Bulldogs split two games Saturday in Fresno State Invitational

Saturday, March 10

Fresno, Calif.

11:30 AM

Fresno State

12-10

Cleveland State

8-10

Cleveland State

Fresno State

Bulldogs split two games Saturday in Fresno State Invitational

3/10/2018 5:34:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

Tournament Central

FRESNO, Calif. – Freshman Savannah Berkowitz allowed just one run in a complete game win over Cleveland State, 6-1, while No. 17 California used a five-run fourth inning for a 7-0 win over Fresno State as the Bulldogs split a pair of games on Saturday in the Fresno State Invitational.

Sophomore Miranda Rohleder had two hits in each game, including a leadoff home run against Cleveland State (8-10) as the 'Dogs beat the Vikings for the second consecutive day. The game against California (22-3) was scoreless through three innings before the Golden Bears pulled away. Cal has outscored its opponents 35-3 through four games in the weekend tournament.

How it Happened (Cleveland State Game)
Making her first career start and pitching at Margie Wright Diamond for the first time, Berkowitz retired the first seven batters she faced and allowed just seven singles and one walk with two strikeouts in seven innings, needing just 76 pitches for a complete-game win.

Rohleder hit her first home run of the season to put the Bulldogs ahead 1-0 just four pitches into the bottom of the first. The 'Dogs threatened to add to their lead but left two runners aboard in the first and stranded the bases loaded in the second inning. Berkowitz got some help defensively as the top halves of the third and fourth innings both ended with the 'Dogs throwing out a runner at the plate.

The Bulldogs led 1-0 with two out and nobody on in the bottom of the fifth before four straight batters had a hit. Hayleigh Galvan, Vanessa Hernandez, and Rachel Minogue had back-to-back-to-back doubles to score two runs and Schuylar Broussard followed with an RBI single to make it 4-0.

Fresno State added two runs in the sixth as Kaitlyn Jennings and Rohleder both singled to begin the inning and scored on a sacrifice fly and a Cleveland State fielding error, respectively. The Vikings loaded the bases with three straight singles to open the seventh inning but Berkowitz got a double play and a groundout to allow just one run and complete her first collegiate win.

How it Happened (#17 California Game)
Freshman Danielle East got the start against the Golden Bears and matched zeros with Zoe Conley through the first three innings. East allowed just a single and walk over the first three innings and Fresno State had base runners in each of the first three innings, with Rohleder reaching second base twice, but could not score.

In the fourth inning, Cal scored one run on a single, sacrifice bunt, and RBI double. With just one run across and two out, Karlee Sparacino drew a walk and Krysten McCue had an RBI single on an 8-pitch at-bat. Lindsay Rood followed with a double and Jazmyn Jackson had a two-run single as the Bears opened a 5-0 lead.

Pitching in relief, senior Sarah Santana kept the deficit at 5-0 with two scoreless innings. The 'Dogs left runners on the corners in the fifth inning and stranded a single runner in the sixth. Cal scored two more 2-out runs in the seventh as Lauren Espalin had a 2-run double and Conley set the 'Dogs down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Notable

Through their first three games played in the Fresno State Invitational the Bulldogs outscored their opposition 23-1, allowing just 11 singles and no extra-base hits over 18.0 innings. Fresno State did not allow any runs through the first 17 innings pitched.
Rohleder had a stolen base in each game on Saturday and is now 12-for-13 this season on stolen base attempts. She has five stolen bases in the last four games.
In the tournament Rohleder is 6-for-12 at the plate with three walks, five runs, and five steals with a .600 on-base percentage.
In other action at Margie Wright Diamond on Saturday, Cal defeated Cleveland State, 10-1, in five innings. UC Santa Barbara and Monmouth played a doubleheader at Fresno City College, with Monmouth winning the first game, 12-4 in six innings, and UC Santa Barbara winning the second, 6-3.
Weather permitting, the Fresno State Invitational will conclude with three games on Sunday at Margie Wright Diamond. The complete schedule can be found on the Tournament Central page.

What's Next
The Bulldogs will conclude play in the Fresno State Invitational facing Monmouth on Sunday at 2 p.m.

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