SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State baseball team extended its season-opening winning streak to three games on Saturday with a doubleheader sweep of Oregon Tech at Maloney Field. The Gator offense flexed its muscles in game one against the Hustlin' Owls (0-2), posting a 12-8 victory before rallying for a 4-3 triumph in the seven-inning nightcap.

 

“Our guys showed a lot of heart coming back in that second game,” said San Francisco State head coach Tony Dress. “We really followed fundamentals in the first game, getting the ball down and advancing runners. In the second game (Eric) Keithley sure threw really well, so we're excited right now.”

 

SF State was led in the opener by junior Sean Proni (San Francisco, College of Marin), who went for 4-for-5 with 5 RBI and two runs scored, while seniors Matt Memeo (Cottonwood, California, West Valley, Shasta College), Jeff McCall (Santa Rosa, California, Pinor, Santa Rosa Junior College) and junior Ryan Williams (Woodland, Yuba College) drove in a pair of runs each.

 

With the score tied at 1-1, the Gators erupted for five runs on four hits in the bottom of the third to take a 6-1 advantage they would not relinquish.  After Oregon Tech scored in the top half of the fourth, SF State plated three additional runs in its half of the frame to build a comfortable 8-2 cushion, highlighted by McCall's RBI double to center.

 

The Gators scored their final two runs of the contest in the seventh after Proni's single up the middle brought home juniors Patrick Haugen (Cayucos, California, Cuesta College) and Nick Nyman (Susanville, California, Lassen, Lassen College), respectively, which put the home team up by a 12-4 count.

 

The Owls pulled to within 12-8 in the top of the ninth, but reliever Oscar Campos (Santa Monica, California, Santa Monica, LA City College) struck out Trent Smith with the bases loaded to end the threat.

 

Freshman Ryan DeJesus (Westlake Village, Westlake) (1-0) pitched four innings in relief of starter Spencer Kreisberg, giving up just one run while striking out five batters.

 

In the nightcap, Oregon Tech jumped out to an early 3-0 advantage when the Gators finally dented the scoreboard after junior Keith Garcia crossed the plate on junior Bobby Carini's groundout.

 

In the SF State fifth, Proni doubled to drive in Garcia, who led off the frame with a bunt single and advanced to second on a balk. Proni then went to third on a wild pitch and promptly scored on Williams' single to right, knotting the score at  3-3.

 

The Gators then took the lead at 4-3 in their half of the sixth on Garcia's sacrifice fly, which scored pinch-runner Kyle Amick from third.

 

Garcia, Proni, Williams and Memeo each finished the second game with two hits apiece.

 

Senior pitcher Eric Keithley (Santa Rosa , Santa Rosa JC) (1-0) made his first start of the season a memorable one, giving up just one earned run in six innings of work while fanning eight Owl hitters. Fellow classmate Danny Graybill (Santa Barbara, California, San Marcos, Santa Barbara City College) relieved Keithley in the top of the seventh, posting two strikeouts to pick up the save.

 

SF State completes its weekend home series against Oregon Tech on Sunday, Feb. 8, with another doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m.

Game 1 Box Score

Game 2 Box Score