Dung nears no-hitter as Bulldogs blank Broncos 2-0

Thursday, April 13

Santa Clara, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

25-15

Santa Clara

10-26

Fresno State

Santa Clara

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Dung nears no-hitter as Bulldogs blank Broncos 2-0

4/13/2017 10:23:00 PM | Softball

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Fresno State softball travels to Cal for the first time in 26 years on Friday at 4 p.m. PT

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung was two outs away from her second no-hitter of the season when the Broncos knocked a double to left field, but the Bulldogs were able to hold on for a 2-0 shutout of Santa Clara on Thursday night at the Santa Clara Softball Stadium.

The Bulldogs (25-15, 5-6 MW) snapped a season-long four-game losing streak and Fresno State improved to 20-9 in nonconference play, including 4-1 against the West Coast Conference, with the defeat of the Broncos (10-26, 2-1 WCC).

Dung (16-9, 2.24 ERA) dealt her sixth shutout of the season, allowing one hit and four walks while striking out seven batters. Senior Kierra Willis hit an RBI-single in the fifth to score freshman Miranda Rohleder and senior Malia Rivers also scored on the play on an errant throw by the center fielder.

Rivers and freshman Haley Fuller each recorded two hits in the game and Fuller notched her first career double.

How it happened
The first inning was fairly quiet, as Rivers reached on a walk, but was left stranded, and Santa Clara reached on an error, but two strikeouts by Dung kept the Broncos from reaching home. Willmon then led off the second with a walk, Fuller and LeeHong hit back-to-back singles to load the bases with one out, but Castellon hit into a double play. The Broncos came up in the bottom half and took a leadoff walk, but Dung struck out two more batters to keep the game scoreless.

In the third, Rivers slapped a single to left and stole her 10th base of the year, but the 'Dogs couldn't bring her home, while Dung notched her fifth strikeout. Willmon led off the fourth with a walk, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a wild pitch, but was left stranded. Santa Clara followed up in the bottom of the fourth without getting a runner on base.

The first runs of the game were finally scored in the fifth. Rohleder and Rivers hit back-to-back one-out singles, Willis knocked an RBI-single up the middle and Rivers scored on a throwing error to give the 'Dogs a 2-0 lead. McHellon then took a free pass with Willis on third, senior Christina Rodriguez took over for McHellon on the base paths, but neither runner would be able to score.

In the sixth, Fuller led off the inning with her first career double, but was picked off at third when trying to advance on a wild pitch. Castellon also reached base, this time on a walk, but couldn't advance. In the seventh, Willis took a free pass and Willmon was hit by a pitch, but the Bulldogs couldn't add to their lead.

With one out in the bottom of the seventh, Santa Clara notched its first hit of the game with a double to left field, but was unable to capitalize and the Bulldogs sealed their 2-0 victory.

What's next?
Fresno State heads to Cal for the first time in 26 years on Friday at 4 p.m. PT and Saturday at 1 p.m.

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