Bulldogs outlast Tigers on Wednesday, 5-4

Wednesday, March 29

Fresno, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

23-11

Pacific

17-19

Pacific

Fresno State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs outlast Tigers on Wednesday, 5-4

3/29/2017 8:59:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Pacific - Fresno State box score (PDF)Pacific - Fresno State plays (PDF)2017 Season Stats (PDF)

McHellon hit her sixth home run and earned the win, while Dung recorded the save

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team outlasted the Pacific Tigers, 5-4, on Wednesday night at Margie Wright Diamond. Junior Savannah McHellon hit a three-run home run in the first inning and earned her fifth victory in the circle, while sophomore Kamalani Dung closed out the last two innings to notch her second save of the year.

The Bulldogs (23-11, 4-2 MW) saw five different players get a hit and score a run, while the team walked seven times.

Senior Kierra Willis' three walks tied her with Christina Clark for the Fresno State program record of 114 walks, placing her fifth in the Mountain West record books. She has now reached base safely in the last 13 games.

Senior Lindsey Willmon and sophomore Vanessa Hernandez have each reached base safely in the last 10 games after both recorded hits on Wednesday night.

Fresno State is now 12-4 at home this season with a 19-9 nonconference record, including 3-1 against the West Coast Conference. The 'Dogs are now 12-1 when they score in the first inning and are 13-3 when they hit a home run.

The Tigers' Hailey Reed (4-4, 1.84 ERA) got the loss after allowing five runs on four hits and five walks in two and a third innings. Marissa Young (5-4, 2.23 ERA) closed the game out for Pacifc (17-19, 0-0 WCC), allowing no runs on one hit and two walks in the final three and two-thirds innings.

How it happened
The Tigers struck in the first, scoring three runs on three hits and a walk. Fresno State answered immediately when McHellon tied it up with a three-run home run after senior Malia Rivers took a walk on an illegal pitch and sophomore Morgan Howe singled to left field.

Willmon then led off the bottom of the third with a single through the left side, Willis was walked, Hernandez hit an infield single to load up the bases, and freshman Maddi Hackbarth, while pinch hitting for freshman Schuylar Broussard, was hit by a pitch to send in a run and gave the Bulldogs the lead. Junior Katie Castellon then knocked in Willis with a sacrifice fly to right and Fresno State took a 5-3 lead.

Pacific added another run in the top of the fifth with a solo home run by junior Rachel Sellers, her sixth of the season, but was unable to get another run across the plate.

What's next?
Fresno State hosts Nevada this weekend in the Bulldogs' third MW series of the season. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play at 6 p.m. PT on Friday, 6 p.m. on Saturday and noon on Sunday.

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