Fresno St. sweeps Hawai'i in softball
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
It was a Good Friday for No. 13 Fresno State.
The Bulldogs slugged six home runs to back Jamie Southern's strong pitching in sweeping Hawai'i, 7-0 and 9-2, last night in a crucial Western Athletic Conference series at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
"This is the series of the year," UH coach Bob Coolen said. "Everything after this is anti-climactic and it's for No. 2 and they just showed us who's No. 1."
The defending WAC champion Rainbows (4-2 WAC, 22-21 overall) will need to sweep today just to stay within striking distance. Regardless of what happens in the 3 p.m. doubleheader, the Bulldogs (8-0, 35-12) are assured of leaving the island the way they arrived: In sole possession of first place. The Bulldogs now lead the Rainbows by three games.
The long ball just blew the Rainbows away on a blustery night in front of an estimated crowd of 200, which included, for at least the first four innings of the opener, the UH pep band. Leadoff hitter Christina Clark had a home run in each game, giving her 15 for the season, matching her school single-season record, which she hit last year to tie Michelle Bolt (1994).
"They swing that bat the way it's supposed to be swung," Coolen said. "The Easton bats. The bat is live if you're swinging it like you're swinging for the fences. Three of their kids had first-time home runs today."
Fresno State home runs accounted for 10 of its 16 runs in the doubleheader. Center fielder Mitzi Ing, left fielder Rachael Donaldson and first baseman Shasta Lewis homered for the first time in their careers.
"It was my first collegiate one, so it felt good to do it in front of my family and friends," said Ing, a senior and a graduate of Iolani School.
The surge was expected.
"We see it at practice everyday," FSU coach Margie Wright. "But it's been a long time coming in a game. I think they were very focused tonight offensively and that helps."
Southern (24-5) spaced five hits, allowed two runs — one earned — with nine strikeouts in the second game. Despite getting into jams, she stranded runners in scoring position four times.
In the opener, the Bulldogs stopped UH's modest four-game win streak by slugging three home runs that accounted for six runs to back Southern's three-hitter with seven strikeouts.
Nichole Willis, who gave FSU a 1-0 lead with an RBI single in the first, had a two-run home run to center in the third. In the fourth, Lewis drilled a three-run shot to center that was followed by Clark's solo drive to left-center.
Melissa Coogan (8-11) was tagged for all seven runs on 10 hits in 3¡ innings for UH. Paula Blanning pitched three-hit ball in the final 3á innings, allowing a walk with two strikeouts. Her performance might get her a start today, Coolen said. Wright said she is undecided on today's starters, although it is possible that Southern could pitch again.
In the nightcap, the Bulldogs jumped on UH starter Shannon Tabion with the home run. Ing's line shot to left-center in the second gave FSU a 1-0 lead, which was padded by Clark's two-run jack to left in the third inning. An RBI double by Willis in the fifth made it 4-0 before Donald's lead-off homer to left ignited a five-run seventh for the Bulldogs.
Tabion (14-7) was charged with nine runs on 11 hits and three walks with three strikeouts in going the distance for UH.
Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8042.
