Courtesy of Fresno State Athletics
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team wrapped up the second day of the Mary Nutter Classic on Friday, splitting a pair of games at Big League Dreams Complex.
Fresno State started their day by taking down Cal Berkeley by a score of 5-4, before dropping their second game on the day to Cal Baptist, 5-2.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Game 1: Fresno State 5, Cal 4
The Golden Bears claimed the first two runs of the game on a home run to right field in the top of the first. Fresno State responded in the bottom half of the inning, flexing their power at the plate. With one out, Natalie Elias sent the first pitch she saw over the center field wall to give the Bulldogs their first run of the game. Following a single by Jamie Hicks, Tiara Westbrook stepped into the batter’s box and smoked a 2-2 pitch to left field that cleared the fence. It was Westbrook’s first home run in a Bulldog uniform, as the junior gave Fresno State a 3-2 lead.
Natalie Elias and Jamie Hicks led off the bottom of the third with a pair of singles. After both advanced to third and second respectively, Alyssa Ramirez came to plate and lined a deep single to right field that plated both runners, extending the ‘Dogs lead to 5-2.
After surrendering a two-run home run in the first, Lauryn Carranco settled in on the mound, holding Cal off the scoreboard for the next five innings while only allowing one Golden Bear to reach second base.
Cal threatened to tie the game in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs off RBI singles. With the tying run on second, Carranco struck out the final batter looking on a 1-2 count, as Fresno State recorded their first win away from Margie Wright Diamond this season.
Game 2: Cal Baptist 5, Fresno State 2
Both teams traded runs in the first inning, with Cal starting the scoring off a single up the middle that pushed across the first run of the afternoon. The ‘Dogs answered in the bottom frame starting with Natalie Elias tripling to give the Bulldogs their first runner in scoring position. Jerzie Liana pushed her across home plate with a sacrifice fly to tie the game 1-1.
The Lancers scored the next three runs of the game, adding one in the second inning and two in the third inning. Alyssa Rebolledo brought the ‘Dogs back to within two with her single to right field that scored Arianna Aguayo from second base. Fresno State trailed 4-2 heading into the fifth inning.
A throwing error in the sixth led to the fifth run for the Lancers, as Fresno State fell to Cal Baptist by a final of 5-2.
NOTES
- The Bulldogs hold a 4-6 record through 10 games this season
- Fresno State sits at 1-2 away from Margie Wright Diamond
- Natalie Elias hit the first home run for the Bulldogs this season
- Tiara Westbrook hit her first home run in a Bulldog uniform
- Lauryn Carranco improved to 3-3 on the season
- Alyssa Ramirez pitched four innings against Cal Baptist, giving up one run on only one hit
- Natalie Elias led the Bulldogs with four hits on the day
- The Bulldogs have now outscored their opponents 11-5 in the first inning
- Fresno State has five batters hitting over .300 in their first ten games (Jamie Hicks, Natalie Elias, Jerzie Liana, Alyssa Rebolledo, and Olivia Hill)
UP NEXT
Fresno State will face No. 11 UCLA tomorrow at 3 p.m. in their final game at the Mary Nutter Classic.
