‘Dogs drop opener at Colorado State

Friday, March 15

Fort Collins, Colo.

3 P.M. PT

Fresno State

14-7, 0-1

RV/-- Colorado State

18-4, 1-0

Fresno State

Colorado State

‘Dogs drop opener at Colorado State

3/15/2019 7:06:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Fresno State battled back from an early 3-0 deficit to draw even but Colorado State pushed across five more runs to open the first MW series of the season with an 8-4 win on Friday in Fort Collins.

In a matchup of two teams that were both on eight-game winning streaks, Colorado State (18-4, 1-0 MW) won its ninth straight contest and improved to 9-0 at home this season. Fresno State (14-7, 0-1 MW) lost for the first time since a 4-2 setback against No. 7/7 Tennessee on Feb. 28.

The highest scoring team in the MW through the non-conference season, Colorado State tallied 11 hits and drew six walks to plate eight runs on Friday. The top five hitters in the CSU lineup combined for eight hits and drove in seven runs. Kelcey Carrasco had her third multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-3, as the 'Dogs totaled six hits and four walks.

How it Happened
Colorado State got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first as, after a ground out by the leadoff hitter, four straight Rams would reach with three runs scoring. Back-to-back walks gave CSU a pair of baserunners and Lauren Buchanan brought them both in with a double to center. Amber Nelson followed with an RBI triple but Hailey Dolcini entered and got the last two outs to strand the runner at third.

The 'Dogs tied the game with three runs in the third. Carrasco, Vanessa M. Hernandez, and McKenzie Wilson all singled to load the bases with nobody out and Miranda Rohleder worked a six-pitch walk to bring in the first run. Hayleigh Galvan followed with a sacrifice fly and Rachel Minogue had an RBI groundout to bring the 'Dogs even.

The Rams regained the lead in the fourth as the first five hitters reached base. Ashley Ruiz led off the inning with a solo home run and a walk and two singles loaded the bases with none out. Haley Donaldson singled to drive in the fifth CSU run and Buchanan had a sacrifice fly to put the home team up 6-3.

Colorado State added a run in the fifth inning on a pair of two-out hits. Fresno State loaded the bases with one out in the top of the sixth on a walk, a hit by pitch, and a Carrasco single and scored a run on a fielder's choice ground out but the Rams escaped the inning with just one run scoring and a 7-4 lead.

Donaldson led off the bottom of the sixth inning with a double and scored an 8^th Colorado State run. The 'Dogs hit a couple of balls hard in the seventh but couldn't get a rally going.

Notable

The Bulldogs tallied three runs on four hits and two walks against CSU ace Jessica Jarecki, knocking her out of the game before an out was recorded in the third inning. Jarecki entered the game leading the MW with a 1.17 ERA this season.
Fresno State had allowed just 12 total runs over the last eight games.
Colorado State leads NCAA Div. I in doubles per game and had four doubles on Friday.
The Rams received votes in the USA Today/NFCA Coaches' poll this week.
After a blizzard hit Fort Collins on Wednesday and the temperature didn't top 36 degrees on Thursday, it was sunny and 42 degrees at first pitch on Friday.

Up Next
Fresno State and Colorado State meet for game two of the weekend series at 1 p.m. MT/12 p.m. PT on Saturday.

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