FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team run-ruled the Idaho State Bengals 10-0 in five innings on Sunday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond.
Alesia Denby, who was named the 2023 Fresno State Kickoff Classic Most Outstanding Player, crushed her third home run of the tournament to finish off the weekend with a walk-off winner for Fresno State (5-5).
In addition to Denby, Fresno State's Taylor Gilmore, Juliana Wilson and Emma Martinez were also named to the All-Tournament Team in a field that featured the Big 12's Iowa State, along with Idaho State, Seattle U and UIC.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Taryn Irigoyen doubled to lead off the third inning and later came around to score when Denby put the ball in play and registered her first of six RBIs in the game.
In the fourth, Irigoyen ripped a two-run triple to left field and Denby went opposite field with a two-run double and scored during the next at bat on a throwing error, which gave the Bulldogs a 6-0 lead over the Bengals.
Fresno State remained in attack mode in the fifth and scored all four runs with two outs, including the game-winning 3-run homer by Denby well beyond the left field fence up the berm.
Serayah Neiss and Taylor Gilmore combined to throw a shutout as Gilmore tossed 3.1 innings in relief with four strikeouts and allowed just one hit in the quick 91-minute, five-inning contest.
QUOTES
Stacy May-Johnson, Fresno State head coach
On the team's big takeaways from the weekend...
"I think our big takeaways are that we still need to improve at the plate. We didn't show the offensive potency that we want to see until tonight. We still need to get better on the mound. I like the pieces I'm seeing defensively, but we can't be in and out.
On the team's grit in the finale...
"They brought it from early in the game. They were ready to go. We saw the adjustments happening at the plate very quickly. We want to see us getting closer each at bat. It was an exciting day and 10 runs later, they showed they were ready."
Alesia Denby, Fresno State
On her game-winning home run and the weekend…
"I was just trying to keep it simple and score at least one run, and that was the result. I was happy that was the result. I think this is just a learning moment for us, just trying to have some resilience and be able to persevere through these losses that we took. It was good for us to regroup and go into the new week with a good start."
2023 FRESNO STATE KICKOFF CLASSIC
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Alesia Denby, Fresno State
Taylor Gilmore, Fresno State
Juliana Wilson, Fresno State
Emma Martinez, Fresno State
Ava Brown, Idaho State
Karlie Charles, Iowa State
Tiana Poole, Iowa State
Kasey Simpson, Iowa State
Sydney Frankenberger, Seattle U
Grace Luderer, Seattle U
Stefanie Madrigal, Seattle U
MOST OUTSTANDING PITCHER
Karlie Charles, Iowa State
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Alesia Denby, Fresno State