RENO, Nev. – The Fresno State softball team defeated Nevada in the last game of the series 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at Christina M. Hixon Park.
The Bulldogs (18-8, 1-2 MW) posted their 10th game of the season with 10 or more hits, outhitting the Wolf Pack (22-7, 2-1 MW) 10-7. Fresno State had three players tally multiple hits in the game. Senior Sophia Medellin went 2-for-4 with a team-high two RBIs.
Senior right-handed pitcher Taylor Gilmore pitched a complete game in the circle, earning her 10th win of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State started the contest with back-to-back base hits. Natalie Elias stole home plate for the first run of the game. Lauren Almeida plated the second run of the inning with a sacrifice fly.
Nevada responded in the bottom of the inning with a run of its own, cutting Fresno State's lead in half.
After a scoreless second inning, the Wolf Pack tied the game in the third. Nevada took the lead in the next frame, scoring two runs on a hit and an error.
Nevada held a 4-2 lead after four innings.
Fresno State's offense broke through in the top of the sixth. Juliana Wilson drew a leadoff walk. After the two batters that followed Wilson were retired, the Bulldogs started a two-out rally. Elias and Kealani Nitta got the rally started with back-to-back singles, bringing in two runs to tie the game. Medellin gave Fresno State the lead with an RBI-single.
The Bulldogs extended their lead in the seventh inning. Lauren Almeida hit a leadoff single through the left side. The next two batters grounded out, but the runner was moved to third base. Fresno State started another two-out rally with an RBI-double from Emma Martinez. Back-to-back errors from the Wolf Pack scored another run, giving the Bulldogs a 7-4 lead.
Gilmore and the defense sent the final three Nevada batters down in order to secure the win.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will host Pacific on Wednesday, March 20 at 6 p.m. PT at Margie Wright Diamond.
GAME NOTES
· Fresno State posted 10 more hits for the 10th time this season.
· Sophomore Natalie Elias extends her hitting streak to 21 games.
· Elias posted her 10th game of the season with multiple hits.
· Freshman Kealani Nitta posted her third game of the season with multiple hits.
· Senior Sophia Medellin posted her seventh game of the season with multiple hits and seventh game with multiple RBIs.
· Senior Taylor Gilmore improved to 10-2 on the season.