1990_05 The Daily Collegian May 1990

              Bulldog Sports
( aiil'omia State University, I
■res no
Wednesday, May 2. 1990
Hornets put the sting to Bulldogs
By Debbie Spccr
S/jorts Writer
]i took 72 days for Fresno State to
finish their doubleheader with
unhearalded Sacramento State. The
Bulldogs would have probably prefered
ii was longer.
The Hornets scored three runs in the
sixth Inning of the first game to earn a
split against the second-ranked Dogs,
who prevailed in the second game 2-1
at Bulldog Diamond.
A February hailstorm stopped play
in the sixth inning of a scoreless first
game of two In February.
Tuesday, Sacramento opened where
they left off, with Terri Eagleston at
second base and Lorrie Avis at first
with none out. Carle Dever was
pitching for the Bulldogs.
The continuation started out easily
enough, with Tonl Helsler popping up
lo catcher Shelly Stokes for the first
nut'. But Rene Havey followed with a
double scoring Eagleston to put the
Hornets on top. 1-0.
After plnch-hltter Suz Lowry struck
mil. Terrie Clssna slapped a two-run
single to give the Hornetsa 3-0 lead.
In the Bulldog half of the sixth, Julie
Smilh scored on RaeAnne Pifferini's
line drive single to right to bring the
score to 3-1.
The Bulldogs Inched closer in the
seventh when a series of walks
enabled FSU to score a run and put
Carle Dever at third base with the
potential tying rUn. But the threat
died when Martha Noffsinger and
hfferinl both went down quickly and
(he Hornets (30-27) had their upset
win.
Sacramento State coach Irene Shea
couldn't help but be pleased with the
split. Her team is playing lis first
season in Division I, and she knew
what lo expect from FSU head coach
Margie Wright.
We've played all of the best teams
this year, and to me, Fresno State has
the best team in Ihe nation." Shea
said.' _,
"And Margie Wright happens to be
"lie of my best friends, and 1 want her '
10 win thtt year. But lor my kids to
come out and play as tough as they did
In this gamemaftes me very proud of
them."
Game two was played under sunny
skies, but LoPiccolo rained on the
Hornets' parade.
The Bulldogs opened the scoring in
the first. Noffsinger walked arid took
second on a one-out single from
Pifferinl. She scored on a RBI-slngle
to center by LoPiccolo.
LoPlccoIo's RBI in the first brought
her within one of tying the all-time
Bulldog RBI record held by Gena
Strang (108 RBI. 1985-88). It also was
the least controversial of her three run-
tns with Sacramento State In the
game.
The Hornets tied the game up in the
fourth when Havey doubled to left and
then scored on Shannon Padovan's
double that left-fielder Shelly
Morrison bobbled.
■ LoPiccolo would strike once again,
this time on defense. With two out.
Laurie Sommers chopped a ball up the
third base line. Dever picked the ball
up just inside fair territory and fired it
to LoPiccolo at first. Sommers ran
inside the baseline and was hit by the
ball. She was called out as LoPiccolo
fell into her, much to the dismay of the
Hornet bench.
Shea argued the call to noavail.
"I never go to the umpires unless I'm
absolutely sure of what they called,"
Shea said. "The ball hit (Sommerai
when she was right at the bag. trj that
case, you are allowed to be inside the
line because there Is nowhere else you
can go," Shea protested.
LoPiccolo begged to differ. The ball
hit her. but she should have gone
outside of the line. That would have
been OK." But as Shea admitted. "The
umpire has the final word."
The umpire had the final word again
in the fifth on another play that
Involved LoPiccolo.
Avis lined a shot between first and
second that second baseman Julie
Smith fell on. Smith husded to her
feet and scooped the ball to LoPiccolo.
LoPiccolo made the catch and got '.V
out with a stretch just as Avis came
down upon the bag.
Tarry Pienon/Daity Collegian
Coach Margie Wright talks to her team In between games Tuesday.
"It was there," LoPiccolo stated
matter-of-lacUy.
The Bulldogs scratched out a run In
the. sixth. LoPiccolo was again a
factor, as she scored the go-ahead run
on a double by Shelly Stokes after
doubling to the left field fence.
Fresno State (53-12) remains In first
{)lace In the Big West conference. They
ace University of the Pacific Saturday,
in Stockton and finish conference
play with a doubleheader against Ihe
\JC Santa Barbara 1 p.m. Sunday at
Bulldog Diamond.
The Infield umpire was unable to
tell If LoPiccolo had her foot on the
.bag at the moment Avis crossed, and
deterred to the home plate umpire for
the ruling. Avis was called out,
causing another protest from Shea.
'They (Smith and LoPiccolo) made a
beautiful play en the ball. But we
really felt, and 1 still feel, that
(LoPiccolo) pulled her foot off the base.
She crossed the bag and then put her
foot back on the base," Shea said.
"I think the umpire Just got caught
off guard," she added.
"ll was there." LoPiccolo slated
mailer-of-faclly.
The Bulldogs scratched out a run in
Ihe sixth. LoPiccolo was again a
factor, as she scored the go-ahead run
on a double by Shelly Stokes after
doubling lo the left field fence.
Fresno State (53-13 remains in first
place in the Big West nference. They
face Lniversity of the Pacific Saturday
in Stockton and finish conference
play with a doubleheader against the
UC Santa Barbara 1 p.m. Sunday at
BulldogDiamond.
Terry Pi»rson/Dair> Collegian
Second base is just out of thereach of Fresno State's Dlna Lopez, who. while attemplng to steal. Is tagged out
by Sacramento State's Tonl Helsler (# 11) In the second game of a doubleheader at the BulldogDiamond. FSU
rebounded to win the second game 2-1, after dropping the first 3-2.
On deck:
Today - Women's tennis vs.
California at FSU campus courts,
1:30 p.m.
Friday - Baseball vs. Long Beach
State at Belden Field. 7 p.m.
Saturday - Track at the Modesto
Relays. 11:15a.m.
- Baseball vs. Long Beach
Stale at Belden Field, 7:30 p.m.
SAnday - Men's tennis vs.
Washington al Fig Garden Racquet
Club. 10a.m.
- Baseball vs. Long Beach
State at Belden Field. 1p.m.
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