Bulldogs edged by #7 LSU and BYU at Mary Nutter Classic

Saturday, February 24

Palm Springs, Calif.

2:30 PM

Fresno State

7-5

10 (5)

#7 LSU

14-0

LSU

Fresno State

Bulldogs edged by #7 LSU and BYU at Mary Nutter Classic

2/25/2018 12:05:00 AM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – Dominique Jackson and Hayleigh Galvan both homered on Saturday but the Bulldogs dropped a pair of contests, losing to No. 7 LSU 10-2 in five innings and taking a 7-3 loss against BYU at the Mary Nutter Classic.

Fresno State (7-6) trailed just 3-2 to LSU through three innings before the Tigers pulled away to remain unbeaten on the season. Galvan hit a 3-run homer in the first inning to give the 'Dogs an early 3-0 lead against BYU but the bats cooled off after that.

How it Happened (LSU Game)
The Bulldogs faced LSU senior Carley Hoover, who entered the game having allowed only one run over 35.0 innings this season. The Tiger ace had a 0.20 ERA and had allowed just 14 hits with 46 strikeouts to start the season 5-0. Fresno State would score twice against her.

LSU took a 1-0 lead into the bottom of the second as Hoover allowed a walk but no hits to get the first five outs. Jackson ended that as she blasted a 2-2 pitch way over the wall in left to tie the game at 1-1. The Tigers answered with a 2-run homer of their own in the top of the third, but in the bottom half the 'Dogs scored again as Kaitlyn Jennings walked, Katie Castellon reached on a bunt single, and Savannah McHellon came through with an RBI single to cut the LSU lead to 3-2.

LSU came back with two runs in the fourth as Amanda Doyle had a 2-run single after a 12-pitch at-bat. In the fifth, LSU scored twice on bases loaded walks and, with the bases loaded and two away, Doyle battled Samantha Mejia in an incredible 20-pitch at-bat that ended with a bases clearing double.

The Tigers could have scored two more runs in the 5th but Jennings robbed a potential home run with a leaping grab at the wall in left. Miranda Rohleder had the 'Dogs fourth hit off Hoover with a single with one away in the bottom of the fifth but LSU was able to strand the runner to finish the win in five innings.

How it Happened (BYU Game)
The Bulldogs had a 3-0 lead just four batters into the game as Rohleder and McHellon both drew walks before Galvan hit her second home run as a Bulldog on a deep drive to left center. BYU drew a pair of walks in the bottom of the first and got one run back on an Alexa Strid RBI single.

In the second inning the Cougars got a two-out single and scored a run on a double that got lost in the lights. BYU put one more run on the board to tie the game in the third as Lexi Tarrow and Libby Sugg began the inning with consecutive doubles. Brielle Breland put the Cougars ahead 4-3 with a solo homer in the fourth inning.

After allowing the three quick runs, BYU starter Arissa Paulson settled in and faced the minimum over the next five innings. In the bottom of the 6^th the Cougars scored three runs, all with two outs, on a pair of bloop singles that dropped in the shallow outfield. Vanessa Hernandez had a double in the 7^th but Paulson was able to complete the win allowing just three hits and two walks with six strikeouts.

Notable

Fresno State raised Carley Hoover's season ERA from 0.20 to 0.53. Prior to Jackson's home run, Hoover had permitted just 10 singles and four doubles through five starts.
LSU improved to 14-0 this season with the win but lost later Saturday against No. 3 UCLA.
Danielle East had a career-high nine strikeouts over six innings pitched against BYU.
BYU was ranked No. 19 in the preseason NFCA/USA Today Coaches Poll.
Castellon extended her hitting streak to six games, the longest on the team this season.
As a team Fresno State has hit 14 home runs over the first 13 games this year.
Through its first 12 games of the season Fresno State played just five that were completed in seven innings. The team has played four 5-inning games, one 6-inning game, and two 8-inning games.

What's Next
The Bulldogs conclude play at the Mary Nutter Classic with two games on Sunday. The 'Dogs face No. 3 UCLA at 11:30 a.m. before wrapping up the tournament against CSUN at 2:00 p.m. Both games will be streamed on FloSoftball ($).

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