Fresno State's softball team showed some muscle tonight in a 9-1 five-inning mercy-rule victory against Toledo at Bulldog Diamond that marked the season opener.

And it was a senior-dominated performance that got the Bulldogs off to a good start. Mackenzie Oakes started in the circle and picked up the win. Courtney Moore hit a grand slam in the third after Toledo scored an unearned run in the top of the inning. Then the Bulldogs ended it with five runs in the fifth -- Michelle Moses ripping a lead-off homer and Kaitlin Griffin finishing Toledo off with a three-run shot.

That Griffin went deep is pretty astounding. She had one at-bat last season and had only five hits in 30 trips to the plate coming into this season. Moses hit her 40th career homer and Moore, a transfer from Mississippi State after her freshman year, recorded her 11th.

It was a nice win, but don't get too giddy Bulldogs fans. Mighty Toledo was 8-43 last season. The homestand will get a little tougher against Long Beach State and Pacific. I'd include Fullerton State, but the Titans lost to Texas 23-0 today. The schedule will get a lot tougher with the Bulldogs take on Arizona, Ohio State and UCLA at the Cathedral City Classic, then Cal at home and then DePaul, Arizona State and Louisiana-Lafayette at the Judi Garman Classic.

The Bulldogs host North Dakota State at 7 tonight in the second of 10 straight games at Bulldog Diamond to open the season. Check out the schedule.