FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team split its doubleheader with Saint Mary's on Sunday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAINT MARY'S – GAME 1
Fresno State was out-hit 12-9 in the contest. Keahilele Mattson led the team at the plate going 3-for-4 with one RBI.
Three Bulldogs saw time in the circle. Serayah Neiss tied her career-high with six strikeouts, she went 5.0 innings for Fresno State.
A pair of walks, a wild pitch and a stolen base set up Saint Mary's in the first inning. With runners on second and third, Tori Cervantes put one to the wall in right center for a two-out triple. Jenavee Amador singled through the left side to extend the Gaels' lead to 3-0.
Fresno State got one back in the bottom half. Natalie Elias started the inning with a single and followed with a stolen base. A single by Juliana Wilson put runners on the corner for Sophia Medellin. The senior sent the Gaels' left fielder to the track resulting in a sacrifice fly.
Saint Mary's tacked on two more runs in the second on a two-run home run to left field from Marissa Montelongo.
A double by Cervantes led off the third for Saint Mary's. The Gaels' shortstop made it 6-1 later in the inning, beating the tag at the plate on a sac bunt.
After a scoreless fourth, Fresno State got the bats going. Mattson crushed a 1-1 pitch to the center field wall. Juliana Wilson then brought her in on a ball hit back up the middle through the legs of the Gaels' pitcher.
The 'Dogs added two more in the sixth. Emma Martinez led the inning off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a ground out. The sophomore made it 6-3 on a play at the plate that would get Elias to second. Mattson stepped in with a two-out hard-hit ball to the right side of the infield that Elias was able to round third and score on. Fresno State looked to add more, loading the bases, but an outfield fly ended the threat.
The Gaels plated the final run of the day on a double by Alex Cutonilli.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAINT MARY'S – GAME 2
The pitching dual saw two pitchers go the distance for the teams. Right-handed pitcher Taylor Gilmore pitched her second complete game of the season, tying her career-high with six strikeouts.
Fresno State out-hit Saint Mary's 5-4 in the contest, all five hits came off the bats of different Bulldogs.
The first five and a half innings of the second game were deadlocked at 0-0.
Fresno State took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out home run from Juliana Wilson, her first of the season.
Gilmore and the defense finished the job next frame to secure the shutout.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will host Sacramento State in a midweek contest on Wednesday at 3 p.m. PT at Margie Wright Diamond.