Bulldogs blank Grizzlies 7-0, fall to No. 20 Michigan, 4-0, as season ends in Seattle

Saturday, May 20

Seattle, Wash.

4:30 p.m. PT

Fresno State

35-22

Montana

35-24

Montana

Fresno State

Bulldogs blank Grizzlies 7-0, fall to No. 20 Michigan, 4-0, as season ends in Seattle

5/20/2017 11:41:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 Michigan - Fresno State box score (PDF)Michigan - Fresno State plays (PDF)2017 Season Stats (PDF)

The Bulldogs wrapped up their 2017 season with a 35-23 record and a 26-game winning sophomore pitcher

By: Jason Kelm / Communications Assistant

SEATTLE – The Fresno State softball team saw its season end on Saturday night in a 4-0 loss to No. 20 Michigan in the fifth game of the NCAA Tournament's Seattle Regional, but not before the Bulldogs shut out Montana 7-0 in the afternoon to stay alive for one more contest in the four-team, double elimination tournament at Husky Softball Stadium. This was the Bulldogs' 33rd NCAA Tournament appearance, and third straight, after earning an at-large bid into the tournament.

"I'm just glad that we were able to finish with Bulldog softball, to send these seniors out the way that we wanted, and to gain some experience for an incredible freshman class," Fresno State head coach Linda Garza said. "We wish that we were playing here on Sunday, however we got to experience something that we needed to experience so we can be better prepared for the future."

Fresno State (35-23) faced elimination going into its game against Montana (35-24) after falling to Michigan (43-12-1) on Friday night, 3-1. Sophomore ace Kamalani Dung threw a two-hit shutout against the Grizzlies, her ninth shutout of the year, and earned her 26th victory of the season, allowing a walk and striking out eight.

Senior Kierra Willis went 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBIs, while junior Katie Castellon, sophomore Vanessa Hernandez and sophomore Morgan Howe each went 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Senior Malia Rivers went 1-for-4, scoring a run, and freshman Miranda Rohleder was 1-for-4 with an RBI.

In the Bulldogs' evening game against the Wolverines, they were shut out for the fourth time this season and were unable to get a hit in a rematch against the country's strikeout leader, Megan Betsa. Dung, who threw every inning in Fresno State's previous 11 games, pitched the first three against Michigan, allowing four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out two.

Freshman Samantha Mejia relieved Dung in the fourth and struck out a career-high five batters. Mejia threw the final four innings, allowing no runs on three hits and a walk. Willis and Rohleder took free passes and were the only base-runners for the Bulldogs in the game.

Garza finishes her first year as the Bulldogs' head coach with an NCAA Tournament appearance, the Mountain West Pitcher of the Year in Dung, and several all-conference and all-region players returning.

NCAA Seattle Regional
Seattle, Wash. – Husky Softball Stadium

Friday, May 19
Game 1 - #2 seed Michigan 3, #3 seed Fresno State 1

Game 2 - #1 seed Washington 8, #4 seed Montana 0

Saturday, May 20
Game 3 - #1 seed Washington 12, #2 seed Michigan 4

Game 4 - #3 seed Fresno State 7, #4 seed Montana 0

Game 5 - #2 seed Michigan 4, #3 seed Fresno State 0

"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.