Bulldogs outlasted by Wisconsin to open play in Palm Springs

Friday, February 23

Palm Springs, Calif.

10:30 AM

Fresno State

7-4

6 (8)

Wisconsin

6-5

Wisconsin

Fresno State

Bulldogs outlasted by Wisconsin to open play in Palm Springs

2/23/2018 3:48:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – In a back-and-forth game in which both teams battled back from deficits Wisconsin was able to strand the potential tying run at third base in the bottom of the eighth inning to earn a 6-5 win over Fresno State as the Bulldogs began play at the Mary Nutter Classic.

Fresno State (7-4) forced extra innings as Schuylar Broussard had a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the seventh. With the international tie rule in effect both teams scored one run in the eighth inning but Wisconsin (6-5) was able to score a second while the 'Dogs left two aboard in the bottom half of the inning and had 13 runners left on base for the game.

How it Happened
The Bulldogs had runners on the corners with nobody out in the second inning but did not score. In the third Fresno State sent eight batters to the plate. The 'Dogs loaded the bases on two singles and a hit-by-pitch and scored the first run of the game on a single from Rachel Minogue. With the bases still loaded, Emily Brodner was hit by a pitch to put the Bulldogs ahead 2-0.

Wisconsin got a run in the top of the fourth but Fresno State immediately got it back in the bottom half as Katie Castellon doubled home Miranda Rohleder. The Badgers drew four walks to bring in a run in the fifth inning and then took the lead on a 2-run single from Brooke Wyderski.

The 4-3 Wisconsin lead held into the bottom of the 7^th as Hayleigh Galvan drew a leadoff walk and pinch runner Dolly Stevens moved to second on a sacrifice. With two away Broussard singled up the middle to bring in Stevens and tie the game at 4-4 to force extra innings.

With a runner on second to start the eighth Wisconsin took the lead on a two-out RBI single and, after a stolen base, moved to a 6-4 lead on an RBI single from Kelsey Jenkins. In the bottom of the 8^th the Bulldogs had runners on the corners with no outs after Rohleder's third hit of the game. With runners on second and third and one out Savannah McHellon hit a deep fly ball to center that was caught at the wall to bring in one run and move Rohleder to third. After Vanessa Hernandez drew a walk Dominique Jackson nearly beat out a ground ball that would have tied the game but she was just thrown out at first to end it.

Notable

The Bulldogs had 16 at-bats in the game with runners in scoring position while Wisconsin had 12.
Rohleder tallied her third multi-hit game in the last four contests. In the last eight games she is 12-for-26 (.462) with seven walks and 10 runs scored was well as seven stolen bases.
Broussard, Castellon, and Minogue all had two hits in the game.
Samantha Mejia allowed just one earned run over 3.2 innings in relief for the Bulldogs, striking out six batters and allowing just four singles and one walk.
Kaitlyn Menz threw a complete game for Wisconsin, throwing 167 pitches and allowing 10 hits and five walks with two hit batters.
Through 11 games this season Fresno State has played just five that have been completed in seven innings.
The game marked the first time this season that the Bulldogs held a lead but did not win, as they had been 6-0 when leading at any point in a game.
Wisconsin received votes in the preseason polls and defeated No. 6 Auburn on Thursday.

What's Next
The Bulldogs play two games in Palm Springs on both Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday the 'Dogs will face No. 7 LSU at 2:30 p.m. before tangling with BYU at 7:30. Both games will be streamed on FloSoftball ($).

"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.

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