Dalton Runberg / The Collegian
In what almost transpired to be their fourth Western Athletic Conference series sweep of the season, the Bulldogs shut out the Lady Techsters 4-0 on both Friday and Saturday’s first game of a doubleheader, but lost 6-4 in the last inning of the home series finale.
Kaitlin Griffin, Rebecca Hall, Courtney Moore, Michelle Moses, Mackenzie Oakes, Andrea Ortega, and Kaylan Pollard were the seven seniors honored before Saturday’s doubleheader.
“It doesn’t matter how many you lose, it’s always hard to lose seniors,” head coach Margie Wright said.
Fresno State’s (33-21, 13-6 WAC) Moses-Oakes pitching tandem took turns leading the defense against La. Tech (23-31, 8-12 WAC). Both pitched shutouts and allowed only four hits during the first two wins.
The Bulldogs lockdown defense preceded an early offensive attack in the first inning of the second game of the series. Fresno State scored on RBI singles from Ortega and sophomore Vonnie Martin in the bottom of the first, with both hits only yards away from crossing the outfield.
Ortega would continue to lead the offense during the bottom of the fifth, when she belted a ball towards center field that allowed junior pinch runner Diane Runge to reach home from second base.
Ortega, who hit five for 10 during the series, expressed gratitude in the team she spent the last five years with.
“You learn everyday from these girls and they learn from you. We’re pretty much a big family around here and everybody has to take care of one another,” she said.
The final game of the series served as the wakeup call to La. Tech’s lackluster performance on both sides of the ball.
Getting on base was ever elusive for the Lady Techsters and it was made evident by their previous game’s four hits on 24 at-bats. However, they ended their scoring drought on their first at-bat of the game when right fielder Katelynn Hill launched one of Moses’ pitches past the outfield for a solo home run.
And though it seemed that Fresno State’s batting lineup would strike again in the bottom of the first, La. Tech pitcher Melanie Goff struck out Ortega to end the inning just as the bases were loaded.
“It’s hard to beat somebody three times in a row for anyone,” Wright said.
“We’ve been on the other end of it ”” we’ve also gotten beat three times in a row ”” and they were tough games. We just didn’t respond and made some really bad mistakes that cost us runs. When you do that, you’re going to have to battle back much better than we did.”
Both teams continued to trade punches during the third and sixth innings, each capitalizing on errors to score. Moses stole home in the midst of La. Tech’s confusion during a catching error, with Ortega’s RBI single tying the game at 3 to start the fourth.
The score remained tied until the seventh inning, when La. Tech infielder Megan Knowles hit a two-run home run.
And although Oakes came in relief to conduct a double-play to end the top of the seventh, three consecutive Bulldog ground balls to the infield was all it took to end the game and obliterate the Bulldogs’ chances of a sweep.
“I think if you ask the seniors, they really didn’t get sent off the way they wanted to,” Wright said.
“I think they wanted to sweep them and on this day that didn’t happen, so it’ll be more important to beat them in the WAC Tournament.”
Though the final game of the season resulted in defeat, Oakes said the collective journey she took being coached by the NCAA’s all-time winningest softball coach outweighed the single loss.
“I’ve taken in so much more than just learning more about the game,” she said.
“I’ve taken in lessons in life and how to be a competitor and dealing with adversity and overcoming it. I’ve taken a lot more than I expected coming in.”
In order to have had a chance to secure the second seed and a first-round bye in this year’s WAC Tournament, the Bulldogs needed to sweep La. Tech and rely on a Brigham Young loss against Nevada.
“Anytime you can win two out of three, that’s important going in, especially since we’re going to be playing them our opening round in the tournament,” Wright said.
“My hope is that people will step up for these seven, they’ve been here a long time, and they really did a great job while they were here… and we’re not done yet.”
Third-seeded Fresno State will face No. 6 seed Louisiana Tech again Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the first round of the 2012 WAC Tournament.
Also…
Head coach Margie Wright announced her retirement effective June 30, 2012.
Wright, who is the NCAA Division I all-time winningest softball coach and is ranked second all-time in NCAA Division I history for wins regardless of sport, will step down from a post she’s held for 27 years.
Under Wright, the Bulldogs have appeared in every NCAA Tournament championship, while becoming the second all-time winningest softball program.