LOS ANGELES – The Fresno State softball team defeated the Loyola Marymount Lions 3-2 in an 11-inning marathon thriller on Saturday at Smith Field in Los Angeles.
Fresno State (9-16) forced extra innings when Juliana Wilson led off the seventh inning with a solo home run to tie the game at 2-2.
Alesia Denby scored the eventual game-winning run after doubling to start the 11th frame in the three hour and 14 minute contest at LMU (13-15).
HOW IT HAPPENED
Fresno State struck first with a run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly by Kennedy Bunker, which scored Abby Doughty.
LMU's Amanda Ta'amu hit a two-run homer in the bottom half of the fifth, which put the Lions up 2-1.
In the seventh, Wilson's solo shot to right field tied the score at 2-2 and extended the series finale showdown into extra innings.
Fresno State pitcher Shelbi Denman delivered 6.1 scoreless innings in relief while facing 23 LMU batters to earn her fourth victory of the season.
The Bulldogs' defense came through in some key moments, including a double play in the eighth to stop a potential rally.
NOTES
This was the first time Fresno State has played a game of 11 innings or longer since Apr. 28, 2012 when the Bulldogs were edged 1-0 by then-No. 14/17 Hawai'i in Honolulu.
Shelbi Denman (4-2) entered the game in the sixth inning and held LMU scoreless the rest of the way.
UP NEXT
Fresno State travels to play at Sacramento State on Tuesday before opening Mountain West play at San Diego State with a three-game set from March 24-26 on the Montezuma Mesa.