SAN DIEGO – The No. 5-seeded Fresno State softball team lost 1-0 to the fourth-seeded San Jose State Spartans in the first round of the 2023 Mountain West Championship in San Diego at SDSU Softball Stadium.
The loss ends the season for Fresno State (23-31), who played 21 one-run games in 2023.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Thursday's showdown featured a great pitcher's duel between Fresno State's Taylor Gilmore and Serayah Neiss and San Jose State's Jenessa Ullegue.
Fresno State put the pressure on SJSU early on when the Bulldogs loaded the bases in the first inning, but the 'Dogs couldn't turn that opportunity into scoring.
In the fourth frame, Fresno State third baseman Bella Rocco came through with two important defensive plays. The first of those came with no outs and runners on first and second and had Rocco snagging a bunt that popped up a few steps in front of home plate.
During the next batter's plate appearance, Rocco fielded a ground ball and stepped on third base and fired a laser across the diamond for the double play.
Offensively, Keahilele Mattson, Alesia Denby and Jamie Hicks each had hits for the Bulldogs.
The game remained scoreless until SJSU's Aubrie Thomas scored the game-winning run on a hard-hit ball off the bat of Makenzie Hutchinson in the bottom of the seventh inning.
NOTES
This was Fresno State's first-ever appearance in the MW Softball Championship, which returned for the first time since 2006. The Bulldogs joined the MW in July 2012.
This was Fresno State's 21st one-run game of the 2023 season (9-12 record in those games).