Boise State
20-9, 0
Fresno State
22-10, 0
Walks, Errors Hurt Broncos In Loss
3/25/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State needed just three hits in Saturday's series-clinching 8-2 win over Boise State as the Bulldogs took advantage of nine walks issued by Bronco pitchers and three errors from the Bronco defense.
After the Broncos took a 1-0 lead in the first when Tatiana Sorokina scored on an illegal pitch call, the Bulldogs loaded the bases against Bronco starter Paige Reimann in the bottom of the second on a pair of walks and a single from Vanessa Hernandez. Fresno State would take a 2-1 lead thanks to a Bronco error as Schuyler Broussard grounded to second, but Bronco second baseman Karlee Johnson's throw to the plate went over the head of catcher Shaelee Pearson, allowing Savannah McHellon and Kierra Willis to score.
After Katie Castellon's sacrifice fly plated Hernandez to make it 3-1, the Bulldogs (22-10, 4-1 MW) got another big break as Miranda Rohleder's deep fly ball to right caromed off the top of the fence and past Bri Ambrose. With the ball in no-man's land, Rohleder circled the bases, beating the throw home for an inside-the-park home run that gave the Bulldogs a 5-1 lead.
Reimann was lifted for Rainey Dyreson two batters later, after issuing a walk to Morgan Howe, and Dyreson got the Broncos through the frame. The Bulldogs added a sixth run in the third as Castellon's squeeze bunt brought in Willis. An inning later, a single and a Bronco error followed by a wild pitch from Dyreson gave the Bulldogs runners on second and third, and they plated a seventh run on Lindsey Willmon's sacrifice fly. Dyreson, after walking McHellon, was relieved by Kelsey Broadus, who, after a walk to Willis, gave up a sacrifice fly to Hernanded that plated Howe to make it 8-1.
Boise State (20-9, 2-3 MW) got a run in the top of the seventh on Jessica McKay's RBI single that drove in Johnson to account for the final score. Johnson had two of Boise State's five hits Saturday night.
Reimann fell to 4-3 with the loss, giving up five runs on two hits and four walks over an inning and two-thirds, while Dyreson was charged with two earned runs (three runs total) on a hit and four walks over her inning and two-thirds of work. Broadus struck out three over the final two and two-thirds innings.
McHellon gave up just two runs (one earned) on five hits and struck out five Broncos to improve to 5-3 on the year. Rohleder and Castellon each had a pair of RBIs to pace the Bulldog offense.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: MCHELLON, S (4-3)
L: Reimann, Paige (4-3)
Batting:
RBI: McKay, Jessica 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Sorokina, Tatiana 1 ; Johnson, Karlee 1
Batting:
HR: ROHLEDER, M 1
RBI: ROHLEDER, M 2 ; WILLMON, L 1 ; HERNANDEZ, V 1 ; BROUSSARD, S 1 ; CASTELLON, K 2
SH: BROUSSARD, S 1 ; CASTELLON, K 1
SF: WILLMON, L 1 ; HERNANDEZ, V 1 ; CASTELLON, K 1
Base Running:
RUNS: ROHLEDER, M 1 ; RIVERS, M 1 ; HOWE, M 1 ; MCHELLON, S 1 ; WILLIS, K 2 ; HERNANDEZ, V 1 ; BROUSSARD, S 1
SB: RIVERS, M 1
