Matt Weir / The Collegian

Senior Haley Perkins delivers game-winning hit after controversial call in the seventh inning

After an up and down start to the tournament, Fresno State̢۪s softball team bounced back with a thrilling win in the bottom of the seventh against the No. 9 California Golden Bears.

After seeing BYU celebrating a win on a walk-off hit in extra innings in their first game, the Bulldogs got to see the other side as they broke the hearts of Providence and Cal.

No. 21 Fresno State went 3-2 at this weekend̢۪s Bayer CropScience Classic, finishing third out of five. BYU won the tournament, with Cal coming in second. Northern Illinois and Providence tied for fourth, each finishing 1-4.

“I thought we played extremely well in the two tiebreaker games,â€Â coach Marge Wright said, “and I thought we played well today (against Cal).â€Â

BYU blues

In the tournament̢۪s first game, Fresno State played BYU through nine scoreless innings before Bulldogs̢۪ pitcher Morgan Melloh gave up a triple in the top of the 10th inning. Fresno State loaded the bases in the bottom of the 10th but couldn̢۪t score and lost the game 2-0.

In their second game, the ̢۪Dogs turned the excitement in their favor. In the bottom of the eighth inning against Providence, sophomore Haley Gilleland hit a single to score freshman Jody Badorine and give the team a 1-0 lead that it held onto, gaining its first victory of the tournament.

“At the time I was desperate for a hit. It felt good to have us back in action,â€Â Gilleland said.

The play ended a run of 17 straight scoreless innings for Fresno State.

Illegal miracle

The Bulldogs won convincingly over Northern Illinois the next day, 6-1. Freshman Mackenzie Oakes got her first home start of the year in that game, throwing a one-hitter.

Providence would get its revenge in the next game as the Friars routed the ̢۪Dogs 13-5. Starting pitcher Morgan Melloh lasted only 3.2 innings and gave up five earned runs in that game. The loss dropped her to 6-6 in the circle this season.

Approaching the final game against No. 9 Cal, it appeared the team might finish with a losing record in their own tournament.

The Bears took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh, but starting pitcher Marissa Drewrey wore down in the final inning, putting two runners on base. The Bears then subbed in the first baseman for the pitcher.

At the game̢۪s peak, All-tournament team member Hayley Perkins stepped to the plate. With two outs, the tying and winning runs on base, and two strikes, Perkins grounded to third and the game appeared to be over, with Cal winning 2-1.

But the umpire called an illegal pitch against the Bears which, by rule, advanced both runners and tied the game.

The next pitch would be the last of the tournament. Perkins smashed a walk-off single over the head of the right fielder and won the game as the team stormed the field and the fans went wild.

Perkins showed visible excitement as she gave post-game interviews.

“I don’t even know what the pitch was,â€Â Perkins said. “I just knew it was in the strike zone and I told myself that if it was anything close I was going to hit it.â€Â

“That’s happened to us a lot this year, losing in that last inning. So I’m extremely proud of these young ladies,â€Â Wright said.

The team is now 11-8 on the year and hopes the dramatic victory will carry them to wins in Tuesday̢۪s doubleheader against Temple at Bulldog Diamond.