The Fresno State softball team thrived over the weekend in Head Coach Charlotte Morgan’s debut. They dominated on day one and split wins on day two of the two sets of doubleheaders against the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) Cougars and the Idaho State Bengals
Game 1: Fresno State 8, SIUE 0
On Feb. 6, the ‘Dogs dusted off their bats for a doubleheader and took to the diamond against their first opponents of the new season. SIUE struggled early, letting Fresno State score three runs in the first inning. It was all ‘Dogs from there.
Fresno State found home in the second and fourth innings, bringing the score to 5-0 by the fifth inning.
Down big, the Cougars failed to put up any runs, as pitcher and first-time Bulldog, Lauryn Carranco, continued her shutout. The ‘Dogs capitalized by tacking on three more runs, ending the game early on an 8-0 run-rule victory to start the new season.
Carranco ended the game with six strikeouts and only gave up one hit.
Game 2: Fresno State 9, Idaho State 1
After a small break, the ‘Dogs took on the Idaho State Bengals to finish the first doubleheader of the weekend.
Pitcher Alyssa Loza started this game for Fresno State, aiming to repeat Carranco’s five-inning shutout.
After a scoreless first inning, the ‘Dogs turned a double play at the top of the second. Then, in the bottom of the second, infielder Jamie Hicks singled and advanced to scoring position after outfielder Jayda Crosby’s double. Hicks scored off of a fielder’s choice, putting Fresno State up 1-0.
Both teams scored one run in the third inning, bringing the score to 2-1.
The ‘Dogs then started to build upon their lead in the fourth, adding two more runs.
Down 4-1 in the fifth, the Bengals found themselves with the bases loaded with two outs.
Loza came in clutch and struck out Bengals infielder Sydney Groves, stopping the potential comeback.
Immediately after, the Bulldog went on a run. Outfielder Alyssa Rebolledo hit a two-RBI double and shortstop Jerzie Liana rattled off a three-RBI double to increase the lead to 9-1.
The game ended on a run rule in the 5th inning, just like game one. The Bulldogs finish their opening day with a 2-0 record, gearing up to play the same opponents the next day in another doubleheader.
Game 3: Fresno State 2, Idaho State 0
On Feb. 7, Carranco looked to follow up on her shutdown performance from the day prior. In the bottom of the first inning, the ‘Dogs followed up two singles by outfielder Natalie Elias and second baseman Emma Martinez with two RBIs, including a fielder’s choice. The score after one inning was 2-0, and it stayed that way for the rest of the game.
Great fielding and pitching kept the Bengals scoreless with little to no threat throughout the game.
A few hits from Fresno State reached the warning track, but no balls went past the wall.
The ‘Dogs won a quiet 2-0 game and headed into their final game of the weekend with a perfect 3-0 record.
Game 4: SIUE 5, Fresno State 4
The quietness of the previous game trickled into the start of the final match of the weekend. Neither team could muster much on the bases through the first three innings.
It all changed in the fourth inning when Emma Martinez hit a triple, which was followed by an RBI double by Tiara Westbrook. Then, in the bottom of the sixth, they added three more runs with the help of a sacrifice fly that scored one run and Ramirez’s two-RBI single.
What looked like a 4-0 start to the year ended in a nightmare seventh inning for the ‘Dogs. Down four with two outs in the final inning, the Cougars began clawing back into the game.
It started with a Mia Volpert RBI single, which also led to a runner in scoring position. Then runs started pouring in, including a steal of home and three RBIs.
After the top of the seventh disaster, Fresno State stepped up to the plate. Three quick groundouts would end the Bulldog’s night in a 5-4 loss.
Despite thefinish, the ‘Dogs opened their season with three wins and a loss, outscoring their opponents 23-6. The team’s dominant performance so far will be tested in a three-game series against the No. 25 University of Washington Huskies from Feb. 13-14.
