Bulldogs edged by Stanford in close contest, 3-2

Tuesday, April 23

Fresno, Calif.

6 P.M. PT

Fresno State

30-15

RV/RV Stanford

31-10

Stanford

Fresno State

Bulldogs edged by Stanford in close contest, 3-2

4/23/2019 10:05:00 PM | Softball

Box Score Photo Gallery

By: Andrew Tomsky / Assistant Director of Communications

FRESNO, Calif. – Freshman McKenzie Wilson hit her first career home run and the Bulldog pitchers allowed just three hits but Stanford was able to edge out the 'Dogs, 3-2, on Tuesday night at Margie Wright Diamond.

Fresno State (30-15) outhit Stanford (31-10), 5-3, but the Cardinal drew six walks, had a hit batter, and capitalized on two Bulldog errors with a pair of unearned runs. Danielle Lung and Danielle East combined to allow just three hits against a Stanford team that is receiving votes in both national polls and was ranked No. 24 in the country last week.

Wilson drove in both Bulldog runs with her first career home run in the fifth inning, a two-run shot to tie the game after the Cardinal had taken the lead in the top half of the inning. Rachel Minogue was 2-for-3 with a double while Vanessa Hernandez and Schuylar Broussard also had hits for Fresno State.

How it Happened
Lung allowed just one hit through the first four innings of the game, and on that hit, a two-out single in the second inning, Wilson threw out an advancing baserunner at third to end the inning (watch). The 'Dogs threatened in the bottom of the third as Broussard and Wilson both walked but the runners would be left on base.

In the top of the fifth the Cardinal got their leadoff hitter aboard on an error and scored a run on an RBI triple from Emily Schultz. Emily Klingaman followed with a sacrifice fly to bring in Schultz, and Stanford got another single in the inning but was held to just the two runs.

Broussard reached on an infield single with one out in the bottom of the fifth and, after a fielder's choice, Wilson, a slap hitter, lined a 1-1 pitch over the wall in right to tie the game (watch).

The Cardinal had an answer in the top of the sixth as they loaded the bases with nobody out on two walks and a hit batter. East got a fly out and fielder's choice groundout to get the first two outs and keep the game tied, but Klingaman would reach on catcher's interference to bring in the go-ahead run from third.

Minogue led off the bottom of the sixth with a double but the 'Dogs couldn't bring her in to score. East pitched around two walks in a scoreless top of the seventh, and in the bottom half Vanessa M. Hernandez reached with two out on a walk but Stanford starter Carolyn Lee, who was lifted in the third inning, reentered the game and got Wilson to fly out to finish the win and earn a save.

Notable

Wilson has now reached base in 13 consecutive games, hitting .435 with a .490 on-base percentage during the stretch, and Broussard has reached in 12 straight games.
Fresno State lost for just the fourth time in the last 19 games and took just their fifth home loss of the season, dropping to 17-5 at home this year.
The Bulldogs beat Stanford twice last season and had won four straight games against the Cardinal.
Fresno State played its final non-conference game of the regular season, ending the year with a stellar 22-8 non-conference record. Four of the eight losses came against Pac-12 teams, all of whom were either ranked or receiving votes at the time of the games.

Up Next
Fresno State has three MW series remaining on the regular season schedule and will host New Mexico for three games this weekend. Game times are 6 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. on Sunday.

"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.

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