FRESNO, Calif. – The Fresno State softball team fell to Rutgers in the finale of the Bulldog Classic 10-1 on Monday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond.
The Bulldogs (17-6) were out-hit 10-7 on the afternoon. Kealani Nitta and Natalie Elias led Fresno State at the plate tallying two hits apiece.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Rutgers opened the game with a leadoff triple. Three batters later, the Scarlet Knights took a 1-0 lead.
The pitchers owned the next three innings, allowing a combined three hits while not giving up a run.
The visitors tacked on two more in the top of the fifth after loading the bases with no outs. Rutgers then extended their lead to 4-0 in the sixth with a two-out single.
Lauren Almeida drove in Fresno State's first run of the game, hitting a triple to the center field wall that brought in Keahilele Mattson.
Rutgers added six runs in the top of the seventh.
NOTES
The loss snapped Fresno State's three-game winning streak.
The Bulldogs' one run was their second-fewest in a game this season.
Sophomore Natalie Elias extended her hitting streak to 18 games, ranking No. 7 in program history.
Elias registered her eighth game with multiple hits, and the third during the four-game tournament.
Sophomore Serayah Neiss dropped to 7-3 on the year.
Freshman Kealani Nitta recorded her second multi-hit game.
UP NEXT
Fresno State opens Mountain West play with a three-game series at Nevada beginning on Friday.