April 10, 2010

Box Score

FRESNO, Calif. - Once again, senior pitcher Kate Greenough had one difficult inning. Fresno State used a four-run sixth to complete a sweep of the Utah State softball team, 4-1. Utah State lost the front half of the doubleheader 7-3.

Utah State fell to 14-20 overall and 3-7 in the Western Athletic Conference. The Aggies have now lost five-straight games after dropping a doubleheader to first-place Hawai`i earlier in the week in Logan. Fresno State improves to 28-13 overall and 7-2 in league play. Utah is now 0-13 against Fresno State since joining the league for the 2006 season.

For the second-straight day, USU played without starting third baseman Kelley Kaneshiro after she received stitches in her nose after her a foul ball struck her in the face.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Fresno State struck first in the bottom of the first inning. Lead off hitter Haley Gilleland reached on an error by USU shortstop Rachel Evans and promptly stole second. Andrea Ortega gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead with a home run to left center off of starting pitcher freshman Shelbi Tyteca. After the home run, Tyteca hit Courtney Moore and Caitlin Stiglich followed with a single. But the freshman was able to get the next two outs to end the threat.

In the top of the third inning, junior left fielder Megan McDonald reached on a walk. She stole her first base of the season to put the Aggies' first runner in scoring position. Senior shortstop Evans moved McDonald to third with her fifth sacrifice hit of the season. Senior center fielder Nicole (Rupp) Tindall and Fresno State's Morgan Melloh had an epic 16-pitch at bat, but Melloh was able to retire Tindall to end the inning.

In the bottom of the third, USU was again the victim of the long ball. After a Michelle Moses base hit, Courtney Moore hit a home run to right center to give the Bulldogs a 4-0 advantage. Fresno State added two more unearned runs in the third to take a 6-0 lead.

Utah State bounced back with a trio of runs in the top of the fourth inning started by a triple by junior Joreigh Landers. With one out, freshman Kali Cancelosi drove in her 18th run of the season with a single up the middle. Junior first baseman Shasta Tyteca doubled to center to move freshman pinch runner Katie Bowdidge to third with McDonald at the plate. McDonald delivered with an infield single followed by an error by Bulldog shortstop Gilleland that scored two runs to put USU back in the game at 6-3.

The Bulldogs added another run in the bottom of the fourth off of relief pitcher, freshman Mandy Harmon, to earn a 7-3 win.

Shelbi Tyteca took the loss in the circle, falling to 1-2, while Morgan Melloh improved to 11-8 with the win.

In the nightcap, the Aggies manufactured a run in the top of the second to take their first lead of the series. Tindall started the rally reaching on a fielder's choice. After moving to second, she stole third and crossed the plate on a throwing error by catcher Stiglich to give USU an early 1-0 lead.

In the top of the third, USU was not able to capitalize on a hit and a Bulldog error. With one out, senior second baseman Emily Reilly singled up the middle. Shasta Tyteca sacrificed her to second and reached on an error by Fresno State third baseman Nicole Angene. Melloh was able to get the final two outs of the inning to stop the Aggies.

After back-to-back 1-2-3 innings, Fresno State threatened in the bottom of the fifth and six innings. In the sixth, the Bulldogs finally broke through, plating four runs off of Greenough. Of the four runs scored, only one was earned. Gilleland started the rally with an infield single and a stolen base, moving to third on an error by catcher Simone Hubbard. Moses followed with a walk. Moore singled to left to tied the score at 1-1 when Gilleland crossed the plate. After Stiglich reached on an error by Evans that scored Moses, the big blow came with a two-RBI double down the right field line by Angene for her second hit of the game as Fresno State took a 4-1 lead.

Greenough dropped her second 4-1 decision of the series, falling to 7-10 this season. Mackenzie Oakes improved to 11-5, while game one starter Moses picked up her second save of the season.

Utah State remains on the road to take on instate rival Utah in a doubleheader on Tuesday, April 13 at 2 p.m. The Aggies then travel to Boise State for a three-game series against the Broncos Friday-Saturday, April 9-10.