FULLERTON, Calif. — The Fresno State softball team split the final day of the Judi Garman Classic, defeating DePaul in extra innings before falling to CS Fullerton.
The Bulldogs fall to 14-5 after having their nine-game winning streak snapped by the Titans.
GAME 1 VS. DEPAUL
Lauren Almeida gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning with a two-run home run over the right-field wall.
DePaul cut the lead in half with two hits in the bottom of the third, plating one run. The Blue Demons took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, scoring two runs on four hits.
The Bulldogs showed grit in the seventh inning, tying the game. Juliana Wilson hit a leadoff double to start the inning, Bella Rocco moved the runner over with a sacrifice bunt and Natalie Elias brought in the run with an RBI-single to the pitcher.
Fresno State sent DePaul down in order in the bottom of the seventh, pushing the game into extra innings.
With the tournament utilizing tiebreaker protocol, the 'Dogs started the eighth with a runner on second base. Keahilele Mattson got the offense going with a leadoff double down the right-field line, scoring the runner on second. Mattson stole third, and Almeida brought her in with a double down the left-field line. The 'Dogs took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the eighth.
Fresno State finished the game by sending the DePaul batters down in order. The Bulldogs defeated the Blue Devils 5-3.
GAME NOTES
Fresno State won its ninth straight game.
Junior Lauren Almeida recorded her seventh game with multiple hits and her fifth game with multiple RBIs.
Sophomore Natalie Elias has recorded a hit in 13 consecutive games.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Serayah Neiss improved to 6-1 on the season.
Senior right-handed pitcher Taylor Gilmore and Neiss combined for 10 strikeouts in the contest.
GAME 2 VS. CS FULLERTON
After a scoreless first inning, the Titans put runs on the scoreboard first in the bottom of the second. CSF had a two-out rally, belting three straight hits to plate two runs. Those two runs would be the only runs scored in the contest.
The Bulldogs attempted a rally of their own in the top of the sixth, as Medellin singled to center field moving the runner over to third, but both would be stranded after back-to-back flyouts to center field.
Fresno State retired the CS Fullerton batters in order, to take another crack at tying the game in the next frame. Emma Martinez blasted a one-out double to right center to give the 'Dogs a chance, but CSF executed the final two outs taking the win 2-0.
GAME NOTES
Fresno State had its nine-game winning streak snapped.
Fresno State was shut out for the first time this season.
Sophomore Natalie Elias has recorded a hit in 14 consecutive games.
Sophomore left-handed pitcher Serayah Neiss falls to 6-2 on the season.
Senior Taylor Gilmore tallied six strikeouts in the contest.
UP NEXT
Fresno State will return home to host the Bulldog Classic March 9-11 at Margie Wright Diamond.