May 6, 2005

RENO, Nev. - The No. 16/16 Fresno State softball team showcased some pop when it collected six extra base hits, which included three home runs, in the Bulldogs' 14-0 Western Athletic Conference victory over Nevada.

While the 'Dogs pounded out 14 runs on 13 hits, Fresno State also tallied 12 RBI as six different Bulldogs had an extra base hit and all but two starters had at least one RBI.

Senior All-America pitcher Jamie Southern improved to 23-3 on the year after tossing a four-hit shutout and striking out 10. With 15 shutouts and ten 10-strikeout games on the season, she had a perfect game going until the Wolf Pack led off the bottom of the fifth with a double.

In the NCAA record book Southern notched her 75th career shutout, making her just the fourth Division I pitcher to record 75 or more. While posting her 52nd career 10-strikeout performance, Southern also gathered her fourth consecutive 10-win season in conference play.

Fresno State scored two runs in the first, added three in the third and one in the fifth before exploding with an eight-run seventh.

In the first with two outs, freshman first baseman Kristin Sylvester collected a two-run double to right for an early 2-0 lead.

In the third with one out, senior third baseman Leticia Pacheco had a RBI single to center before the Bulldogs scored two runs on Nevada fielding errors.

In the fifth with two outs, sophomore left fielder Rachael Donaldson hit a solo home run for her fifth of the season.

In the seventh, the Bulldogs batted around as they scored eight runs on seven hits. With one out, Sylvester recorded a RBI single before freshman second baseman Jenna Cervantez hit her first collegiate home run with a three-run shot to left center. With two outs, junior All-America shortstop Christina Clark picked up a RBI double while Southern chipped in with a run-scoring single. Sophomore catcher Nichole Willis added the final two runs of the inning when she hit a two-run home run to center field for her fifth of the year.

Utilizing three pitchers, Nevada starter Jordan McPherson took the loss and fell to 11-9 overall. She gave up five runs (two earned) on four hits while walking one and striking out three in 3.0 innings of work. Reliever Tiffany Hoeft took the brunt of the scoring after allowing eight runs on eight hits with three walks in 3.2 innings. Robyn Ford-Feitz pitched the final 0.1 innings and allowed a run on a hit.

Nevada (22-26, 8-5 WAC) threatened in the fifth. After shortstop Brittany Lorenzen broke up the no-hitter with a lead off double down the left field line, she moved to third on a one-out hit by catcher Lindsey Hall. With runners on the corners, Southern got the next two batters out on a foul pop up and a line out to end the threat.

Fresno State (36-10, 12-1 WAC) had five Bulldogs post multiple hit games and three had multiple RBI performances. Sylvester and Cervantez led the charge as they both went 2-4 and had three RBI a piece.