'Dogs score enough for sweep

Jamie Southern leads the Bulldogs to two one-run hits in doubleheader

By Nathan Hathaway

What a difference a game makes.

For pitcher Jamie Southern, it was different from the rest of the season.

After almost no-hitting San Jose State 1-0 in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, Southern started the second game and got roughed up for three runs on six hits in the first two innings. The Bulldogs recovered to win the game 6-5.

“ I just think [game one] was a 1-0 game, so they believed they could come back,” Bulldogs coach Margie Wright said. “So they just kept swinging.”

Southern dominated the Spartans in the first game, no-hitting them until two outs remained in the game.

But then Elisa Barrios and Lindsey Allen hit back-to-back singles, giving San Jose State (10-28, 4-6 Western Athletic Conference) its first baserunners since Southern hit Barrios with a pitch in the first inning.

Twelfth-ranked Fresno State (40-13, 13-1) produced its only run with some aggressive base running in the second inning. Senior outfielder Mitzi Ing singled to open the inning, then scored from first on Veronica Green’s double two batters later.

Southern took care of the rest, striking out 10 batters in the game, including back-to-back strikeouts three times.

Then, in a game-time decision, Wright elected to start Southern again in the second game. Wright cited Southern’s dominance and low pitch count (93) in the first game for her decision to start Southern in game two. It was the third time this season Southern started both games of a doubleheader.

Early in the game it looked like Wright had made a mistake in starting her ace.

After allowing no runs on two hits in the first game, Southern got tagged for two runs on four hits in the first inning of game two on RBI singles by Carlie Hill and Jessica Guillen. The two runs matched the most earned runs Southern had allowed in any game this season.

After the Spartans put up another run in the second inning, the Bulldogs took the lead wih four runs on six hits in the third inning, highlighted by a 2-run home run from freshman catcher Nichole Willis.

“ It felt great,” Willis said. “Anything to help the team and get Jamie back. We owe it to her. She’s gotten us this far.”

San Jose State got a run back in the fourth to tie the game at 4-4, but Veronica Green’s two-run home run in the fifth put the Bulldogs up for good.

Willis was the offensive star for the Bulldogs on Saturday, going 3 for 5 in the doubleheader with a double and the home run.

Fresno State got a big scare in the seventh inning when slugging shortstop Christina Clark fielded a grounder and threw to first. Clark walked away holding the elbow on her throwing arm. After a brief stoppage, Clark remained on the field. After the game, Wright said Clark just felt a momentary pinch in her elbow and was fine.