Extra-innings rally carries Bulldogs to 6-4 series-opening victory over UNLV

Friday, April 28

Las Vegas, Nev.

6 p.m. PT

Fresno State

27-20, 0

UNLV

23-21, 0

Fresno State

UNLV

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Extra-innings rally carries Bulldogs to 6-4 series-opening victory over UNLV

4/28/2017 10:00:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Fresno State - UNLV box score (PDF)Fresno State - UNLV plays (PDF)2017 Season Stats (PDF)2017 MW-only Stats (PDF)

Sophomore pitcher Kamalani Dung earned her 18th win and senior Lindsey Willmon hit her third home run in the last four games

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

LAS VEGAS – The Bulldogs needed an extra-innings rally to take down UNLV on a windy Friday night in Sin City as the Fresno State softball team defeated the Rebels 6-4 in nine innings at Eller Media Stadium. The 'Dogs took game one of a Mountain West series for the fifth time in six opportunities this year.

Heading into the ninth inning with the game tied 4-4, freshman Haley Fuller led off with a single to left and was pinch run for by sophomore Kaitlyn Jennings. Senior Malia Rivers then reached on an error and freshman Miranda Rohleder knocked Jennings in with a single up the middle. Sophomore Morgan Howe came up to the plate immediately after and sent Rivers home with a single to left to give the Bulldogs their final lead of the game.

Sophomore Kamalani Dung (18-12, 2.30 ERA) pitched all nine innings for the Bulldogs (27-20, 7-8 MW), matching her career-high. She struck out seven batters and allowed four runs on eight hits and a walk. Senior Lindsey Willmon hit a home run for the third time in four games, her seventh of the year, and the 'Dogs saw four players record two hits each in Howe, Rivers, Rohleder and Willmon.

Fresno State's 10 hits, eight of which were singles, were the most in a game since recording 12 against Nevada on April 1. This was the sixth extra-innings game for the Bulldogs this year and was the ninth time they hit in double digits.

How it happened
Rivers began the game with a single through the right side, Rohleder bunted an infield hit, both runners advanced on a passed ball, and Rivers scored on a single to right by Howe to give the Bulldogs an early 1-0 lead. Dung then retired the Rebels in order in the bottom half and the Bulldogs came back up to the plate swinging. Willmon led off the second and singled up the middle, later scoring on a throwing error and increasing Fresno State's lead to 2-0.

In the bottom of the second, UNLV's Justine Federe hit an infield single and advanced around the bases on two wild pitches by Dung to close the Bulldog lead to 2-1. UNLV then came up in the third and hit back-to-back one-out singles, which were followed up by Brianna Gatlin's fourth home run of the year to give the Rebels a 4-2 lead through three innings. Rivers got the fifth inning started with an infield single, stole second for the 11th time this year, but the Bulldogs were unable to bring her home.

The 'Dogs tied the game 4-4 in the top of the sixth when Willmon lined the ball against the wind over the left field wall after McHellon took a free pass. The Bulldogs then put themselves in danger when the Rebels loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but Dung was able to punch out the final batter to keep the game tied. In the bottom of the seventh, UNLV placed runners on the corners, but Dung was again able to strike out the last batter of the inning to send the game into extras.

The Bulldogs took the lead 6-4 in the top of the ninth. Fuller led things off with a single, was pinch run for by sophomore Kaitlyn Jennings, Rivers reached on an error, and Jennings scored on an RBI-single up the middle by Rohleder. Howe then followed up with an RBI-single of her own to give the 'Dogs some room heading into the bottom of the frame.

Bulldog Bites
- Fresno State has improved to 4-2 in extra innings.
- Fresno State is 14-1 when scoring in the first inning.
- Fresno State is 15-5 when scoring first.
- Fresno State is 19-2 when scoring five runs or more.

What's next?
The Bulldogs continue their Mountain West series against the Rebels on Saturday at 4 p.m. PT and Sunday at noon.

"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.