’Dogs shut out Broncos, 9-0, with grand slams, dominant pitching

Friday, March 24

Fresno, Calif.

4 p.m. PT

Fresno State

21-10, 0

Boise State

20-8, 0

Boise State

Fresno State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

’Dogs shut out Broncos, 9-0, with grand slams, dominant pitching

3/24/2017 7:00:00 PM | Softball

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Dung threw a three-hit shutout, while McHellon and Hernandez hit grand slams

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team shut out the Boise State Broncos, 9-0, in five innings on Friday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond, earning the Bulldogs their fifth shutout of the season. The 'Dogs (21-10, 3-1 MW) have now defeated the Broncos (20-8, 2-2 MW) in seven straight outings.

Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung (14-6, 2.49 ERA) allowed three hits and a walk in her fifth shutout of the season and struck out seven batters. Dung has struck out seven or more batters five times this year.

Junior Savannah McHellon and sophomore Vanessa Hernandez each hit a grand slam while notching their fifth home runs of the year.

This was the first time in program history that the Bulldogs hit grand slams in consecutive innings and the first time they hit two grand slams in a game since March 27, 2009, when Christina Clark and Rachael Donaldson did so against New Mexico State. This was also the second consecutive game that the Bulldogs hit a grand slam after sophomore Morgan Howe hit one against Bakersfield on Tuesday.

McHellon went 2-for-3 with four RBIs and two runs scored, while Hernandez and freshmen Miranda Rohleder and Schuylar Broussard recorded one hit apiece. Junior Katie Castellon also notched an RBI on a bases-loaded fielder's choice.

Fresno State was walked nine times throughout the game, the second-most this season, after being walked 11 times against Cal State Fullerton on Feb. 18.

How it happened
Rohleder got things started for the Bulldogs when she hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the first, followed by walks from freshman Kindra Hackbarth and senior Lindsey Willmon. McHellon then came up to the plate and hit a grand slam off Boise State's ace, senior Christina Washington (11-4, 2.73 ERA).

Washington, who finished the day giving up five earned runs on two hits and three walks in 1/3 of an inning, was relieved by freshman Veronica Lynch (1-1, 4.96 ERA) with a runner on first. Lynch then walked Hernandez and Broussard to load up the bases once more. However, this time the Bulldogs would get only one run across the plate and head into the second inning with a 5-0 lead.

When Fresno State came back up to the plate in the second, Hackbarth Howe led the inning off with back-to-back groundouts. Willmon then took a free pass, McHellon doubled down the leftfield line, Willis walked, and Hernandez found the right pitch to hit the grand slam, giving the Bulldogs their final 9-0 lead.

Broussard then came up to the plate and singled through the right side and Castellon took a walk before the Broncos brought in senior Jenna Bassler (1-0, 6.68 ERA) to get Boise State out of the inning without any further damage.

Bassler pitched the final 2 1/3 innings for the Broncos and didn't allow Fresno State to get another hit, walking one and striking out two batters.

What's next?
The MW series continues on Saturday at 6 p.m. PT and Sunday at 11 a.m. at Margie Wright Diamond.

"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.