Fresno State Athletics
Fresno State
East Carolina
No. 25 Bulldogs push past ECU, NDSU
3/6/2020 11:19:00 PM | Softball
FRESNO, Calif. — The No. 25 Fresno State softball team finished the second day of the 2020 Bulldog Classic with wins over East Carolina and North Dakota State on Friday at Margie Wright Diamond.
Fresno State (19-4) overcame deficits in both games to remain a perfect 13-0 at home this season. Senior Miranda Rohleder went 4-of-6 on the day with two doubles, one triple and one home run, and drove in six runs. Sophomore McKenzie Wilson also had a big day at the plate going 4-of-6, with four stolen bases and one RBI.Â
All four Bulldog pitchers entered the circle Friday night. In game one against ECU, redshirt Freshman Dariana Orme was resilient, pitching the first complete game of her career. In the nightcap, Danielle Lung got the start but gave way to Danielle East after 1.2 innings. East earned the win in 4.2 innings of relief work while Hailey Dolcini picked up her first save of the season.
"There is no such thing as an ugly win for us right now," said head coach Linda Garza. "A win means we were able to put ourselves in a good position to finish. Dariana (Orme) stayed mentally tough as a redshirt freshman and got the outs she needed to get and held down the circle for us in the first game. I think Danielle (East) had a great game. She came in and dished some scoreless innings, giving us enough time to get our offense going. There are still things that we need to get better at. Miranda (Rohleder) found a way to come up with some big hits for us, and the team found a way to finish. I am proud of the way this team competes and I am proud of the way they are representing the Valley."
How It Happened
vs. East Carolina — The Pirates struck first. ECU had a runner reach on an error by the shortstop to leadoff and it cost the 'Dogs. Orme retired the next two batters, but ECU would single through the right side to bring home the lead off batter. The Pirates would score once more with its second hit of the frame to carry a 2-0 lead.
Fresno State answered with a four-run inning in the bottom of the first to take the lead. Designated player Vanessa Hernandez drew a two-out walk to be the Bulldogs' first runner on. Schuylar Broussard was hit by a pitch on the next at-bat to put two on base. Rohleder hit a two-out double to right field, bringing in both Hernandez and Broussard to tie the game. Denby continued the rally with a huge two-out home run over the right-center wall to give the 'Dogs a 4-2 lead.
Scoring would resume in the third as Kaitlyn Jennings hit leadoff triple to right-center to start the inning. Hernandez hit an RBI ground out to bring her home and extend the Bulldogs' lead, 5-2.
ECU tied the game scoring three runs in the top of the fourth. The Pirates hit a leadoff double and the next batter reached on a fielder's choice. With two on, ECU doubled down the left-field line to bring in a run. The Pirate runners managed to escape a fielder's choice with a run and no tag outs on the next at-bat. The Pirates were able to get one more run across on a ground out, leaving the inning with game tied 5-5.
Kelsey Hall hit a leadoff single to open the bottom of the fifth inning, and Wilson followed with an RBI double to retake the lead. Jennings drew a walk, and Hernandez threw down a sacrifice bunt to move the runners into scoring position. Rohleder stepped up to the plate to ignite the two-out rally for the second time, smacking a double down the right-field line bringing home two more runs. Fresno State took an 8-5 lead into the sixth.
Orme and the defense sent down five-straight batters. The Pirates tried to keep the game alive with a two-out triple, but Orme would make the play on a ground out to finish her first complete game of the season.
vs. North Dakota State — The Bison kicked off the game with a two-run first inning. NDSU drew a walk, and shortly thereafter homered to left field to quickly put two runs on the board.
Fresno State countered with a big four-run bottom half of the frame. Wilson drew a leadoff walk and Jennings reached on a fielder's choice behind her. Broussard logged the first hit of the game with a RBI single to right field. Jennings went for the steal at third and would advance home after a throwing error by catcher on the attempt to pick her off. Rohleder brought her hot bat from the last game to the plate and tripled to center field, bringing home another run. Denby brought home the final run of the inning hitting a single through the right side to score Rohleder.
NDSU retook the lead with a three-run top of the second. Two base hits, a wild pitch, and a fly put would put two runners in scoring position with two outs. The Bison brought home the first run on a single, and the second on a throwing error by the right fielder. NDSU made it back-to-back two-out RBI singles, and Danielle East would be called upon to take over in the circle for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs would escape the inning without further damage, but still trailed the Bison, 5-4.
Wilson led off the bottom of the second with a single, and Jennings tripled with a shot to left field tying the game 5-5.
East and the defense held the NDSU offense without a run for three-straight innings. After the 'Dogs were held scoreless for two innings, Rohleder ended the drought with her third home run of the season to put the 'Dogs back on top, 6-5, in the bottom of the fifth.
East sent down the NDSU batters in the sixth, and recorded one out in the top of the seventh. With two outs to finish the game, Dolcini came in to record her first save of the season.
What's Next
Fresno State will host NDSU on Saturday, March 7 at 5 p.m. PT at Margie Wright Diamond.Â
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