Fresno State Athletics
Saturday, March 24
Fresno, Calif.
3:00 PM
Fresno State
16-14, 1-1
0
vs
4
Colorado State
16-8, 3-2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
R
H
E
Colorado State
1
0
2
1
0
0
0
4
11
0
Fresno State
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
8
0
Colorado State evens up series as Bulldogs honor 1998 National Champions
3/24/2018 6:55:00 PM | Softball
FRESNO, Calif. – With former coach Margie Wright and 11 other members of the 1998 championship team on hand the Bulldogs paid tribute on the 20th anniversary of the first national title in Fresno State history. Colorado State was able to even the weekend series, however, with a 4-0 win.
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Fresno State (16-14, 1-1 MW) had eight hits and drew six walks in the game and had runners on base in every inning but left 12 aboard after scoring nine runs in a series-opening win on Friday night. Colorado State (16-8, 3-2 MW) also left 12 runners on base but was able to push across four runs to level the series.
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How it Happened
The Rams took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning as leadoff hitter Sarah Muzik began the game with a single, stole second, and scored on a 2-out RBI single from Lauren Buchanan. After a scoreless second inning Colorado State added two runs in the third, loading the bases with a double, single, and hit batter and bringing across runs on a bases loaded walk followed by another hit-by-pitch.
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Senior Sarah Santana got a double play lineout to end the inning and keep the deficit at just 3-0. The 'Dogs loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third on a single and two walks but were held off the scoreboard as the Rams turned an inning-ending double play.
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Muzik scored again in the fourth inning as a Corina Gamboa RBI single gave the visitors a 4-0 lead. Fresno State threatened in each of the next four innings but left two runners on base in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
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In the bottom of the seventh Hayleigh Galvan and Rachel Minogue had one-out singles but CSU pitcher Kaylynn Pierce, who threw 4.2 scoreless innings in relief to get the win, got a double play groundout to close a shutout.
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Quotable
"Despite the outcome of the game, honoring the 1998 World Series championship team was an amazing experience. Getting to talk to some of the players and listening to their experiences was amazing. Seeing them and getting to talk to them just reminds us how incredible this school is and the tradition that is behind this program."
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On hearing from Coach Wright…
"Having Coach Margie Wright talk to us before the game was something I'll never forget. She's an amazing person and is one of the best to ever coach this game so it was an honor to get to listen to her speak to us and take in what she had to say."
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On the experience on Saturday…
"Coach Garza is big on tradition and preaches that to us daily, so getting to see those players and the coach that brought this program to what it is now was incredible. What that 1998 team was able to accomplish is remarkable, and honoring them and Coach Wright in that stadium full of people was an amazing experience."
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Notable
The rubber match of the three game series with Colorado State will take place at noon on Sunday. The game will also conclude a season-long 12 game homestand for the Bulldogs.
 "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 (16-14, 1-1 MW) had eight hits and drew six walks in the game and had runners on base in every inning but left 12 aboard after scoring nine runs in a series-opening win on Friday night. Colorado State (16-8, 3-2 MW) also left 12 runners on base but was able to push across four runs to level the series.
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How it Happened
The Rams took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning as leadoff hitter Sarah Muzik began the game with a single, stole second, and scored on a 2-out RBI single from Lauren Buchanan. After a scoreless second inning Colorado State added two runs in the third, loading the bases with a double, single, and hit batter and bringing across runs on a bases loaded walk followed by another hit-by-pitch.
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Senior Sarah Santana got a double play lineout to end the inning and keep the deficit at just 3-0. The 'Dogs loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the third on a single and two walks but were held off the scoreboard as the Rams turned an inning-ending double play.
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Muzik scored again in the fourth inning as a Corina Gamboa RBI single gave the visitors a 4-0 lead. Fresno State threatened in each of the next four innings but left two runners on base in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.
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In the bottom of the seventh Hayleigh Galvan and Rachel Minogue had one-out singles but CSU pitcher Kaylynn Pierce, who threw 4.2 scoreless innings in relief to get the win, got a double play groundout to close a shutout.
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Quotable
- Senior shortstop Katie Castellon (2-for-3 with a double on Saturday)
"Despite the outcome of the game, honoring the 1998 World Series championship team was an amazing experience. Getting to talk to some of the players and listening to their experiences was amazing. Seeing them and getting to talk to them just reminds us how incredible this school is and the tradition that is behind this program."
Â
On hearing from Coach Wright…
"Having Coach Margie Wright talk to us before the game was something I'll never forget. She's an amazing person and is one of the best to ever coach this game so it was an honor to get to listen to her speak to us and take in what she had to say."
Â
On the experience on Saturday…
"Coach Garza is big on tradition and preaches that to us daily, so getting to see those players and the coach that brought this program to what it is now was incredible. What that 1998 team was able to accomplish is remarkable, and honoring them and Coach Wright in that stadium full of people was an amazing experience."
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Notable
- Nine players from the 1998 Championship team were in attendance for the 20th anniversary celebration: 1998 All-Americans Nina Lindenberg and Becky Witt Labandeira as well as Carolyn Wilson, Candice Bowlin Renau, Angela Cervantez, Jamie Maxey, Vanessa Miller, Alicia Downland, and Amber Wall.
- Galvan was 2-for-3 with a walk for the second consecutive game and has reached safely in all 16 Fresno State home games this season. She has a hit in 11 straight home games and is now hitting .389 on the season with a MW-leading .536 on-base percentage.
- Santana allowed just one run over 4.2 innings pitched in relief, her longest outing as a Bulldog.
- Despite the loss Fresno State is still 11-5 at home this season and has averaged 6.4 runs scored per game. The 'Dogs are hitting .316 with a 3.01 ERA at home.
- A crowd of 1,243 fans represented the Red Wave and welcomed back dozens of alumni on Saturday.
The rubber match of the three game series with Colorado State will take place at noon on Sunday. The game will also conclude a season-long 12 game homestand for the Bulldogs.
 "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: PIERCE, Kaylynn (3-2)
L: Berkowitz, Savannah (1-1)
Batting:
2B: GAMBOA, Corina 1
RBI: GAMBOA, Corina 1 ; BUCHANAN, Lauren 1 ; KILCREASE, Madison 1 ; MCCORKHILL, Hannah 1
SH: DONALDSON, Haley 1
Base Running:
RUNS: MUZIK, Sarah 2 ; GAMBOA, Corina 1 ; ACOSTA, Jordan 1
SB: MUZIK, Sarah 1
HBP: BUCHANAN, Lauren 1 ; MCCORKHILL, Hannah 1
Batting:
2B: Castellon, Katie 1
SH: Castellon, Katie 1
Game Leaders
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ SoftballC/OF
/ SoftballIF
/ Softball
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