Friday, February 19
Fresno, Calif.
2:00 PM PT
Fresno State
1-3
9
vs
0
Pacific (DH)
0-1
1
2
3
4
5
R
H
E
Pacific
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
0
Fresno State
2
2
1
4
X
9
5
0
Photo by: FRESNO STATE BRAND STRATEGY AND MARKETING - PHOTO BY CARY EDMONDSON
Home runs power Bulldogs past Tigers
2/19/2021 8:26:00 PM | Softball
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team had a 2-0 start to the Fresno State Kickoff Classic, sweeping Pacific in a doubleheader Friday afternoon in Margie Wright Diamond. The victories improved the Bulldogs record to 2-3 on the season.
Fresno State has won 17 consecutive home games, dating back to the start of the 2020 season. .
Game 1 vs. Pacific – Hailey Dolcini tossed 10 strikeouts in the 'Dogs 9-0 five-inning run-rule shutout against Pacific. The senior retired the game's first 11 batters before surrendering one of three hits in the game. No Pacific hitter dinged Dolcini for more than a single and the furthest a Tiger batter made it around the diamond was a runner who attempted to advance to third from first base off a two-out single but was thrown out to end the fourth inning.
With a dominant Dolicini in the circle, the Bulldog batters did not need much but produced plenty. The 'Dogs scratched at least one run across in each of the four innings they went to the plate, and it was led by the long ball. The Bulldog bats hammered four home runs to steer Fresno State to its first win of the 2021 season. The Bulldogs' lead-off hitters set the tone in the game, starting the second, third, and fourth innings with home runs in the slugfest. A pair from freshman Keahiele Mattson and one apiece from senior Kelcey Carrasco and redshirt freshman Lexie Webb helped pace the 'Dogs to its nine runs.
A pair of wild pitches allowed the game's first two runs to score in the first inning. Webb and Mattson led off the second with back-to-back home runs to start the inning to push Fresno State's lead to 4-0. Carrasco registered her second home run of the season and the team's third home run of the contest to start the third to increase the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0. Mattson smacked her second home run of the game to lead off the fourth inning to kick off Fresno State's largest single inning output as they scratched across four in the frame to set up a 9-0 lead heading into the fifth where they would close out the game.
Game 2 vs. Pacific – The Bulldogs battled against the Tigers for a true team win. Six different players earned Fresno State's six hits in the contest and three Bulldogs would see time in the circle.
Fresno State struck first, back-to-back singles from Miranda Rohleder and Alesia Denby would score the first run of the game. Pacific would not be shutout for a second time, the Tigers found their offensive groove and rattled off three runs off of three hits in the top of the second inning, taking a 3-1 lead over the 'Dogs. Dariana Orme took the circle for Fresno State to close out the inning.
The Bulldogs made the opposing pitcher work in the bottom of the third, earning back-to-back walks to get two runners on. Mattson continued to be the offensive spark that Fresno State needed, she hit a single to first base to bring home another run. The Bulldogs rallied, bringing home two more runs before the end of the inning to tie the game, 3-3.
Fresno State brought in Dolcini to close the game. The senior pitcher chalked her first save of the season after Carrasco hit an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to secure the win.
QUOTES (Head Coach Linda Garza):
"It's always great to be home. I think everybody was just excited to be able to be home, feel like they were at home again and get things going the way that we wanted. It was awesome to get the home runs. Lexie Webb, from the get-go, just being able to get her going, that's what she can do. We see it every day in practice, so it was pretty awesome."
On Hailey Dolcini…
"She needed it, we needed it and that's Dolcini. The ability to start from the get go and I think she had 10 (strikeouts) in that game and it was a five-inning game. That pure dominance gave us the confidence, honestly. That second game got a little closer than we anticipated and it was just great that we found a way to get the runs back again and we were in a position to use her again. It's not maybe what we always want to do, but the fact that she gets to gain that confidence now going into the rest of the weekend is huge for us."
On Oregon…
"I think Oregon is going to bring their best and we're going to have to bring our best and that's what we expect at Margie Wright Diamond. It's just one of those things. Are they beatable? Absolutely. It's early in the year. We aren't playing our best softball still and so, what I know is we're going to keep getting better every day. I feel like we have and I think that Oregon is a great opportunity for us to see if we can start things right from the get go and we love playing at home so it's a great recipe for success. We're going to go into it optimistic and try to play our best game."
Up next – Fresno State is slated to face No. 10 Oregon at 6 p.m. PT tomorrow evening in Margie Wright Diamond.
"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.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateSB
Instagram: FresnoStateSoftball
Facebook: FresnoStateSoftball
Fresno State has won 17 consecutive home games, dating back to the start of the 2020 season. .
Game 1 vs. Pacific – Hailey Dolcini tossed 10 strikeouts in the 'Dogs 9-0 five-inning run-rule shutout against Pacific. The senior retired the game's first 11 batters before surrendering one of three hits in the game. No Pacific hitter dinged Dolcini for more than a single and the furthest a Tiger batter made it around the diamond was a runner who attempted to advance to third from first base off a two-out single but was thrown out to end the fourth inning.
With a dominant Dolicini in the circle, the Bulldog batters did not need much but produced plenty. The 'Dogs scratched at least one run across in each of the four innings they went to the plate, and it was led by the long ball. The Bulldog bats hammered four home runs to steer Fresno State to its first win of the 2021 season. The Bulldogs' lead-off hitters set the tone in the game, starting the second, third, and fourth innings with home runs in the slugfest. A pair from freshman Keahiele Mattson and one apiece from senior Kelcey Carrasco and redshirt freshman Lexie Webb helped pace the 'Dogs to its nine runs.
A pair of wild pitches allowed the game's first two runs to score in the first inning. Webb and Mattson led off the second with back-to-back home runs to start the inning to push Fresno State's lead to 4-0. Carrasco registered her second home run of the season and the team's third home run of the contest to start the third to increase the Bulldogs' lead to 5-0. Mattson smacked her second home run of the game to lead off the fourth inning to kick off Fresno State's largest single inning output as they scratched across four in the frame to set up a 9-0 lead heading into the fifth where they would close out the game.
Game 2 vs. Pacific – The Bulldogs battled against the Tigers for a true team win. Six different players earned Fresno State's six hits in the contest and three Bulldogs would see time in the circle.
Fresno State struck first, back-to-back singles from Miranda Rohleder and Alesia Denby would score the first run of the game. Pacific would not be shutout for a second time, the Tigers found their offensive groove and rattled off three runs off of three hits in the top of the second inning, taking a 3-1 lead over the 'Dogs. Dariana Orme took the circle for Fresno State to close out the inning.
The Bulldogs made the opposing pitcher work in the bottom of the third, earning back-to-back walks to get two runners on. Mattson continued to be the offensive spark that Fresno State needed, she hit a single to first base to bring home another run. The Bulldogs rallied, bringing home two more runs before the end of the inning to tie the game, 3-3.
Fresno State brought in Dolcini to close the game. The senior pitcher chalked her first save of the season after Carrasco hit an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth to secure the win.
B4 | A hard-hit ball by @Kelcey_17 to left field puts the 'Dogs back on top‼️
— Fresno State Softball (@FresnoStateSB) February 20, 2021
FS 4, PAC 3#GoDogs | #PrideOfTheValley pic.twitter.com/S5IcMzPP5y
QUOTES (Head Coach Linda Garza):
"It's always great to be home. I think everybody was just excited to be able to be home, feel like they were at home again and get things going the way that we wanted. It was awesome to get the home runs. Lexie Webb, from the get-go, just being able to get her going, that's what she can do. We see it every day in practice, so it was pretty awesome."
On Hailey Dolcini…
"She needed it, we needed it and that's Dolcini. The ability to start from the get go and I think she had 10 (strikeouts) in that game and it was a five-inning game. That pure dominance gave us the confidence, honestly. That second game got a little closer than we anticipated and it was just great that we found a way to get the runs back again and we were in a position to use her again. It's not maybe what we always want to do, but the fact that she gets to gain that confidence now going into the rest of the weekend is huge for us."
On Oregon…
"I think Oregon is going to bring their best and we're going to have to bring our best and that's what we expect at Margie Wright Diamond. It's just one of those things. Are they beatable? Absolutely. It's early in the year. We aren't playing our best softball still and so, what I know is we're going to keep getting better every day. I feel like we have and I think that Oregon is a great opportunity for us to see if we can start things right from the get go and we love playing at home so it's a great recipe for success. We're going to go into it optimistic and try to play our best game."
Time to celebrate, BULLDOGS WIN‼️
— Fresno State Softball (@FresnoStateSB) February 20, 2021
It's a 2-0 start to the Bulldog Kick-Off Classic #GoDogs | #PrideOfTheValley pic.twitter.com/6Z26W7Uul2
Up next – Fresno State is slated to face No. 10 Oregon at 6 p.m. PT tomorrow evening in Margie Wright Diamond.
"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.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateSB
Instagram: FresnoStateSoftball
Facebook: FresnoStateSoftball
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Dolcini, Hailey (1-2)
L: Sutherlin, Myka (0-1)
Batting:
HR: Carrasco, Kelcey 1 ; Webb, Lexie 1 ; Mattson, Keahilele 2
RBI: Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 2 ; Broussard, Schuylar 1 ; Webb, Lexie 1 ; Mattson, Keahilele 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jennings, Kaitlyn 2 ; Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Carrasco, Kelcey 1 ; Webb, Lexie 1 ; Mattson, Keahilele 2 ; Mejia, Liliana 1 ; Noriega, Adrianna 1
SB: Jennings, Kaitlyn 2 ; Rohleder, Miranda 1
CS: Cuevas-Iñiguez, Aaliyah 1
HBP: Jennings, Kaitlyn 2
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
2
H
2
RBI
2
AB
2
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
AB
1
R
1
H
1
RBI
2
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
1
Players Mentioned
C/DP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
RHP/1B
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