Robin Mackin pitched a five-hitter and senior catcher Nichole Willis hit her eighth homer, as Fresno State ripped San Jose State 5-0 on opening day of the Western Athletic Conference softball tournament at Bulldog Diamond.
The second-seeded Bulldogs (43-16), who have won seven straight, will play either No. 3 New Mexico State or No. 4 Nevada at 1:30 p.m. today. The Aggies and Wolf Pack were playing Wednesday's late game in the double-elimination format.
Fresno State had swept fifth-seed San Jose State 3-0 in last weekend's series.
Mackin, who beat the Spartans twice last week, struck out six on Wednesday. She got the side out in order in four of the last five innings, including the seventh when shortstop Haley Perkins fielded a ground ball, stepped on second and relayed to first for a game-ending double play.
Willis gave Mackin all the support she would need with a lead-off homer that sparked a three-run second inning. Haley Perkins capped the rally with a two-run single. Mackin's grounder scored the fourth run in the third and Willis drew a bases-loaded walk for the final run in the fourth.
Kristin Sylvester also had two of Fresno State's 11 hits.