FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team defeated Colorado State 7-2 in the first game of the series on Friday night at Margie Wright Diamond.
The Bulldogs (31-15, 11-6 MW) recorded 11 hits in the contest, chalking the 14th game this season with 10 or more hits. Senior Sophia Medellin led the team at the plate, going 3-for-3 for her 14th game with multiple hits.
Fresno State's dynamic duo of Taylor Gilmore and Serayah Neiss in the circle, combined for five strikeouts and only gave up six hits. Gilmore logged her 17th win, and Neiss recorded her fifth save of the season.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State's offense got going in the bottom of the first finding gaps. After Keahilele Mattson moved Medellin into scoring position, Juliana Wilson stepped in the batter's box with two outs. The redshirt junior found the gap in right center to drive in her teammate. The two-out rally continued as Emma Martinez hit a liner to the wall in left center, ending up on third to make it 2-0.
Colorado State halved the deficit in the top of the third with a two-out RBI double. Wilson answered in the bottom half of the inning. With Medellin standing at second again, Wilson turned on a pitch and drove it over the wall in right to put the 'Dogs up 4-1.
The Rams made it 4-2 in the fourth with their second two-out RBI of the game. CSU continued to threaten with runners on first and third, but Gilmore ended the inning with her third strikeout of the night.
Following a single from Medellin to lead off the bottom of the fifth, CSU made a pitching change. After a strikeout, Giselle Bentley walked Wilson. Three straight singles from Martinez, Kennedy Bunker and Alyssa Ramirez blew the game wide open as the 'Dogs took a 7-2 lead into the sixth.
Neiss and defense kept the Rams off the scoreboard through the final two innings to secure the win.
UP NEXT
Fresno State and Colorado State will continue the series tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT at Margie Wright Diamond.