Hernandez’s two-out seventh-inning grand slam powers Bulldogs past Rams, 5-2

Saturday, May 13

Fort Collins, Colo.

11 a.m. PT

Fresno State

34-21, 14-9

Colorado State

28-22, 9-15

Fresno State

Colorado State

Photo by: Keith Kountz

Hernandez’s two-out seventh-inning grand slam powers Bulldogs past Rams, 5-2

5/13/2017 2:50:00 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 25th win for the Bulldogs and Hernandez hit her second grand slam of the year

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – A two-out seventh-inning grand slam by Vanessa Hernandez powered the Fresno State softball team to a 5-2 victory over Colorado State on Saturday afternoon at Ram Field in Fort Collins, Colorado to capture the Bulldogs' third straight Mountain West series. It was the sophomore's second grand slam of the season and Fresno State's program-record fifth grand slam this year.

The Bulldogs owned a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth until the Rams hit a two-run home run to take a 2-1 lead going into the seventh inning. Fresno State entered the contest just 1-13 when trailing after six innings.

Sophomore ace Kamalani Dung (25-13, 2.17 ERA), who has pitched every inning for the Bulldogs over the last nine games, is only the third Fresno State pitcher to reach the 25-win mark since 2008, also accomplished by Jill Compton in 2015 (28) and 2016 (25) and Morgan Melloh in 2008 (41) and 2009 (30). On Saturday, Dung allowed two runs on nine hits and a walk, striking out four. She now has 202 strikeouts in 238.1 innings pitched this season.

Hernandez, who went 3-for-3 with her seventh home run of the year, leads the Bulldogs with 21 extra-base hits this season and sophomore Morgan Howe extended her hitting streak to 12 games after going 1-for-3 with a walk and run scored.

Senior Lindsey Willmon (2-for-4, RBI) hit her first triple of the season to knock in a run in the top of the fifth to get the Bulldogs on the board and Fresno State's all-time walks leader Kierra Willis (1-for-3, R, BB) came up big in the top of the seventh to load the bases with a two-out walk.

The 'Dogs (34-21, 14-9 MW), who have won eight of their last nine games, have reached at least 34 wins for the 34th time in the last 36 years, falling below that mark in 2013 (30) and 2014 (31). Fresno State improved to 23-2 when scoring five runs or more this year. Colorado State (28-22, 9-15 MW) was only 1-for-14 (.071) with runners on base and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.

How it happened
Howe attempted to get the offense going with a two-out double in the first, but the Bulldogs were unable to bring her home. Colorado State responded by putting runners on first and second in the bottom of the frame, but similarly were unable to score. Hernandez then singled with two outs in the second, but was left stranded. The Rams added a hit in the bottom of the second, but Dung rung up her first batter to keep a run from getting on the board. Senior Malia Rivers then took a one-out free pass in the third, but was unable to round the bases and CSU left a runner on base in the bottom half.

The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the fourth after Willis hit a two-out infield single, Hernandez notched a hit to left and sophomore Dominique Jackson took a pinch-hit walk, but the 'Dogs were unable to score. Colorado State came up to the plate and hit a leadoff single to center, but lining into a double play would be the undoing for the Rams in the inning.

The Bulldogs were the first to score when Willmon hit a two-out RBI triple in the fifth after Rivers led off the inning with an infield hit, Howe grounded into a fielder's choice and was pinch run for by freshman Kindra Hackbarth.

In the bottom of the frame, the Rams singled with one out and the runner advanced to third on a fielding error, but Colorado State couldn't bring her home. In the sixth, Hernandez and freshman Schuylar Broussard took back-to-back one-out walks, but the Bulldogs were unable to make anything happen.

CSU took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half with a leadoff single and a two-run home run by sophomore Amber Nelson, her 12th home run of the year.

The Bulldogs took back the lead in the top of the seventh on a two-out grand slam by Hernandez. Howe took a one-out free pass and Willmon followed up with a single to left and was pinch run for by senior Christina Rodriguez. Howe then advanced to third on a fly ball to center to put runners on the corners with two outs. Willis then came up to the plate and loaded the bases with a walk of her own and Hernandez hit her seventh home run of the year to put the 'Dogs on top.

In the bottom of the seventh, the Rams hit a two-out double, but the game ended on a groundout to short.

What's next?
The 2017 NCAA Division I Softball Championship bracket will be announced Sunday, May 14 at 7 p.m. PT on ESPN2. Fresno State will be watching closely, hoping for an at-large bid into the tournament.

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