Dung deals a solid nine innings, but Bulldogs fall, 2-1

Sunday, March 26

Fresno, Calif.

11 a.m. PT

Fresno State

22-11, 4-2

Boise State

21-9, 3-3

Boise State

Fresno State

Photo by: Kiel Maddox

Dung deals a solid nine innings, but Bulldogs fall, 2-1

3/26/2017 2:27:00 PM | Softball

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Sophomore Kamalani Dung allowed two runs on four hits and no walks in her 13th complete game

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State Softball fans saw some of the best pitching in the Mountain West on display in Sunday's 2-1 loss at Margie Wright Diamond on Sunday.

Bulldog sophomore Kamalani Dung (14-7, 2.37 ERA) pitched a career-high nine innings, allowing two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks while striking out five. She has now thrown 13 complete games this season and owns a 1.70 ERA in MW play.

The Bulldogs (22-11, 4-2 MW) and the Broncos (21-9, 3-3 MW) combined to leave 15 runners on base, 11 of those belonging to Fresno State.

Sophomore Morgan Howe collected a pair of hits in the contest and scored the Bulldogs' only run in the sixth inning when sophomore Vanessa Hernandez took a bases-loaded walk.

Senior Kierra Willis is now tied for second place on the Fresno State all-time walks list (111) after taking two free passes on Sunday. She is now four walks away from passing Christina Clark for the program record.

Boise State's Kelsey Broadus (4-0, 1.79 ERA) got the win after pitching the final three and two-thirds innings for the Broncos, allowing a hit and four walks. Christina Washington (11-4, 2.64 ERA) began the game for Boise State and gave up a run on five hits and two walks in five and a third.

How it happened
The first 16 batters of the game were retired until the bottom of the third, when Broussard and Castellon reached on back-to-back infield errors, but the Bulldogs couldn't get a score on the board. In the top of the fourth, Dung hit the leadoff batter, however the Broncos left her stranded.

In the bottom of the inning, the Bulldogs notched the first hits of the game after Howe and Willis recorded singles, but were left stranded on first and third. In the top of the fifth, Boise State's leadoff batter reached on an error and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt.

Dung then allowed her first hit of the game when freshman Karlee Johnson hit an infield single with two outs and advanced the runner to third. Dung struck out the final batter of the inning to keep the game scoreless going into the bottom of the fifth.

Broussard led off the bottom half with a single to right center, pinch runner Christina Rodriguez took her place at first, advanced to second on a wild pitch and third on a fly ball to right. Rohleder then walked, the Bulldogs attempted the double steal, but Rodriguez was thrown out at home. Rivers popped up to short to end the inning and keep the game scoreless through five innings.

The Broncos found the scoreboard first when sophomore Rebekah Cervantes hit her sixth home run of the year with two outs in the top of the sixth, giving Boise State a 1-0 lead.

Howe answered with a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning and advanced to second on a single by LeeHong. The runners took second and third on a wild pitch and Willis was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out. Broadus came in to pitch for the Broncos and walked Hernandez to tie the game 1-1.

In the bottom of the seventh, Rivers slapped a one-out infield single and stole second, Willmon took a two-out free pass, but the Bulldogs couldn't put it away. Dung needed only four pitches in the top of the eighth to retire the Broncos and the Bulldogs came to the plate looking for their fourth extra-innings victory of the season.

Willis and Hernandez led the bottom of the eighth off with back-to-back walks, but the Bulldogs were unable to get the runners home once again.

In the top of the ninth, the Broncos took a final 2-1 lead when Cervantes hit an infield single, advanced to second on a throwing error and scored on a double by junior Makenzie Sullivan.

What's next?
Fresno State hosts Pacific on Wednesday at 6 p.m. PT and continues MW play against Nevada next weekend 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.