Fresno State tabs first MWC series sweep
The Fresno State softball team concluded the weekend with decisive victories in Mountain West Conference play, as well as a moral victory on Saturday.
Fresno State swept Boise State — 5-0 on Friday, 7-4 on Saturday and 3-1 on Sunday — in its three-game conference series at Bulldog Diamond.
And after Saturday’s win, Bulldogs Kiley Shae Aldridge, Diane Runge, Maria Sio and Taylor Langdon and several other participants (including Boise State coach Erin Thorpe) donated hair to Locks of Love, a nonprofit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada suffering from long-term medical hair loss.
In total, five Bulldogs, two members of the Boise State softball team and 10 members of the community donated hair before an emotional home crowd at Bulldog Diamond.
“It was amazing. We have people in the stands crying and everyone is getting emotional about it,” Fresno State coach Trisha Ford said after Saturday’s win.
“Our student-athletes are great people, and it’s something that we are proud of. This community supports us, so we want to support them. It’s awesome that so many were willing to cut off 10 inches of their own hair.”
The Bulldogs had reason to celebrate on Sunday, when they completed their first Mountain West sweep with a 3-1 win.
Fresno State recorded five hits behind a Paige Gumz-led lineup. Gumz went 3-for-3 at the plate on Sunday and improved her batting average to .350 on the season.
The Bulldogs improved to 25-18 overall and 6-3 inMountain West play. Fresno State is second in conference standings, behind only San Diego State (26-14, 5-1 MWC).
Freshman pitcher Jill Compton recorded her 11th win of the season, giving up four hits and one run in four innings.
Hannah Harris came in relief for Compton in the fifth inning, surrendering four hits and no runs.
Boise State scored its sole run of the game off an error in the third inning.
“Boise State is a good team and great at the plate,” Ford said after Sunday’s win.
“It’s hard to get a sweep, so I am proud of the team for closing the door. It’s our first conference sweep and beating the same team three times in a row is tough to do, but today they showed what we are made of.”
Fresno State will venture outside of state lines this weekend for the first time this season for a three-game conference road series against Colorado State.