April 6, 2009

FRESNO, Calif. - Morgan Melloh earned her second Western Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Week honors on the season and the seventh of her career for her performances last week vs. Pacific and Hawai'i. Melloh is 17-11 on the season and the defending WAC Pitcher of the Year.

Melloh, a sophomore from Fishers, Ind., went 2-1 with 58 strikeouts and a 0.63 ERA last week. She struck out 47 percent of the batters she faced, allowing only three earned runs in four games. In the first game vs. Pacific last Tuesday, Melloh struck out a season-high 15 batters and had a no-hitter with two outs in the seventh inning before giving up the only hit of the game. It was her fourth one-hitter of the season and her ninth shutout.

Melloh earned the victory in game one vs. Hawai`i, striking out 15 batters and allowing no earned runs for the second-straight game.

In the 16-inning marathon, game two of the series, Melloh entered with one out in the third inning and proceeded to pitch eight perfect innings. She finished the game with a career-high 20 strikeouts in 13.2 innings of work, the longest outing of her career and just two strikeouts shy of the school single-game record.

She entered in relief in game three vs. Hawai`i, allowing no runs and striking out eight. Melloh currently leads the WAC with 286 strikeouts, 143 more then the next closest pitcher. She also recorded her 700th career strikeout on the week, becoming just the fourth Bulldog pitcher and fifth WAC pitcher ever to amass 700 strikeouts in her career.

"Join the State - Fresno State!" - The `Dogs host UC Santa Barbara Monday, April 6 in a doubleheader starting at 6 pm in Bulldog Diamond. It's Fresno State Faculty Appreciation Night and all Fresno State faculty and staff will receive FREE admission when presenting their Fresno State ID and can also purchase up to four more general admission tickets for $2 each. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by visiting the Bulldog Ticket Office, calling 278-DOGS or online at gobulldogs.com.