FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team swept the Saint Mary's College Gaels – 9-3 and 14-7 – in a Tuesday doubleheader at Margie Wright Diamond.
With the victories, Fresno State (22-28) improved to 14-9 in home games this season and the nightcap featured the Bulldogs' highest single-game scoring output (14) of the season.
From start to finish, the 'Dogs went on the offensive in the twin bill with Saint Mary's College (17-27).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State 9, Saint Mary's College 3 (Game 1)
In game one, Fresno State struck first with two runs in the bottom of the second on a beautiful solo home run by Alesia Denby and an RBI single later in the frame by Emma Martinez.
Saint Mary's responded with three runs in the third, but the Bulldogs tied the game at 3-3 on Denby's RBI double to quickly get halfway to a cycle.
Fresno State broke open the game with six runs in the fourth, which was punctuated when Vanessa M. Hernandez crushed a three-run homer well up the berm past the left field fence.
In the circle, freshman starter Serayah Neiss recorded her sixth victory of the season and senior pitcher Taylor Gilmore logged her first save as a Bulldog with three scoreless innings of relief to close out the win.
Fresno State 14, Saint Mary's College 7 (Game 2)
The three-plus hour marathon in game two featured a whole lot of offense as the teams combined for 21 runs.
After the Gaels grabbed an early 5-0 lead, the Bulldogs scored 14 of the final 16 runs in the game.
In the second inning, Alyssa Ramirez, who was making her first collegiate start, connected on an RBI single down the right field line, which was followed by Emma Martinez' two-run triple and an RBI single off the bat off Bella Rocco to make it a 5-4 game.
The offense remained in attack mode – scoring once in the third, twice in the fourth and six times in the fifth to pull away. The fifth inning featured three run-scoring doubles as the Bulldogs kept their foot on the gas.
In the circle, Shelbi Denman and Taylor Gilmore each allowed just a single run in relief appearances to help Fresno State secure the seven-run win.
NOTES
With hits in both games, Fresno State's Keahilele Mattson extended her team-leading hitting streak to 12 straight games.
In game two, Fresno State freshman catcher Kennedy Bunker went 3-for-3 with three RBIs and three runs scored while freshman Alyssa Ramirez made her first start as a Bulldog and recorded her first collegiate hit – going 3-for-5 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored.
Ramirez is the third Bulldog this season to record four or more RBIs in a single game.