Explosive offense powers No. 25 Fresno State to run-rule victory over BYU

Thursday, March 5

Fresno, CA

6:00 PM PT

Fresno State

17-4

BYU

13-7

BYU

Fresno State

Explosive offense powers No. 25 Fresno State to run-rule victory over BYU

3/5/2020 10:11:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

By: Taylor Martinez / Communications Assistant

FRESNO, Calif. – The No. 25 Fresno State softball team kicked off the 2020 Bulldog Classic with an 8-0 run-rule victory over BYU on Thursday night at Margie Wright Diamond.

"I'm going to tip my hat to Hailey Dolcini and the defense," said head coach Linda Garza. "They set the tone from the start of the game. I am proud of the way our offense performed tonight. We got some big hits that put us up in the first inning. This game is a testament to how we've been playing, and we are going to keep it rolling. BYU is a team that has shown a lot of power, I'm proud of Dolcini and what she was able to do in the circle today".

Dolcini, the Bulldogs' starter in the circle, recorded her second shutout of the season with a complete game, and limited BYU to three hits - a team that slugged 12 home runs at the Judi Garman Classic last weekend. Dolcini improved to 8-1 on the season.

Fresno State (17-4) registered nine hits en route to its shutout win to remain a perfect 11-0 at home. Senior second baseman Miranda Rohleder went 2-of-3 at the plate with two extra-base hits and four RBIs to lead the offense.

How it happened
Fresno State took an early three-run lead in the bottom of the first inning. Kaitlyn Jennings drew a walk and stole second to get in scoring position, and Schuylar Broussard followed with another walk to get two runners on. Rohleder got the rally started with a two-out double to center field bringing in two runs for the Bulldogs. Alesia Denby made it back-to-back doubles with another shot to center field, scoring Rohleder.

BYU tried to get its offense going in the top of the third. After retiring the first batter with a fly out to center, NFCA National Player of the Week Rylee Jensen-McFarland doubled to right-center. HannahJo Peterson singled to the shortstop moving the BYU runner to third. With runners on the corners, Haley Fuller made a hustle play on a foul ball to end the inning.

The Cougars would keep the Bulldogs scoreless for two innings, but Fresno State tacked on another two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Alexandra Preston singled to center field and Kelsey Hall followed with a single through the right side. Jennings stepped up and hit a two-out single, sending both Preston and Hall home for a 5-0 lead.

Fresno State put the game away in the bottom of the fifth. Designated player Vanessa Hernandez hit a leadoff single through the right side and Broussard followed with another single. Rohleder launched a triple to the wall to hang two more runs on the scoreboard. Rohleder, representing the game-winning run, would trot home four pitches later during Denby's at-bat on a wild pitch to end the game in five innings, 8-0.

This marked Fresno State's second run-rule victory of the season.

What's next
Fresno State is back in action on Friday, March 5 facing East Carolina at 5 p.m. PT and North Dakota State at 7:30 p.m. PT.

Gallery: (3/5/2020) #25 Dogs host BYU

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