LOGAN, Utah – The Fresno State softball team defeated the Utah State Aggies 10-9 in nine innings on Saturday afternoon at Johnson Field.
Fresno State (17-23, 6-6 Mountain West) built an early lead and rallied in ninth to capture an important conference and road win over Utah State (13-19, 5-7 MW), who the Bulldogs will face again on Sunday at 11 a.m PT in the two-game series finale.
In the resilient victory, the 'Dogs launched five home runs, including two each by Alesia Denby and Juliana Wilson with the other one off the bat of Keahilele Mattson, and sprayed 15 hits over the nine frames.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State raced out to a 5-0 lead, largely fueled by a four-run third inning, which featured Bella Rocco's two-run single and Wilson's first long ball of the game – a two-run shot with two outs.
USU answered with three runs in the bottom of the fourth, but it was in the fifth inning that Mattson, Wilson and Denby all went yard with back-to-back-to-back home runs for an 8-3 lead for the 'Dogs.
The Aggies scored six of the next seven runs scored in the game to force extra innings.
In the top of the ninth, Wilson singled and came around to score when Vanessa M. Hernandez ripped an RBI double for the one-run lead.
In the circle, freshman Serayah Neiss earned her third win of the season by pitching the final three innings without allowing a run.
NOTES
This was Fresno State's fifth extra inning game of the season (3-2 record) and third of nine innings or longer this season (2-1 record).
This was also Fresno State's 14th one-run game this season (6-8 record).
Fresno State's five home runs were one shy of the program's single-game school record of six.
Fresno State's Alesia Denby was 4-for-5 at the plate with four runs scored and two RBIs. The four runs scored are the most this season by a Bulldog in a single game and the third time this season that a Bulldog has had four hits in a game.
Wilson and catcher Kennedy Bunker each also had three hits in the contest.
In the circle, senior Taylor Gilmore made her 10th start of the season (5.1 innings, three strikeouts).
NEXT UP
Fresno State faces Utah State again on Sunday at 11 a.m. PT to close out the two-game series in the Beehive State.