Fresno State
37-11
UCLA
43-4
Fresno State ends 2021 season at Los Angeles Regional
5/23/2021 3:40:00 AM | Softball
LOS ANGELES – The Fresno State softball team suffered two hard-fought losses to ranked opponents, eliminating the Bulldogs from the Los Angeles Regional, on Saturday in Easton Stadium. Fresno State fell to No. 2 UCLA 5-4 in game one before being bested by No. 24 Minnesota in the elimination game.
The Bulldogs finish the 2021 season with an overall record of 37-12 (20-4 MW).
GAME ONEÂ
The Bulldogs played the No. 2 Bruins (43-4) from the first pitch to the last pitch. Fresno State ace Hailey Dolcini worked through 7.2 innings, not allowing a run from UCLA through seven innings. The senior logged five strikeouts and only allowed three walks. The Bulldogs plated four runs on five hits against Team USA pitcher Rachel Garcia, who had only given up more than one earned run in a start since her 2019 Women's College World Series Championship. Miranda Rohleder and Keahilele Mattson both logged 2-for-4 in the contest.
How It Happened – Dolcini opened the game with a strikeout. The Bruins loaded the bases, but Dolcini showed her dominance by striking out the side to end the inning.
The game remained a pitcher's duel through five innings. Hayleigh Galvan was hit by the pitch to get on base start the inning. Schuylar Broussard grounded out to move the runner to second. Freshman Avery Lawley came up with a huge hit, belting a double off the wall to take a 1-0 run over the Bruins.
The Bulldogs held the Bruins scoreless for the next two innings. UCLA started the seventh with single to left field, and the runner was moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Garcia it an RBI-single to right field to tie the game. The Bulldogs were retired in order to take the game into extra innings.
UCLA rallied in the top of the eighth, hanging four runs on the board. Fresno State stepped up to the challenge to keep the No. 2 team on the ropes. Lawley struck again with a leadoff single up the middle. Kaitlyn Jennings was hit by the pitch to put two runners on. Rohleder came up clutch with a single through the right side to score two runs. Keahilele Mattson singles and Vanessa Hernandez drew a walk to keep the bases loaded. Freshman Lexie Webb hit a RBI-single to put the run within one. UCLA struck out the final batter to finish the game.
GAME TWOÂ
Fresno State was out-hit 7-5 in the elimination game against Minnesota. The Bulldogs threw three pitchers while the Gophers relied on two. Rohleder and Mattson stayed strong for the Bulldogs both going 2-for-4.
The Gophers put up two in the top of the first to take the lead. Mattson hit a solo to cut the deficit in the bottom half of the frame for the 'Dogs.
In the third, the Gophers recorded one hit on three hits to take a 3-1 lead. The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom half of the frame. Jennings was hit by pitch to get one on. Rohleder smashed doubled to put a runner on third. Mattson hit a two-RBI double to center to tie the game.
Minnesota was able to tack on three more in the next two innings. The Bulldogs made it bases loaded in the bottom but were unable to tie the game.
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Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Garcia, Rachel (15-0)
L: Dolcini, Hailey (22-5)
Batting:
2B: Perez, Briana 1 ; Washington, Kinsley 1
RBI: Jordan, Aaliyah 2 ; Perez, Briana 1 ; Garcia, Rachel 1 ; Wisz, Delanie 1
SH: Perez, Briana 1 ; Malau'ulu, Thessa 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Jordan, Aaliyah 1 ; Carter, Lauryn 1 ; Perez, Briana 1 ; Garcia, Alyssa 1 ; Washington, Kinsley 1
SB: Perez, Briana 1
Batting:
2B: Lawley, Avery 1
RBI: Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Webb, Lexie 1 ; Lawley, Avery 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Jennings, Kaitlyn 1 ; Rohleder, Miranda 1 ; Martinez, Julianna 1 ; Lawley, Avery 1
SB: Jennings, Kaitlyn 1
HBP: Jennings, Kaitlyn 2 ; Galvan, Hayleigh 2
