Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, May 6
Fresno, Calif.
6 p.m. PT
Fresno State
31-20, 11-8
10
vs
1
New Mexico
20-26, 6-14
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2
3
4
5
R
H
E
New Mexico
0
0
0
1
0
1
4
2
Fresno State
4
1
5
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X
10
12
1
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Three home runs power ‘Dogs past Lobos, 10-1
5/6/2017 8:51:00 PM | Softball
Senior class set to be honored in Sunday’s home finale; first pitch set for noon
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team exploded for a 10-1 rout of New Mexico in a five-inning run-rule shortened game on Saturday evening at Margie Wright Diamond. The Bulldogs have now won five-straight heading into Sunday's Senior Game celebration.
The 'Dogs (31-20, 11-8 MW) plated four runs in the first, one in the second, and five more in the third for the upper hand behind Kamalani Dung and her one-run, four-hit performance from the circle. It was the Bulldogs' first double-digit run showing since pouring on 13 runs in a win against CSU Bakersfield on March 21.
"It's just great, obviously, to get the win, but more importantly, to get up early in the game," said head coach Linda Garza. "We were able offensively to put the runs together early. Kama did an amazing job, coming out strong and setting the tone in the circle and again, always putting us in a position to win."
Dung retired the first three Lobo batters that stepped to the plate on Saturday, striking out two of them.
The 'Dogs meanwhile started with a Malia Rivers lead-off single in the bottom half, Miranda Rohleder followed with another single before Morgan Howe was walked. Taking advantage of the bases loaded situation, Lindsey Willmon opened the scoring onslaught with a two-RBI single for the Bulldogs.
After Kierra Willis went down looking, Savannah McHellon hit a two-RBI single to bring home the next two to give Fresno State its 4-0 advantage after one inning – the 'Dogs improved their record to 15-1 this season when scoring in the first frame.
The Lobos registered their first hit against Dung with a two-out single in the top of the second, but with her fourth strikeout of the game, Dung retired the side.
Katie Castellon led off the second inning for the 'Dogs with her third triple of the season and Rivers allowed her to cross the plate by reaching first on a throwing error, increasing the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0.
The 'Dogs loaded the bases once again later in the second, but this time McHellon flied out to centerfield, which held Fresno State to one run.
Dung worked a 1-2-3 third inning while advancing her strikeout total to five to set the stage for another outpouring of offense spurred by three home runs by the 'Dogs in the bottom half.
For the third-straight inning the 'Dogs led off with a hit, but this one was a home run by Vanessa Hernandez – her sixth of the season. Haley Fuller followed with a single through the left side which triggered a pitching change for New Mexico, ending the Lobos' starter Jensen Main's evening.
Rivers pushed the lead to 7-0, plating Rodriguez on a single to left centerfield against New Mexico's reliever Marissa Bethke.
Back-to-back home runs by Howe and WIllmon pushed the game to 10-0, a two-run shot by Howe – her fifth of the season – and a solo shot by Willmon – her eighth of the season.
Five runs and five hits later, it was 10-0 after three full innings.
New Mexico scored its sole run of the game in the fourth. Dung fell into a bases loaded situation after two hits and a fielding error. The damage was limited to one run thanks to an inning-ending double play as Howe gunned down a runner at the plate from right field after catching a fly-out.
Fresno State had its only scoreless frame in the bottom of the fourth and held its nine-run lead with a shutout top of the fifth to claim its 31st win of the season and Dung's 22nd from the circle.
"Every game is just one game at a time for us, although we are very much aware that we were able to put five in a row together," Garza added. "I think that's great for us and this team and this senior class. They have really shown that they're not done yet and we're not done yet. They want to go out in style and they want to do it right and in front of the Red Wave. So we are still in a one game at a time mentality. Our job is to go out tomorrow and go for the sweep."
Fresno State will close out its home schedule on Sunday, and honor its four seniors (Rivers, Rodriguez, Willis and Willmon) before the game. First pitch is set for 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
The 'Dogs (31-20, 11-8 MW) plated four runs in the first, one in the second, and five more in the third for the upper hand behind Kamalani Dung and her one-run, four-hit performance from the circle. It was the Bulldogs' first double-digit run showing since pouring on 13 runs in a win against CSU Bakersfield on March 21.
"It's just great, obviously, to get the win, but more importantly, to get up early in the game," said head coach Linda Garza. "We were able offensively to put the runs together early. Kama did an amazing job, coming out strong and setting the tone in the circle and again, always putting us in a position to win."
Dung retired the first three Lobo batters that stepped to the plate on Saturday, striking out two of them.
The 'Dogs meanwhile started with a Malia Rivers lead-off single in the bottom half, Miranda Rohleder followed with another single before Morgan Howe was walked. Taking advantage of the bases loaded situation, Lindsey Willmon opened the scoring onslaught with a two-RBI single for the Bulldogs.
After Kierra Willis went down looking, Savannah McHellon hit a two-RBI single to bring home the next two to give Fresno State its 4-0 advantage after one inning – the 'Dogs improved their record to 15-1 this season when scoring in the first frame.
The Lobos registered their first hit against Dung with a two-out single in the top of the second, but with her fourth strikeout of the game, Dung retired the side.
Katie Castellon led off the second inning for the 'Dogs with her third triple of the season and Rivers allowed her to cross the plate by reaching first on a throwing error, increasing the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0.
The 'Dogs loaded the bases once again later in the second, but this time McHellon flied out to centerfield, which held Fresno State to one run.
Dung worked a 1-2-3 third inning while advancing her strikeout total to five to set the stage for another outpouring of offense spurred by three home runs by the 'Dogs in the bottom half.
For the third-straight inning the 'Dogs led off with a hit, but this one was a home run by Vanessa Hernandez – her sixth of the season. Haley Fuller followed with a single through the left side which triggered a pitching change for New Mexico, ending the Lobos' starter Jensen Main's evening.
Rivers pushed the lead to 7-0, plating Rodriguez on a single to left centerfield against New Mexico's reliever Marissa Bethke.
Back-to-back home runs by Howe and WIllmon pushed the game to 10-0, a two-run shot by Howe – her fifth of the season – and a solo shot by Willmon – her eighth of the season.
Five runs and five hits later, it was 10-0 after three full innings.
New Mexico scored its sole run of the game in the fourth. Dung fell into a bases loaded situation after two hits and a fielding error. The damage was limited to one run thanks to an inning-ending double play as Howe gunned down a runner at the plate from right field after catching a fly-out.
Fresno State had its only scoreless frame in the bottom of the fourth and held its nine-run lead with a shutout top of the fifth to claim its 31st win of the season and Dung's 22nd from the circle.
"Every game is just one game at a time for us, although we are very much aware that we were able to put five in a row together," Garza added. "I think that's great for us and this team and this senior class. They have really shown that they're not done yet and we're not done yet. They want to go out in style and they want to do it right and in front of the Red Wave. So we are still in a one game at a time mentality. Our job is to go out tomorrow and go for the sweep."
Fresno State will close out its home schedule on Sunday, and honor its four seniors (Rivers, Rodriguez, Willis and Willmon) before the game. First pitch is set for 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
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dung, Kamalani (22-12)
L: MAIN, Jensen (7-8)
Batting:
RBI: SMITH, Doris 1
Base Running:
RUNS: SMITH, Cheyenne 1
Batting:
3B: Castellon, Katie 1
HR: Howe, Morgan 1 ; Willmon, Lindsey 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1
RBI: Rivers, Malia 1 ; Howe, Morgan 2 ; Willmon, Lindsey 3 ; McHellon, Savannah 2 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1
SH: Castellon, Katie 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rivers, Malia 2 ; Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Howe, Morgan 2 ; Willmon, Lindsey 2 ; Hernandez, Vanessa 1 ; Rodriguez, Christina 1 ; Castellon, Katie 1
HBP: Hernandez, Vanessa 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
3
R
2
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
3
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ SoftballIF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
OF
/ SoftballUT/IF
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