April 12, 2008

Box Score

RUSTON, La.- Fresno State's Nicole Angene recorded a two-out RBI in the top of the seventh inning to break a scoreless tie and lead No. 12 ranked Fresno State to a 1-0 victory over Louisiana Tech at the Lady Techster Softball Complex Saturday afternoon.

Fresno State pitcher Morgan Melloh (28-5) managed to outduel Louisiana Tech's Krissi Oliver (11-11) only allowing two hits and no runs while recording nine strikeouts in 7.0 innings.

Oliver was almost as dominating as she allowed six hits, one earned run and recorded three strikeouts in 7.0 innings of work.

"I think Krissi threw a better game today then yesterday," said Tech head coach Sarah Dawson. "To come back the second day and pitch as well as she did speaks to her experience. I was proud of the effort she put out and our defense played well behind her. That's what we challenged them with after yesterday's game."

The top of the seventh inning began as Aja Scheuber recorded a one out single to leftfield. Michelle Palazuelos then came in as a pinch runner. Andrea Ortega followed with a single down the rightfield line allowing Palazuelos to advance to third.

After an Ashley White line out to shortstop, Angene stepped in and laced a single to right centerfield scoring Palazuelos. Ortega was thrown out at home on the play to end the inning after a flawless relay from right field to second base to home plate.

The Techsters (25-24, 4-7 WAC) then went down in order in the bottom of the seventh. Melloh needed only seven pitches to seal the shutout victory for Fresno State (39-8, 5-3).

Louisiana Tech's lone scoring opportunity came in the bottom of the fourth when Techster shortstop Amberly Waits led off the inning with a triple off the right field wall. However, the Techsters would not take advantage of the hit as the four, five and six hitters would all record unproductive outs to end the inning.

"That was tough," Dawson said. "Clearly that was our best scoring opportunity with the heart of our lineup up and our most experienced kids. However, Fresno State's not No. 12 in the country for no reason. Melloh isn't 28-5 for no reason. I think we made strides this weekend and we will be confident against them if we see them at the WAC Tournament."

Danielle Sheridan recorded the only other hit for the Techsters in the bottom of the first inning with a shot to right field.

Louisiana Tech returns to action Wednesday at 4 p.m. when the Lady Techsters travel to Lake Charles for a doubleheader against McNeese State.

Printer-friendly format	Email this article