Fresno State Athletics
Friday, March 16
Fresno, Calif.
6:00 PM
Fresno State
13-12
9
vs
10
Illinois
14-8
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Illinois
0
0
0
4
4
2
0
10
14
2
Fresno State
1
6
0
0
0
0
2
9
8
1
Bulldogs edged by Illinois in two close games
3/17/2018 1:06:00 AM | Softball
FRESNO, Calif. – Savannah McHellon hit three home runs in two games, including a game-tying homer with two out in the bottom of the seventh of game two, and the Bulldogs scored 14 runs on the day but dropped two close decisions to Illinois, losing 10-9 in the first game before an 8-5 loss in nine innings in the nightcap.
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Fresno State (13-13) had early leads in both games before the Illini were able to battle back. Illinois (15-8) has now won six consecutive games and 12 of its last 14 contests, pounding out 18 runs on 22 hits over the two games.
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Due to rain the start time of the doubleheader was moved to 6 p.m., and with two long games the final out was not recorded until just before midnight. Because of the late night for the Illini, the Saturday doubleheader between Illinois and Cal Poly at Margie Wright Diamond has been moved to a 2 p.m. start.
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How it Happened (Game 1)
Fresno State came out swinging in the first game of the day to build a quick 7-0 lead. Katie Castellon got the 'Dogs on the board with a solo homer in the first inning and in the second the Bulldogs would send nine batters to the plate. The 'Dogs scored six runs with two away in the inning, scoring the first two on a bases-loaded walk and hit-by-pitch before McHellon hit her second grand slam of the season.
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The 7-0 Bulldog lead held into the fourth inning, but in the top half the Illini got a 3-run homer from Maddison Demers and an RBI triple from Kiana Sherlund to cut their deficit to 7-4. Illinois scored four more times in the fifth to take an 8-7 lead, with Sherlund hitting another RBI triple and scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
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Bella Loya made it a 9-7 game with a home run leading off the sixth inning and the Illinois lead reached 10-7 with a run scoring on a Bulldog throwing error. The Bulldogs would mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh as McHellon had a leadoff double and scored on a Hayleigh Galvan single.
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With two away and a runner on third, Rachel Minogue singled through the box to get the 'Dogs within a 10-9 deficit. Schuylar Broussard followed with a deep drive to right field but Maddi Doane tracked it down on the run to end the game.
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How it Happened (Game 2)
Freshman Savannah Berkowitz made her second start as a Bulldog and again put forth a quality outing in the nightcap. The 'Dogs gave her an early 3-0 lead as Galvan drove in a run with a single in the first inning and Castellon had a 2-run single with two out in the second.
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Illinois got a leadoff single in the third and got the runner home on a groundout. The Bulldogs still led 3-1 into the top of the 5th inning but Illinois got a pair of singles with one away. Sam Acosta followed with a single to right and she and both base runners ended up scoring on the play on a fielding error, giving the Illini a 4-3 lead.
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McHellon quickly tied the game back up with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth. Illinois responded as Loya homered again with two out in the top of the sixth giving the visitors a 5-4 lead. The Bulldogs would be down to their final out in the bottom of the seventh when McHellon lined her second homer of the game out to center field.
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With the international extra-inning rule in effect the Illini started the 8th with a runner on second before Castellon cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate. On a sac bunt and a walk the 'Dogs had runners on first and third in the bottom of the 8th but Illinois got a strikeout and fly out to send the game to the ninth.
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The Illini took the lead after a bloop double and an RBI single from Sherlund. Illinois ended up scoring two more runs on a fielder's choice groundball, but in the bottom of the ninth the Bulldogs got the tying runs aboard, loading the bases with two out after walks from McHellon and Galvan. Illinois' Emily Oestreich induced a pop out, however, to finish it.
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Notable
The Bulldogs are off Saturday before playing a doubleheader against Cal Poly on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 "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.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateSoftball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateSoftball
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Fresno State (13-13) had early leads in both games before the Illini were able to battle back. Illinois (15-8) has now won six consecutive games and 12 of its last 14 contests, pounding out 18 runs on 22 hits over the two games.
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Due to rain the start time of the doubleheader was moved to 6 p.m., and with two long games the final out was not recorded until just before midnight. Because of the late night for the Illini, the Saturday doubleheader between Illinois and Cal Poly at Margie Wright Diamond has been moved to a 2 p.m. start.
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How it Happened (Game 1)
Fresno State came out swinging in the first game of the day to build a quick 7-0 lead. Katie Castellon got the 'Dogs on the board with a solo homer in the first inning and in the second the Bulldogs would send nine batters to the plate. The 'Dogs scored six runs with two away in the inning, scoring the first two on a bases-loaded walk and hit-by-pitch before McHellon hit her second grand slam of the season.
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The 7-0 Bulldog lead held into the fourth inning, but in the top half the Illini got a 3-run homer from Maddison Demers and an RBI triple from Kiana Sherlund to cut their deficit to 7-4. Illinois scored four more times in the fifth to take an 8-7 lead, with Sherlund hitting another RBI triple and scoring the go-ahead run on a wild pitch.
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Bella Loya made it a 9-7 game with a home run leading off the sixth inning and the Illinois lead reached 10-7 with a run scoring on a Bulldog throwing error. The Bulldogs would mount a rally in the bottom of the seventh as McHellon had a leadoff double and scored on a Hayleigh Galvan single.
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With two away and a runner on third, Rachel Minogue singled through the box to get the 'Dogs within a 10-9 deficit. Schuylar Broussard followed with a deep drive to right field but Maddi Doane tracked it down on the run to end the game.
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How it Happened (Game 2)
Freshman Savannah Berkowitz made her second start as a Bulldog and again put forth a quality outing in the nightcap. The 'Dogs gave her an early 3-0 lead as Galvan drove in a run with a single in the first inning and Castellon had a 2-run single with two out in the second.
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Illinois got a leadoff single in the third and got the runner home on a groundout. The Bulldogs still led 3-1 into the top of the 5th inning but Illinois got a pair of singles with one away. Sam Acosta followed with a single to right and she and both base runners ended up scoring on the play on a fielding error, giving the Illini a 4-3 lead.
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McHellon quickly tied the game back up with a leadoff home run in the bottom of the fifth. Illinois responded as Loya homered again with two out in the top of the sixth giving the visitors a 5-4 lead. The Bulldogs would be down to their final out in the bottom of the seventh when McHellon lined her second homer of the game out to center field.
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With the international extra-inning rule in effect the Illini started the 8th with a runner on second before Castellon cut down the potential go-ahead run at the plate. On a sac bunt and a walk the 'Dogs had runners on first and third in the bottom of the 8th but Illinois got a strikeout and fly out to send the game to the ninth.
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The Illini took the lead after a bloop double and an RBI single from Sherlund. Illinois ended up scoring two more runs on a fielder's choice groundball, but in the bottom of the ninth the Bulldogs got the tying runs aboard, loading the bases with two out after walks from McHellon and Galvan. Illinois' Emily Oestreich induced a pop out, however, to finish it.
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Notable
- McHellon homered in two games for the second consecutive Friday, having also homered against both Cleveland State and UC Santa Barbara last Friday. She has five home runs, three doubles, and 14 RBIs over the last seven games and leads the MW with 11 homers this year.
- Berkowitz allowed just two earned runs over 6.1 innings and she has a 2.39 ERA in 14.2 innings pitched this year.
- Seven Fresno State players recorded multiple hits over the two games on Friday.
- After the two games with Illinois, which played in the NCAA regionals last season, the Bulldogs have now played 11 games this season against Power-5 schools.
- The second game on Friday was the 12th Fresno State game this season that was not completed in seven innings. It was the team's third extra-inning game and the first to reach nine innings.
The Bulldogs are off Saturday before playing a doubleheader against Cal Poly on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 11 a.m.
 "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.
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateSoftball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateSoftball
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Akilah Mouzon (1-0)
L: Mejia, Samantha (1-4)
Batting:
2B: Leigh Farina 1
3B: Kiana Sherlund 2
HR: Bella Loya 1 ; Maddison Demers 1
RBI: Kiana Sherlund 2 ; Bella Loya 1 ; Maddison Demers 4 ; Leigh Farina 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Kiana Sherlund 1 ; Bella Loya 1 ; Maddi Doane 1 ; Alexis Carrillo 2 ; Kate Giddens 1 ; Maddison Demers 1 ; Rhein Trochim 1 ; Leigh Farina 2
SB: Sam Acosta 1 ; Carly Thomas 2 ; Maddi Doane 1 ; Alexis Carrillo 1
CS: Sam Acosta 1
HBP: Bella Loya 1 ; Maddison Demers 1
Batting:
2B: McHellon, Savannah 1 ; Minogue, Rachel 1
HR: Castellon, Katie 1 ; McHellon, Savannah 1
RBI: Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Castellon, Katie 2 ; McHellon, Savannah 4 ; Minogue, Rachel 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Castellon, Katie 2 ; McHellon, Savannah 1 ; Stevens, Dolly 1 ; Cuevas-Iñiguez, Aaliyah 1 ; Minogue, Rachel 1 ; Jackson, Dominique 1 ; Jennings, Kaitlyn 1
HBP: Castellon, Katie 1 ; Jennings, Kaitlyn 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
4
AB
4
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
2
H
1
RBI
2
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
C/OF
/ SoftballDP/RHP
/ SoftballIF
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