SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State softball team came up empty in its home opening doubleheader of the 2009 season on Friday, falling to Cal State Monterey Bay 10-0 in a six-inning affair in game one, before suffering a 5-3 setback in the nightcap. With the defeats, the Gators slip to 4-7 on the season and 1-5 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Otters raise their record to 4-8-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play.
In the opener, SF State loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, but was unable to capitalize as CSUMB starter Jessica Boyle got out of the jam with a fly out. The Gators then fell behind 1-0 after giving up an unearned run into top half of the second.
SF State moved two runners into scoring position with one out in the fourth after
Alyssa Esquibel's (San Jose, California, Archbishop Mitty) sacrifice bunt advanced
Lea Cardenas (Sanger, California, Sanger) and pinch-runner
Lauren Candia (San Francisco, California, University of San Francisco). However, the Otters managed to snuff out the Gator threat once again as reliever Shelly Rowell picked up a strikeout and induced a groundout to end the inning.
The roof subsequently caved in for SF State in the top of the fifth as CSUMB exploded for six runs to take a commanding 7-0 lead. The Otters tallied six hits in the frame, including a trio of two-run singles by Shae Olds, Caydi Dommeyer and Rachelle Morales. CSUMB then added three additional runs in the sixth to put the game out of reach.
Rowell (3-2) picked up the victory, giving up just one hit in three innings of relief, while
Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, California, St. Patrick's-St. Vincent) (2-2) gave up seven unearned runs on 10 hits in 4 2/3 innings while striking out four in the loss.
In game two, the Gators drew first blood in the bottom of the second after
Jessica Delgado (Monterey, California, North Monterey, Cal State Monterey Bay) hit a one-out double to left center, driving in
Kendra Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) from second base. The Otters knotted things up in the third, but SF State plated a pair of runs in their half of the fifth to go back in front 3-1. The big hit was supplied by
Kelsey Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook), who sliced a one-out single up the middle to bring in
Karolyn Gubbine (Richmond, California, Pinole Valley) and
Monica Amburgey (Monterey, California, Monterey).
The lead proved to be short-lived, however, as CSUMB erupted with four runs in the sixth to reclaim the lead for good at 5-3. Jenni Montez drove in two with a triple to right center and later scored on a wild pitch. Then Olds followed shortly thereafter with a solo home run over the left field fence to complete the scoring. SF State was stymied in its final two at-bats as Boyle (1-3) earned the win after striking out four batters in 2 2/3 innings of work. Meanwhile, starter
Vanessa Truan (San Jose, California, Leland) (1-1) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on six hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings. Gubbine and Delgado finished with two hits apiece to pace the Gator offense.
