A statement weekend in Stockton for Fresno State softball (8-7) as the Bulldogs swept the Libby Matson tournament, taking two games apiece from Pacific College and UC San Diego.
Lauryn Carranco made a pretty cool memory, throwing a no-hitter on Friday afternoon against the Tritons. The Bulldogs also had five different players homer for the first time in 2026 this weekend.
Key Players
Lauryn Carranco: 2 W, 14 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 6 BB, 16 K
Alyssa Ramirez: 3-run HR / W, 6 IP, 5 H, 2 R (1 ER), 2 K
Emma Martinez: 6-for-15, 3 R, HR, 4 RBI, BB
What happened
Game 1: Fresno State 4, UC San Diego 0
Senior Lauryn Carranco was nearly untouchable Friday, retiring nine of the first 10 batters she faced, including five strikeouts. Her offense backed her up in the fourth inning. With two on and two out, Alyssa Ramirez belted one off the scoreboard over the left-center wall to give Fresno State a 3-0 lead. Jayda Crosby came off the bench to hit a solo shot over the right field wall to provide some insurance, her first career home run.
Carranco continued her excellence into the later inning, without allowing a hit all game. The Clovis Cougar alum struck out 12, including the final three batters to secure the first no hitter of her collegiate career and the shutout for the Bulldogs.
Game 2: Fresno State 5, Pacific 4 (10 innings)
Jamie Hicks homered to lead off the fourth inning on Friday, tying the game at one run apiece. Pacific retook the lead 2-1 in the bottom of the frame with a pair of singles with a sacrifice in between. Emma Martinez tied the game in the fifth with a single to center, scoring Arianna Aguayo. Pacific doubled twice in the fifth and once more in the sixth, scoring a run in each inning to take a 4-2 lead.
With the game on the line in the seventh inning, Alyssa Rebolledo reached with one out on an infield single. Martinez followed with a blast over the left field wall to tie the game. After neither team scored in the eighth or ninth innings, Martinez scored in the 10th thanks to a wild pitch from Pacific.
Alyssa Ramirez pitched six innings in relief, including four consecutive scoreless frames to end the game for the Bulldogs to get the win. Ramirez and Loza struck out seven on the night while allowing four runs (two earned) on nine hits and no free passes.
Game 3: Fresno State 5, UC San Diego 4
Like Friday’s game against Pacific, the Bulldogs fell behind early 1-0. Mallory Vancleave doubled to lead off the third inning. Catcher Rylee Bocchini got on thanks to a throwing error from Tritons backstop Lily Hermosillo, advancing Vancleave to third. Bocchini then proceeded to steal second. An errant throw from Hermosillo allowed Vancleave to score.
Vancleave homered to left in the top of the fifth to give Fresno State a 2-1 lead. UCSD took it right back in the bottom frame though. After loading the bases against Bulldog freshman Alyssa Loza, Triton shortstop Marley Espiau tripled into the right center scoring three.
The Bulldogs fought back though. Jamie Hicks tied the game in the sixth, hitting a two-run homer over the left field wall. Olivia Hill led off the top of the seventh with a double over the head of Espiau. She was pinch run for by Kealani Nitta, who would later score the go ahead run on a single from Bocchini.
Loza fought back after a tough fifth inning to pitch seven strong for the Bulldogs and pick up her second win of the season.
Game 4: Fresno State 3, Pacific 0
Lauryn Carranco was excellent again on Saturday, throwing seven shutout innings (122 pitches) against the Tigers, striking out four while allowing just three hits.
Natalie Elias drove in Ava Tingey in the third inning, the only score until the seventh when the Bulldogs added a pair of insurance runs, including RBI knocks from Mallory Vancleave and Emma Martinez.
What’s next
The Bulldogs road trip continues next week with a Tuesday matchup at Cal State Bakersfield (2-17). First pitch is set for 12:30 p.m. in the afternoon. Fans can watch the game on ESPN+.
From there, the Bulldogs will play in the Silicon Valley Classic next weekend with a doubleheader (3:00/5:30 p.m.) at St. Mary’s on Saturday, March 7. They will then play two at Santa Clara the next day, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Fresno State returns to Margie Wright Diamond on Friday, March 13th for a three game series as they welcome Utah State to town to begin Mountain West Conference play.
Recap written by Al Scott, cover photo courtesy of Fresno State Athletics.