RENO, Nev. – The Nevada softball team was unable to hold on to an early lead and dropped its WAC opener 4-1 to Fresno State on Friday at Hixson Park.
The Wolf Pack’s overall record evened at 1-1 while Fresno State improved to 20-11.
The teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday at 1 p.m. on “Dollar Day” at Hixson Park as fans will get in for just $1.
Nevada struck first as Megan Fincher walked to lead off the bottom of the third inning. With one out, Noelle Micka doubled to the gap in left center and Fincher scored all the way from first to give the Pack a 1-0 lead.
But Fresno State came back with a run in the fourth to tie it. In the fifth, Rebecca Walker homered for the Bulldogs to give Fresno State a 2-1 lead. The Bulldogs then scored an unearned run in the sixth after an error by Nevada first baseman Kelsey Starr.
In the sixth, Nevada put the tying run on second base after singles by Danielle Patrick and Sam Bias and an error on Fresno State leftfielder Andrea Ortega. That chased Fresno State starter Michelle Moses but reliever Morgan Melloh came on and struck out Britton Murdock, Kelsey Starr and Lauren Lastrapes to end the Pack’s rally.
After the Bulldogs tacked on an insurance in the seventh, Nevada went down in order in the bottom of the inning to end it.
Katie Holverson took the loss for Nevada. She went the distance, giving up four runs – three earned – on seven hits while striking out four and walking none. She fell to 5-8 on the year.
Micka’s double extended her hitting streak to a career high 18 straight games. She is two games away from tying Brittany Puzey’s school-record 20-game hitting streak, which was set last year.
