Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
13-3
Pacific
8-5
'Dogs go undefeated at Fresno State Invitational
2/23/2020 6:45:00 PM | Softball
FRESNO, Calif. -- The Fresno State softball team closed its second consecutive 5-0 weekend with a 4-0 shutout win over Pacific on Sunday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond.
"Hailey (Dolcini) had a great pitching performance today", said head coach Linda Garza. "Pacific had a strong weekend in the tournament. I knew we were going to have to be scrappy to get runs, because they do a great job with their pitching staff. We capitalized on opportunities and made a lot of use of our four hits. We were able to produce quality at bats when we needed them. Hailey had such a great weekend for us with two shutouts and had a lot of strikeouts. She was dominant in the circle, it was fun to see it."Â
Fresno State (13-3) remains a perfect 10-0 at Margie Wright Diamond this season, and have outscored its opponents 80-25 on its home diamond.
Two of the Bulldogs' four hits in the game were triples, one apiece knocked by seniors Miranda Rohleder and Haley Fuller to lead the Bulldogs' offense against the Tigers. Junior Hailey Dolcini recorded her second shutout of the weekend with a complete game, surrendering just four hits (all singles) while striking out six.Â
How it HappenedÂ
The Bulldogs allowed the leadoff batter on base, due to a fielding error, but the next two batters went down in order and Kelcey Carrasco gunned out an attempted steal for second base for the third out. Kaitlyn Jennings picked up a single in the home half, but that was it for the offense.
Pacific recorded its first hit of the game in the next inning, a leadoff single. Dolcini answered by retiring the next three-straight batters to keep the game scoreless. Â
Rohleder got the Bulldogs' offense going with a leadoff triple in the bottom of the second, and two batters later Carrasco grounded out to the shortstop for a productive out to bring home Rohleder for a 1-0 lead.Â
In the third, the Bulldogs' defense continued to make plays as Dolcini dealt a strikeout and Rohleder turned a double play to retire the Tigers. Pacific chalked another single in the fourth, but it was Carrasco again that threw out an attempted steal to empty the base pads.
Fresno State extended its lead in the bottom of the fifth after a leadoff single from McKenzie Wilson. The sophomore stole second, and advanced to third on flyout. She was brought home by a ground out from Hayleigh Galvan to put the 'Dogs in front 2-0.
The Bulldogs sealed their victory with a two-run sixth inning. Denby drew a leadoff walk, and Fuller brought her home, smashing an RBI triple down the right field line. Vanessa Hernandez pinch hit to bring in the final run, hitting a ground out to the shortstop.Â
The entire Fresno State defense got a piece of Pacific's seventh inning attempt as a fly out, ground out and strikeout closed the game.Â
What's next
Fresno State will go on the road to Friday at the Judy Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. Feb. 28 through March 1.Â
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit bulldogfoundation.org.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dolcini, Hailey (5-1)
L: STEFFANY, Farrah (0-1)
Base Running:
CS: KAHWATY, Madison 1 ; SHEPHERD, Talli 1
HBP: SHEPHERD, Talli 1
Batting:
3B: Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Fuller, Haley 1
RBI: Galvan, Hayleigh 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1 ; Fuller, Haley 1 ; Hernandez, Vanessa M. 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Wilson, McKenzie 1 ; Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Denby, Alesia 1 ; Cuevas-Iñiguez, Aaliyah 1
SB: Wilson, McKenzie 1 ; Jennings, Kaitlyn 1 ; Denby, Alesia 1
