Matt Weir/The Collegian
In the most anticipated matchup of the season, the Fresno State Bulldogs softball team swept the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine in a three-game series to improve their Western Athletic Conference record to 6-0.
Opening the series in front of a national audience on ESPNU Friday night, Michelle Moses led the Bulldogs to a 5-0 shutout victory at Bulldog Diamond throwing a no-hitter against the No. 20/25 ranked Hawaii.
“It feels amazing and it’s such an accomplishment not only for me but for this team,” Moses said after the game. “I just took one pitch at a time and didn’t think about the no-hitter.”
Throwing 11 strikeouts, Moses earned her seventh victory of the season and became only the 19th pitcher in Bulldog history to throw a no-hitter.
Taking on the Rainbow Wahine Saturday in a double-header, the Bulldogs added two more close victories against Hawaii to extend their win streak to seven.
Back-to-back WAC Player of the Week Mackenzie Oakes took the mound for Fresno to open game one and allowed only one run in five innings to extend her starting winning streak to 11-0.
Despite getting on the board first in the third inning, the ‘Bows were unable to get past Oakes and closer Moses to score again, and a home run by left fielder Andrea Ortega in the fourth sealed Fresno’s second straight victory over their tough WAC rival 2-1.
Moses returned to the mound in game three in a re-match against Hawaii pitcher, and reigning WAC Pitcher of the Year, Stephanie Ricketts. The two top starters engaged in a pitching duel that lasted six innings before first baseman Nicole Angene smacked a two-run homer to complete the sweep and earn the Bulldogs another 2-0 shutout victory.
The home run also scored Ortega who advanced to first on a walk. Prior to the at-bat, Angene spoke with Ortega and told her they would end the stalemate.
“I knew it was going to happen,” Angene said. “We were not going down.”
Hawaii, who entered the series on a three-game win streak over WAC opponent Utah State, dropped to 3-3 in WAC play and 25-12 overall for the season. The series sweep was the first conference series sweep for Hawaii since 2008 when Fresno won each of the games by one-run.
Head coach Margie Wright was proud of her team for their performance this weekend, not just for their composure against a top opponent on national TV, but for their focus against the team they lost last year’s WAC Championship to.
“It’s rare for a pitcher to get a no-hitter in their career and Michelle was able to do it against a top rival on national television,” Wright said after Friday’s victory. “There’s not enough to say to express how proud I am of my team.”
Wright also acknowledged their competitive opponents after Saturday’s games and reiterated how hard the Bulldogs have been working for their wins.
“That was a great team that we played,” Wright said. “The team has worked very hard and it showed with our timely hits and some great defensive plays.”
In the final game of the series, shortstop Haley Gilleland continued her penchant for stealing bases, adding another three to her total, including two in the third inning. The additional three bags bring her total to 16 this season and she remains only 11 shy of the single-season school record of 27 set by Karen Tabor.
The Bulldogs will return to the road for a single game against Pacific on Tuesday, before returning to WAC play against New Mexico State this weekend.