF)

The Fresno State softball team has won 34 of its last 35 conference games

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

SAN DIEGO – The Fresno State softball team edged San Diego State, 7-6, on Saturday afternoon at the SDSU Softball Stadium, earning the Bulldogs their fourth-straight victory and taking their first MW series of the season.

The Bulldogs (19-9, 2-0 MW) went back-and-forth with San Diego State (16-11, 0-2 MW) throughout the game, combining for 29 hits and three lead changes. The game ended on a fly ball to center with the bases loaded and the Aztecs looking to add to a two-run seventh inning rally.

Sophomore Kamalani Dung entered the game in the fifth inning and earned her 13th win of the season, while the Bulldogs saw eight out of nine starters record a hit. Senior Kierra Willis, junior Katie Castellon and sophomore Morgan Howe each had three hits in the game, while Castellon and Howe knocked in two runs apiece.

Bulldog Bites
- Fresno State has won its 14th-straight MW series and 15 out of the last 16 over the last three seasons.
- Fresno State has won 34 of its last 35 conference games.
- Fresno State has recorded double-digit hits (15) in consecutive games for the second time this season. On Friday, the Bulldogs had 12 hits.
- Willis has reached base safely in seven straight games. Her RBI-double in the fourth was her 10th extra-base hit of the year.
- Howe went 3-for-4 with two RBIs on Saturday. She notched her sixth multi-RBI and multi-hit game of the season.
- Howe also recorded her second assist of the season after throwing out a runner at home to close out the third inning. She threw out a runner at home against then-No. 8 Washington on March 4.
- Castellon went 3-for-3 with two RBIs on Saturday.
-Junior Savannah McHellon started her 10th game of the season for the Bulldogs, allowing four runs on eight hits and three walks in 4.2 innings. She also recorded three strikeouts in the outing.
-Dung came in for relief in the fifth inning and picked up her 13th win of the season. She gave up two runs on six hits in 2.1 innings and notched a strikeout.

How it happened
In the first, Howe hit an infield single with two outs, while San Diego State put runners on first and second, but neither team could find home plate. The Aztecs then hit a double in the following inning, but the runner was left stranded. In the third, junior Katie Castellon reached base on a bunt, freshman Miranda Rohleder hit into a fielder's choice, but the Bulldogs couldn't make anything happen.

The Aztecs were the first to score after sophomore Katie Byrd was hit by a pitch and a double by sophomore Molly Sturdivant sent her home in the third inning. The final out was recorded when Howe threw a runner out at home after a single to right field to limit the damage to a 1-0 lead.

The Bulldogs answered in the fourth when Howe came up to the plate and singled up the middle to start off the inning. Senior Lindsey Willmon then grounded into a fielder's choice, advanced to second on a groundout by McHellon, and scored on a double to left center by Willis. The Aztecs failed to answer and the game remained 1-1 going into the fifth inning.

Castellon then hit a leadoff double to left field, junior Brooke Coates came in to pinch run, and advanced to third on an infield groundout by Rohleder. Senior Malia Rivers reached on an infield hit and Howe singled both runners home, giving the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead.

The Aztecs re-took the lead, 4-3, in the bottom of the fifth after scoring three runs on four hits. Dung came into the game in relief of McHellon with runners on the corners and two outs, but gave up a two-run triple.

The Bulldogs refused to go down easily, taking a 5-4 lead after an RBI-triple by Castellon and an RBI-single by Rohleder in the top of the sixth. Dung then retired the side in sixth to keep the Bulldogs' lead intact.

Willmon, McHellon and Willis came up in the next inning and led off with three-straight singles before Hernandez took the bases-loaded walk. Castellon then came up to the plate with one out and was hit by a pitch on a full count to send in another run, giving the Bulldogs a 7-4 lead.

SDSU attempted the comeback in the bottom of the seventh, scoring two runs, but left the bases loaded as the rally was cut short.

What's next?
Fresno State faces San Diego State on Sunday at noon. The game will air live and for free on the Mountain West Network.

Series history: Fresno State leads 64-12 (overall) and 10-4 since joining the MW
Last year: Fresno State swept series in Fresno (9-2, 6-3, 8-5)
Last SDSU win: SDSU 3, Fresno State 0 (4/3/15 – San Diego, Calif.)

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