Bulldogs edged by Spartans, 4-3

Saturday, April 22

Fresno, Calif.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

26-18, 6-7

San Jose State

28-15, 8-6

San Jose State

Fresno State

Photo by: Kiel Maddox

Bulldogs edged by Spartans, 4-3

4/22/2017 9:07:00 PM | Softball

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Dung pitched seven innings in relief and Rivers went 3-for-4 with a run

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team was edged 4-3 by San Jose State on Saturday night at Margie Wright Diamond in front of a season-high crowd of 1,853 on the Bulldogs' annual Bark in the Park night. Fresno State sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung (17-12, 2.26 ERA) threw seven innings in relief for the 'Dogs and senior Malia Rivers went 3-for-4 with a run to lead the Bulldog offense.

The Bulldogs (26-18, 6-7 MW) put together eight hits and six walks, but left eight runners on base, while the Spartans (28-15, 8-6 MW) had nine hits and five walks, leaving 10 runners stranded.

Rivers had three hits in a game for the second time this season and shares the team lead with 13 multi-hit games, while sophomore Morgan Howe went 2-for-3 with a walk, marking her 13th multi-hit game as well. Senior Lindsey Willmon and sophomore Vanessa Hernandez each hit 1-for-3 with a run scored, while junior Savannah McHellon and freshman Haley Fuller collected RBIs. McHellon leads the team with 39 RBIs this season and Fuller's RBI was the first of her career.

Senior Kierra Willis, who walked twice on Saturday, now has 32 this season, which is the ninth-best season total in program history. She continues to extend her career program walks record and now has 122.

Bulldog freshman Samantha Mejia began the game in the circle for the 'Dogs, but was relieved by Dung before she could record an out. The Spartans' Colette Riggs pitched the first four and two-thirds innings and was relieved by game one starter Katelyn Linford (18-7, 2.41), who finished the game and recorded the win.

How it happened
The Bulldogs were down early as Mejia gave up a leadoff walk, followed by back-to-back singles to put the Spartans up 1-0. Dung then entered the circle and got the 'Dogs out of the inning without any more damage. Rivers came up to the plate and led off the bottom half with a single to shortstop, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Miranda Rohleder, but was caught attempting to steal third. Howe and Willis followed up with free passes, but Hernandez was caught looking to end the inning.

Dung allowed San Jose State to get a leadoff single in the second, but retired the next three batters to keep the Spartans from adding to their lead. McHellon then came up to the plate and took a leadoff walk, but was left stranded. Dung struck out two and walked one in the top of the third to keep the SJSU lead to 1-0. Rivers led off the bottom half with a hit to center, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rohleder, but was caught between third and home when Howe singled to center. The Bulldogs once again left a runner stranded.

The 'Dogs gave up two singles and a walk with two outs in the top of the fourth and the Spartans scored when Dung hit the next batter, but were unable to tack on any more and sent the game into the bottom half up 2-0. Fresno State tied it up 2-2 in the bottom of the fourth as Hernandez led off with a single to left field, advanced to third on a single by Willmon and scored on a sacrifice fly by Fuller. Willmon also scored on the play as the left fielder threw the ball away attempting to throw her out at second.

The Spartans answered when Georgia Blair hit a solo home run to left center in the fifth to take a 3-2 lead. It was Blair's team-leading sixth home run of the season.

Rivers then led off the bottom of the frame with her third single of the night and Willis and Hernandez took back-to-back two-out walks to load the bases. With McHellon at the plate and a 2-0 count, Linford came into the circle for the Spartans and walked McHellon to tie the game 3-3 through five innings.

After a double, single and walk by San Jose State in the sixth, Dung rung up her fourth batter of the game, but walked in a run with the bases loaded to give the Spartans a 4-3 lead. Fuller then led off the bottom of the sixth with a single up the middle and was pinch run for by senior Christina Rodriguez, who advanced to second on a groundout, but the Bulldogs left her stranded. Dung allowed a single in the seventh, but didn't allow the runner to score. In the final frame, the Bulldogs started things off the right way as Howe singled to shortstop, but the 'Dogs couldn't put together a rally.

What's next?
Fresno State will attempt to take the series against San Jose State on Sunday at noon at Margie Wright Diamond. The game will be broadcast live and for free on the Mountain West Network.

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