Bulldogs power past Spartans with 8-2 series-opening victory

Friday, April 21

Fresno, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

26-18, 6-6

San Jose State

27-15, 7-6

San Jose State

Fresno State

Photo by: Kiel Maddox

Bulldogs power past Spartans with 8-2 series-opening victory

4/21/2017 9:18:00 PM | Softball

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Dung earned her 17th win and Willmon hit her fifth home run of the year

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team notched the Mountain West series-opening victory against San Jose State on Friday night at Margie Wright Diamond as the Bulldogs came away with an 8-2 win, scoring their most runs in a game since recording nine against Nevada on March 31.

"For us, looking forward into the rest of the series, it's one game at a time," Fresno State head coach Linda Garza said. "We need to focus on playing our game and enjoy being at home and playing in front of our crowd -- doing our thing."

Fresno State (26-18, 6-6 MW) sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung (17-11, 2.23 ERA) threw her 20th complete game of the season and allowed three hits or less in a start for the 13th time this year. She struck out four and allowed two runs on three hits and five walks in the game. San Jose State (27-15, 7-6 MW) ace Katelyn Linford (17-7, 2.44 ERA) took the loss after allowing six runs – five earned – on nine hits and a walk. Colette Riggs finished the game for the Spartans, giving up two unearned runs and two walks in two-thirds of an inning.

The Bulldogs racked up nine hits in the game, the most since notching 12 against Nevada on April 1, and their three runners left on base were their lowest since leaving no runners on against Washington on March 4.

Fresno State senior utility Lindsey Willmon hit a two-run home run, marking her fifth of the season and 17th of her career, and junior utility Savannah McHellon knocked in her team-leading 37th and 38th RBIs of the year. Sophomore outfielder Vanessa Hernandez also recorded an RBI, her 33rd this season.

McHellon and Hernandez each went 2-for-3 in the game, their eighth and fifth multi-hit games of the year, respectively, while McHellon and Willmon recorded multiple RBIs for the 10th and sixth times in 2017, respectively.

Senior outfielder Kierra Willis' fifth triple of the season put her in sole possession of fifth place on Fresno State's all-time triples list with 18 in her career, just seven from tying Laura Berg for the program record.

Fresno State continues to lead the all-time series against the Spartans 88-13 and improved to 14-6 at home this year. The Bulldogs are also 14-5 when they score fist and 18-2 when they score five runs or more.

How it happened
Dung retired the top of the Spartan lineup in order to get things started and recorded her first strikeout of the game in the frame, but the Bulldogs weren't able to get anything going either in the bottom half. Dung then walked two in the second, but the Spartans were unable to get a runner home.

The Bulldogs were the first to score when Willis led off the bottom of the second with a triple and was singled home by McHellon. Willmon then came up to the plate and blasted a home run to left to give the 'Dogs a 3-0 lead. San Jose State answered immediately with an RBI-double to close the lead to 3-1 Bulldogs, who were unable to answer in the third and left a runner on base, as did the Spartans in the top of the fourth.

Hernandez led off the bottom of the fourth with a single up the middle, but McHellon ground into a double play and Willmon struck out to keep the Bulldogs from adding to their lead. SJSU then got runners on second and third, but the Bulldogs escaped the top of the fifth without allowing a Spartan run.

The Spartans added a run in the top of the sixth with an RBI-double, but the Bulldogs limited the damage and Dung notched her third strikeout of the game to hold the Bulldogs' lead to 3-2.

A busy sixth inning for the Bulldogs put the game out of reach for the Spartans. Sophomore Morgan Howe singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the frame and was pinch run for by junior Brooke Coates, who scored on a single by Hernandez, who advanced to second on the throw.

McHellon then doubled in a run and was pinch run for by sophomore Kaitlyn Jennings. After back-to-back walks by Willmon and freshman Haley Fuller, the bases were loaded for junior Chase LeeHong. LeeHong sent a fly ball to right field, which was dropped, and cleared the bases to give the Bulldogs their final 8-2 lead.

What's next?
Fresno State looks to take its third MW series of the season when the Bulldogs return to action on Saturday at 6 p.m. PT at Margie Wright Diamond. The final game of the series is scheduled for Sunday at noon. Both games will air live and for free on the Mountain West Network.

"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.