Fresno State Athletics
Thursday, February 16
Fresno, Calif.
6 p.m. PT
Fresno State
4-2
4
vs
3
UIC
0-4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
R
H
E
UIC
0
1
0
0
0
2
0
0
3
8
2
Fresno State
0
0
0
0
0
0
3
1
4
5
0
Photo by: Samuel Marshall
Epic comeback win for the Bulldogs in home opener
2/16/2023 10:10:00 PM | Softball
FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team rallied together and completed an epic 4-3 comeback win over the UIC Flames on a memorable Thursday night at Margie Wright Diamond.
Fresno State (4-2) came through when the game was on the line and walked off with the win in the eighth on the opening night of the 2023 Fresno State Kickoff Classic.
Alesia Denby delivered the game-tying 3-run home run in the seventh and Bella Rocco drove in the game-winning run with a deep sacrifice fly in the eighth to seal the come-from-behind victory for the Bulldogs over UIC (0-4).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Down to its last out, Fresno State's offense ignited with one big swing of the bat by Denby.
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Trailing 3-0 with runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Denby obliterated the first pitch she saw from UIC's Christina Toniolo and tied the game with a majestic 3-run homer over the right centerfield wall.
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Then in the eighth, with Keahilele Mattson placed at second base to start the inning via the international tiebreaker rule, Bailey Williams moved Mattson from second to third by grounding out to the right side.
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Rocco then drove in Mattson with the sacrifice fly to end the game.
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UIC held a 1-0 lead for much of the game and then added two insurance runs courtesy of Hailey Cowing's 2-run home run in the sixth.
GAME NOTES
"Fresno State Athletics - For The V: The Central Valley" - Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff proudly wear the "Green V" to show their pride in representing the Central Valley. Stories of why the Bulldogs play for the "Green V" will be shared throughout the next year with #ForTheV. To become a Bulldog Foundation member or join "The Green V Society," please visit bulldogfoundation.org
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateSoftball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateSoftball
Fresno State (4-2) came through when the game was on the line and walked off with the win in the eighth on the opening night of the 2023 Fresno State Kickoff Classic.
Alesia Denby delivered the game-tying 3-run home run in the seventh and Bella Rocco drove in the game-winning run with a deep sacrifice fly in the eighth to seal the come-from-behind victory for the Bulldogs over UIC (0-4).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Down to its last out, Fresno State's offense ignited with one big swing of the bat by Denby.
Â
Trailing 3-0 with runners on the corners and two outs in the bottom of the seventh, Denby obliterated the first pitch she saw from UIC's Christina Toniolo and tied the game with a majestic 3-run homer over the right centerfield wall.
Â
Then in the eighth, with Keahilele Mattson placed at second base to start the inning via the international tiebreaker rule, Bailey Williams moved Mattson from second to third by grounding out to the right side.
Â
Rocco then drove in Mattson with the sacrifice fly to end the game.
Â
UIC held a 1-0 lead for much of the game and then added two insurance runs courtesy of Hailey Cowing's 2-run home run in the sixth.
GAME NOTES
- Bailey Williams recorded her second consecutive multi-hit game.Â
- Alesia Denby is the third Bulldog to hit a home run this season (Keahilele Mattson, Bailey Williams).
- In the circle, Serayah Neiss earned her second victory of the season.
"Fresno State Athletics - For The V: The Central Valley" - Bulldog student-athletes, coaches, and staff proudly wear the "Green V" to show their pride in representing the Central Valley. Stories of why the Bulldogs play for the "Green V" will be shared throughout the next year with #ForTheV. To become a Bulldog Foundation member or join "The Green V Society," please visit bulldogfoundation.org
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateSB
Instagram:Â FresnoStateSoftball
Facebook:Â FresnoStateSoftball
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Neiss, Serayah (2-1)
L: Toniolo (0-2)
Batting:
HR: Cowing 1
RBI: Fleming 1 ; Cowing 2
SH: Cran 1 ; Villa 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Walker 2 ; Cowing 1
CS: Fleming 1
Batting:
HR: Denby, Alesia 1
RBI: Denby, Alesia 3 ; Rocco, Bella 1
SH: Martinez, Emma 1
SF: Rocco, Bella 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Doughty, Abby 1 ; Denby, Alesia 1 ; Mattson, Keahilele 1 ; Martinez, Emma 1
SB: Martinez, Emma 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
4
R
0
H
2
RBI
0
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
3
ph/1b
AB
1
R
0
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
LHP
/ Softball
3B
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