‘Dogs edged by Spartans in series opener, 3-2

Friday, March 22

Fresno, Calif.

6 P.M. PT

Fresno State

15-10, 0-4

San Jose State

21-9, 1-0

San Jose State

Fresno State

‘Dogs edged by Spartans in series opener, 3-2

3/22/2019 9:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

FRESNO, Calif. – Fresno State battled back from an early 2-0 deficit but San Jose State regained the lead with a run in the top of the seventh inning and claimed a 3-2 victory in the opener of a three game MW series on Friday night at Margie Wright Diamond.

San Jose State (21-9, 1-0 MW) won its 11^th consecutive game and earned a win in its first conference game of the season. Fresno State (15-10, 0-4 MW) drew even with the Spartans with runs in the fourth and fifth innings but the visitors scored the winning run on a bases loaded hit-by-pitch with two out in the top of the seventh.

Both Bulldog runs scored off leadoff triples, as Miranda Rohleder tripled and scored to lead off the fourth inning and Jade Nua scored following a three-bagger to start the fifth. Rachel Minogue was 2-for-2 with a double and a sacrifice fly for the 'Dogs while the Spartans had a 7-5 edge in hits in the game and also drew four walks while two SJSU pitchers did not surrender a walk.

How it Happened
San Jose State jumped out to a quick lead with a pair of runs in the first inning. The first two Spartan hitters reached on a walk and a double and Cassidy Clark drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single. Madison Aurin followed with a sacrifice fly to center to give the visitors a 2-0 lead.

Fresno State had just one base runner on a Minogue single through the first three innings but Rohleder hit the first pitch of the bottom of the fourth inning down the line in right for a stand-up triple (watch). Minogue followed with a sacrifice fly to center to cut the Bulldog deficit in half.

Hailey Dolcini set down the Spartans in order in both the fourth and fifth innings and in the bottom of the fifth Nua led off with a triple to left center (watch). She would score two batters later as Kelcey Carrasco singled up the middle to tie the game (watch).

Minogue doubled with one out in the sixth (watch) but the 'Dogs couldn't take the lead. In the seventh Dolcini got the first two outs but Alyssa Avila had a two-out double and the next two batters drew walks to load the bases. On a 2-0 count Clark was hit by a pitch to bring in pinch runner Carley Morfey with the go-ahead run, and Jenessa Ullegue set the 'Dogs down in order in the bottom of the seventh to complete a Spartan win.

Notable

Fresno State had two triples in a game for the first time this season after recording four such games last year.
The 'Dogs suffered their first home loss of the season after starting the year 7-0 at home.
Since entering the starting lineup Nua is on a 10-game hitting streak, the longest by a Bulldog this season, and she has reached base in 12 consecutive games.
Minogue is 7-for-12 (.583) with three doubles and four RBIs in four MW games. Nua is hitting .455 with a .500 on-base percentage in MW play.
Fresno State lost for just the second time in Dolcini's 10 starts this year.

Up Next
The Bulldogs and Spartans meet for game two at 3 p.m. Saturday at Margie Wright Diamond.

"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: @FresnoStateSB
Instagram: FresnoStateSoftball
Facebook: FresnoStateSoftball