Joseph Edgecomb / The Collegian
The Fresno State softball team swept the Hawaii Wahine Warriors in an extremely competitive three-game series this weekend at Bulldog diamond.
In all three games, victory was decided by only one run.
“I think we did a great job this weekend, that’s a very good team,â€Â coach Margie Wright said. “We were down in both games today, and we came from behind and won.â€Â
All three games required a complete team effort from the Bulldogs.
Different players stepped up and provided pivotal plays throughout the weekend.
Key hits and big defensive plays came from nearly every member of the Fresno State squad to win each game.
Hawaii̢۪s hitters gave freshman ace Morgan Melloh one of the toughest series all season.
Hawaii̢۪s batters continually fouled the ball off to keep the count alive.
Melloh threw 114 pitches in the first game and finished with four strikeouts.
After a tough three-inning stretch, in which Melloh threw over 70 pitches and gave up two home runs, Wright called on freshman Ryane Petersen.
Petersen took the mound in the top of the fourth inning in the second game.
In her sixth appearance this season, Petersen kept the Warriors scoreless.
Petersen also hit a double that brought in two runners, tying the game in the bottom of the fifth inning of the second game.
“She kept them off balance,â€Â Wright said. “I think [the Warriors] were completely geared to hit Morgan [Melloh].â€Â
Senior Jenna Cervantez provided the team with two home runs in the series, including one in the bottom of the eigth inning to end the second game.
“I definitely didn’t expect that,â€Â Cervantez said. “All I was looking to do is just get on base and hit people in. I’ll take the home runs.â€Â
Freshman Andrea Ortega, who slowly made her way into the starting lineup this season, made an impact at the plate.
Ortega finished with five hits in nine appearances and three RBI.
To Wright̢۪s delight, Fresno State received offense from every part of it̢۪s line up.
“Our offense has been sluggish; it was great to see our team come from behind and get the timely hits,â€Â she said.
In the last game of the series, Melloh made her third start of the series after being pulled from the mound in the second game.
In the first inning, it seemed as if Hawaii̢۪s batters still had her dialed in.
Hawaii finished the first inning with a run after a sacrifice fly brought in a runner.
Eventually, Melloh snapped back into top form.
In a game where offense was at a premium, Melloh shined. She finished the game with seven strikeouts, and only allowed one run scored.
“I was just really glad to see her pitching like herself. That other game just wasn’t her game,â€Â Wright said. “The best part is our team came through.â€Â
Wright said that the big weekend from her team was just a culmination of things the team has worked on all season.
“Every kid in that dugout has sat in there and waited for their turn,â€Â Wright said. “They keep doing all the things we ask them to do, and it pays off.â€Â
Game Scores
In three games, the Bulldogs scored nine runs and allowed six. Both games on Saturday went extra innings.
Friday
̢ۢW, 4-3
Saturday, Game One
̢ۢW, 3-2, Eight Innings
Saturday, Game Two
̢ۢW, 2-1, Eight Innings