FULLERTON, Calif. Sophomore pitcher Katie Holverson picked up her second victory of the season as the Nevada softball team beat No. 21 Cal State Fullerton 5-4 on Saturday at Anderson Family Field.
This marks the sixth time in coach Michelle Gardner’s six-year career that the Wolf Pack has beaten a ranked opponent. The win gave Nevada a split on the day as the Wolf Pack fell 1-0 to No. 5 Oklahoma in the first game of the day at the Freeway Series Tournament.
Nevada is now 2-2 on the season.
“We played well in both games,” Gardner said. “There was not a point today, in either game, that I felt like we weren’t going to win the game.”
Against Fullerton, Holverson came on to pitch 2.2 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just one hit and striking out two to move to 2-1 on the season.
Nevada trailed 4-0 in the game but scored three runs in the fifth inning as Britton Murdock and Tyler Schafer had RBI singles and Kelsey Starr drew a bases-loaded walk. The Pack took the lead for good in the sixth inning as freshman Noelle Micka hit a two-run single to provide the winning margin.
“That was big right there for a freshman to step up and get the job done,” Gardner said.
In the first game of the day, Nevada took the Sooners to the wire but couldn’t come up with the upset. The difference in the game was a solo home run by Oklahoma’s Traci Dickinson in the fourth inning. Nevada centerfielder Sarah Hunt had the ball in her glove and nearly robbed Dickinson of the homer, but Hunt lost it as she crashed into the wall.
“Sarah had it in her glove,” Gardner said. “It was going to be one of those plays you see on SportsCenter. But she just couldn’t hold on to it.”
Nevada threatened in the sixth inning as Schafer and Micka slapped back-to-back singles to put two on with nobody out. After Brittany Puzey struck out, Danielle Patrick fouled out and Kelsey Starr popped out to first to end the Pack’s threat.
Holverson pitched six solid innings, giving up six hits and striking out six while walking just one in a losing effort.
“Katie just did a phenomenal job today and I am really pleased with how well she has started the season,” Gardner said.
The Wolf Pack will conclude play in the tournament Sunday against Santa Clara.
