Bulldogs cruise past Rams in 7-2 victory

Friday, May 12

Fort Collins, Colo.

3 p.m. PT

Fresno State

33-21, 13-9

Colorado State

28-21, 9-14

Fresno State

Colorado State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Bulldogs cruise past Rams in 7-2 victory

5/12/2017 5:45:00 PM | Softball

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

Kamalani Dung earned her 24th win, while Lindsey Willmon and Morgan Howe hit their ninth and sixth home runs, respectively

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Fresno State softball team found its winning form again as the Bulldogs cruised past Colorado State 7-2 on Friday afternoon at Ram Field in Fort Collins, Colorado. Sophomore Kamalani Dung took a shutout into the sixth inning and earned her 24th win of the season, while senior Lindsey Willmon and sophomore Morgan Howe hit their ninth and sixth home runs of the season, respectively.

Fresno State (33-21, 13-9 MW), who has only struck out once over the last two games, put five runs on the board in the first two innings, improving to 16-2 when scoring in the first inning and 22-2 when scoring five runs or more. Colorado State (28-21, 9-14 MW) was only 2-for-9 (.222) with runners in scoring position and each team recorded three extra-base hits.

Dung (24-13, 2.17 ERA) has thrown every inning for the Bulldogs in their last eight games, allowing two runs on eight hits and a walk on Friday, striking out four. Howe, who is on an 11-game hitting streak and leads the Bulldogs with 19 multi-hit games, increased her batting average to .448 this season after going 3-for-4 with a two-run home run, two runs scored and three RBIs. Willmon moved into 11th place all-time on Fresno State's career home runs list with her 21st this afternoon.

How it happened
For the second straight game, the Bulldogs scored in the top of the first when Howe hit a two-run home run after senior Malia Rivers was hit by a pitch to lead off the game and freshman Miranda Rohleder hit into a fielder's choice to put the 'Dogs up 2-0. Colorado State attempted to answer and put runners on the corners, but Dung struck out the final batter of the inning to escape unharmed.

Fresno State added some runs in the second when senior Kierra Willis led off with a single through the left side, sophomore Vanessa Hernandez took a free pass, runners advanced on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Haley Fuller and Rivers hit an RBI double to left. Rohleder and Howe then hit back-to-back RBI singles to put the Bulldogs up 5-0 and forced a pitching change by the Rams.

Fuller took a free pass to lead off the fourth, senior Christina Rodriguez came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by junior Katie Castellon, but the Bulldogs couldn't bring her home. Colorado State again put the Bulldogs in danger by placing runners on the corners for the second time in the game, but Dung struck out her third batter to get Fresno State out of the jam.

Willmon then hit a solo home run in the fifth to give the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead. With one out in the bottom of the frame, the Rams hit a triple with the bases empty, but were unable to capitalize. Hernandez then led off the sixth with a single through the left side and freshman Schuylar Broussard walked before the runners attempted to advance on a wild pitch, but Hernandez was thrown out at third. Castellon followed up with a single to send Broussard to third, who was thrown out at home on a fielder's choice by Rivers.

Colorado State finally answered in the bottom of the sixth, leading off the inning with three straight hits and an infield groundout, scoring two runs and closing Fresno State's lead to 6-2.

Howe then led off the seventh with a single, advanced to third on back-to-back groundouts and scored on an error, giving the Bulldogs a 7-2 lead.

What's next?
Fresno State plays its final regular-season game of the year against Colorado State on Saturday at 11 a.m. PT.

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