Bulldogs blank Montana again, UCSB game moved to Sunday

Saturday, March 9

Fresno, Calif.

5 P.M. PT

Fresno State

12-6

Montana

5-19

Montana

Fresno State

Bulldogs blank Montana again, UCSB game moved to Sunday

3/9/2019 8:35:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Tournament Central

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

FRESNO, Calif. – Hailey Dolcini struck out nine and allowed just two hits for her second shutout of the year and Rachel Minogue and Vanessa Hernandez both had multi-hit and multi-RBI games as the Bulldogs beat Montana 6-0, shutting out the Griz for the second straight night in the Bulldog Classic.

After Fresno State (12-6) won its sixth consecutive game the 'Dogs were scheduled to face UC Santa Barbara on Saturday night, but that game was postponed until Sunday due to rain. The 'Dogs will now play twice on Sunday with their previously scheduled game against California Baptist at 2 p.m. and the rescheduled game against the Gauchos to be played after that to conclude the tournament.

The game that did get completed on Saturday was very similar to the first meeting between the 'Dogs and Montana (5-19) on Friday. Fresno State won that game 8-0 in six innings as Danielle Lung struck out 13 and allowed just two hits and Dolcini spun a two-hit shutout of her own on Saturday. Hernandez remained red hot, going 3-for-3 with two doubles, a walk, and two RBIs and Minogue was 2-for-4 with two RBIs while Vanessa M. Hernandez also had a multi-hit line going 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

How it Happened
Dolcini struck out a pair in a scoreless first inning and had another strikeout in the second. After going down in order in the first the Bulldogs got on the board in the second inning as Hernandez doubled, Jade Nua was hit by a pitch, and Kelcey Carrasco walked to load the bases and Vanessa M Hernandez drove in the senior Hernandez with a two-out single.

In the third inning, the 'Dogs got a pair aboard on a Montana fielding error and a single from Minogue and Vanessa Hernandez brought both runners in with her second double in as many innings. After walking the leadoff batter in the third, Dolcini went on to retire 12 straight batters with five strikeouts over that span through the sixth inning.

The 'Dogs picked up three insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth. Vanessa M. Hernandez had a one out double, McKenzie Wilson reached on an error, and Miranda Rohleder had an RBI bunt single and stole second base as the Griz left it unoccupied. Two batters later Minogue brought home both Wilson and Rohleder with a single into left the put the 'Dogs up 6-0.

With the rain picking up in the top of the seventh, Montana got its first two hitters aboard before Dolcini got a pair of fly outs and a strikeout to end the game (watch).

Notable

Vanessa Hernandez has driven in multiple runs in six of the last seven Bulldog games, hitting 14-for-24 (.583) with three home runs, seven doubles, and 15 RBIs over the last seven contests with a 1.250 slugging percentage.
Hernandez has driven in multiple runs in nine of the 18 Bulldog games this year and has raised her season batting average to .404.
Fresno State is 7-1 in the eight games Dolcini has started this season as she has allowed two earned runs or fewer in all nine of her appearances. She is now 6-1 with a 1.39 ERA on the season with 46 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched.
The Bulldogs have won every game this year in which they've held a lead.
Fresno State is now 10-0 when scoring first this year.
Wilson has reached base in nine straight games while Minogue and Hernandez have both reached in seven straight.
In earlier action on Saturday in the Bulldog Classic, California Baptist defeated North Dakota 8-0 in 5 innings, North Dakota defeated UC Santa Barbara 3-2, and California Baptist beat Montana 10-1 in 5 innings.

Up Next
There will be four games played to conclude the Bulldog Classic on Sunday. After two neutral site games the 'Dogs will face California Baptist at 2 p.m. and UC Santa Barbara after that at approximately 4:30, with Fresno State facing both the Lancers and the Gauchos for the second time this season. See the full schedule in Tournament Central.

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