FRESNO, Calif. – For the second straight day, Fresno State capitalized on Utah State miscues in the field en-route to a 6-0 defeat of the Aggies on Sunday at Margie Wright Diamond. It was the Bulldogs' fifth straight win overall, and fourth straight in Mountain West play.
The Bulldogs (26-11, 6-4 MW) outhit the Aggies (21-18, 5-8 MW) 11-4 . USU had five errors that resulted in four Fresno State runs.
Sophia Medellin led the 'Dogs going 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run. Natalie Elias (1 run, 1 RBI) and Kealani Nitta (2 runs, 1 RBI) each had two hits. Serayah Neiss pitched 5.0 innings in the circle, dishing out seven strikeouts in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Serayah Neiss opened the game by striking out the side for Fresno State. For the second consecutive day, a lead-off single from Kealani Nitta turned into a run for the Bulldogs. A sacrifice bunt moved Nitta to second, setting up a 2-1 rope to the gap from Sophia Medellin to bring the freshman in.
Medellin hit a two-out double to the same spot two innings later. Keahilele Mattson stepped in and struck a hard-hit ball to first base that slipped out of the fielder's glove as Medellin crossed home to double the lead.
Neiss, holding the Aggies in check through three, struck out the side for the second time on the day in the top of the fourth. In the bottom half of the inning, Alyssa Ramirez reached third on a dropped ball by the center fielder. Juliana Wilson laid down a bunt to bring pinch runner Ava Tingey across the plate.
Neiss got into a jam in the fifth, with runners on second and third with no outs. The sophomore battled though, getting the next three batters to pop up to Emma Martinez. Back-to-back singles from Natalie Elias and Medellin started the fifth for the 'Dogs. A single to center by Mattson and a misplay on the ball led to Elias coming around to score.
Utah State put two on with one out in the fifth, but Taylor Gilmore came in and shut the door with two consecutive outs. The 'Dogs tacked on two more runs in the bottom half to go up 5-0. Wilson led off the inning with a double and Martinez moved Alyssa Rebolledo to third with a sac bunt. Nitta then doubled to center and advanced to third on an error. Elias followed with a single up the middle.
Gilmore closed out the game forcing three straight ground outs in the seventh.
GAME NOTES
Fresno State posted its 15th game with a double-digit hit total. The Bulldogs are 14-1 when having 10 or more hits.
Fresno State chalked its eighth shutout of the year. Three have come in the last five games.
Kealani Nitta and Sophia Medellin both extended their hit streaks to seven games.
Nitta recorded her third multi-hit game in the last four outings.
Nitta scored two runs for the third straight game.
Medellin tied her season-high with three hits.
Medellin registered her 11th multi-hit game.
Medellin has an RBI in four straight games.
Natalie Elias recorded her 16th multi-hit game.
Serayah Neiss earned her 11th win of the year.
The sophomore had seven strikeouts, her second-most in a game in 2024.
Taylor Gilmore earned her team-leading fifth save.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will head to No. 8 Stanford on Wednesday. First pitch at Boyd & Jill Smith Family Stadium is set for 4 p.m. PT.