FRESNO, Calif. - The University of Nevada softball team fell 7-3 to the Fresno State Bulldogs in the first game of a three-game series Friday.
The loss dropped Nevada to 12-33 (3-16 WAC), while Fresno State moved to 30-15 (14-5 WAC).
Fresno State jumped out to an early 1-0 lead after an inning of play, small-balling its way to the game's initial run in the top half of the first.
Starting her 37th game of the year for the Wolf Pack, Mallary Darby struck out three hitters in the first two innings.
After Fresno State scored twice in the bottom of the third, Nevada got its first hit of the game in the form of a base hit to left by Karley Hopkins, in the top of the fourth. She would be stranded there by Fresno State starter Michelle Moses, who retired the next three Pack hitters to get out of the inning.
The Bulldogs scored four times in the bottom of the fourth, pushing the lead to 7-0 after four complete.
Nevada senior shortstop Danielle Patrick got her team on the board with a single to left field in the top of the sixth, closing the gap to 7-1.
A shut-down inning from Darby in the bottom of the sixth gave the Pack a chance at the comeback in the seventh.
Chelsea Venable appeared to bring the Pack to within two runs with a blast over the right field fence in the seventh, but after a meeting by the umpires was returned to second base, and her hit was ruled a ground-rule double.
The game ended on a fly ball to center field off the bat of Alex Arciniega, with runners at second and third.
The two teams will play a doubleheader Saturday beginning at 1 p.m.
