'Dogs go yard in losses in Tucson

Saturday, April 30

Tucson, AZ

4 PM PT

Fresno State

16-31

Arizona

30-16

Fresno State

Arizona

Photo by: Samuel Marshall

'Dogs go yard in losses in Tucson

4/30/2022 9:30:00 PM | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

The Fresno State softball team visited Arizona for the first time since 2001.

By: Stephen Trembley / Director of Strategic Communications

TUCSON, Ariz. – The Fresno State softball team battled throughout a pair of losses in a Saturday nonconference road doubleheader playing the No. 25-ranked Arizona Wildcats at Mike Candrea Field at Rita Hillenbrand Stadium.

Fresno State (16-32) was resilient all night, which saw the Bulldogs fall 8-4 in game one and then 5-1 in the nightcap.

Both games featured Fresno State's offensive fireworks as three different 'Dogs launched home runs – Keahilele Mattson, the reigning MW Player of the Week Alesia Denby and Abby Doughty.

How it happened: In game one, Fresno State took an early 1-0 lead when Bailey Williams drove in Mattson on a single to right field in the top of the first.

The Wildcats answered with a run in the bottom of opening frame and later led 8-1 before Mattson and Denby connected on back-to-back home runs in the top of the sixth to lift the Bulldogs within 8-4.

In the circle, Marley Hanlon got the opening game start and Casey Dixon pitched four innings in relief – tossing three strikeouts.

In game two, Cassidy West settled in after giving up four runs in the first, but then tossed four scoreless frames before also allowing a run in the sixth. West struck out five Wildcat batters and allowed just a single walk in the complete game appearance.

Abby Doughty went yard in the fifth for her first homer as a Bulldog and added a single in the sixth to go 2-for-3 in the second contest.

Team Notes:

These were the 53rd and 54th games played between Fresno State and Arizona (13th and 14th all-time in Tucson, Ariz., and first since 2001).
Fresno State's last win over Arizona is the 1-0 victory in the 1998 national championship game in Oklahoma City during the Women's College World Series.
Fresno State finished 10-7 in the month of April (2022).

Next up: Fresno State hosts UCSB on Tuesday at 6 p.m. PT and then travels to play at Nevada next weekend for a three-game set, which starts on Friday, followed by another game on Saturday and the series finale on Sunday.

"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.