Fresno State didn't have to finish Thursday's softball game.

But what a finish the Bulldogs ended up providing.

Rain drenched Bulldog Diamond for a good stretch, and coaches for Fresno State and Iowa State considered canceling after 30 minutes of what was to be the opener of a Bulldogs-hosted tournament. The downpour was so strong, Iowa State thought about waiting it out at the team hotel.

But after a one-hour, 13-minute delay, the game finally resumed.

Fresno State almost immediately gave up five runs, but rallied for a 7-6 victory, scoring two in the bottom of the seventh. Pinch-hitter Kelly Megee delivered the winning single with one out and the bases loaded to kick off the four-day Fresno State Classic.

"It's just a good momentum builder," first-year coach Trisha Ford said. "It's a great feeling for them. I'm happy they can kind of experience this.

"They're fighting. That's what good teams are made out of. Good character. They don't finish until the last out."

The fact that it was Megee who came through was a result of Ford going with her instincts, ignoring statistics while knowing Megee's tendency to hit flyballs. Plus, the 5-foot-11 sophomore had stayed focused during the game and had been placed in similar situations before.

Megee, however, didn't know she was going to hit until Ford signaled for her to go to the on-deck circle to replace Maria Sio. Whitney Smith had just coaxed a bases-loaded walk to tie it.

It was quite the test for someone who was 1 for 25 this season. But Megee paid attention and noticed Iowa State pitcher Taylor Smith was having trouble establishing strikes on the outside corner of the plate. So Megee zeroed in on an inside pitch and knocked a fastball deep into center field for a walk-off single.

"I was ready," Megee said. "I'd been swinging between innings. I wasn't too nervous. I'd been put in those situations before. I was just trying to put the ball in the outfield.

"It was nice. I'd been struggling the past few weekends. So it's nice to come out there and get that win for my team. I think (tonight) showed we had a lot of heart. We have a lot of fighters, and we didn't want to go down losing."

Bulldogs cleanup hitter Michelle Solomon, who started the final rally with a single, went 3 for 4 with two runs and two RBIs.

Fresno State plays Oregon (6 p.m.) and Oregon State (8:15 p.m.) as part of today's six-game slate at the seven-team tournament.