SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – Danielle Chapman's (San Jose, California, Westmont, San Jose City College) grand slam keyed an eight-run second inning as the San Francisco State softball team defeated Cal State San Bernardino, 8-4, in the second game of a doubleheader on Saturday at Coyote Softball Park in San Bernardino, Calif. After dropping the opener, 4-0, the Gators earned a split with a victory in the nightcap, raising their record to 10-13 on the season and 5-11 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association. Meanwhile, CSUSB moves to 12-18 overall and 7-9 in league play.
SF State starter Vanessa Truan (San Jose, California, Leland) (2-2) allowed four runs (one earned) on 10 hits and three walks while striking out five en route to her first complete game of the season, while Courtney Wilhelms (0-3) took the loss, giving up six runs on five hits and two walks in just 1 1/3 innings of work.
After the Coyotes took a 1-0 lead on Maggie Karros' RBI single in the bottom of the first, the Gators scored all of their runs in the top of the second as the visitors sent 10 batters to the plate. Lea Cardenas (Sanger, California, Sanger) led off with a single and advanced to second on Monica Amburgey's (Monterey, California, Monterey) sacrifice bunt. Jessica Delgado (Monterey, California, North Monterey, Cal State Monterey Bay) followed with an infield hit, while Alyssa Esquibel (San Jose, California, Archbishop Mitty) notched her third double of the season to drive in Cardenas, knotting the score at 1-1. Kelly McDonald (Gilroy, California, Live Oak) then drew a walk to load the bases, setting the stage for Chapman's big blast.
Karros replaced Wilhelms in the circle after Karolyn Gubbine (Richmond, California, Pinole Valley) singled, but the outburst continued as Kelsey Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) smacked her team-leading ninth double of the year to drive in Gubbine, who had earlier stole second. Cardenas then drilled a two-run homer over the left field fence to give the Gators an 8-1 cushion they would not relinquish.
Cardenas went 3-for-4 at the plate, while Esquibel finished with two hits to pace the SF State offense.
In game one, Coyote starter Debbie Shisler (8-5) tossed her second complete game in as many days, blanking the Gators on four hits while striking out seven and walking none. Meanwhile, Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, California, St. Patrick's-St. Vincent) (5-5) took the loss, giving up four runs (three earned) on 10 hits and two walks. Kendra Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) had two hits for SF State, while Chapman and Kelsey Wood each singled.
CSUSB took the lead for good at 1-0 on Ashley Collinwood's two-out homer to right in the bottom of the first. After plating single runs in the third and fourth, the Coyotes closed out the scoring in the bottom of the fifth on Tori Beaudette's RBI single, which brought home Jacquelyn Holtzclaw.
The Gators step out of conference next weekend when they square off against Grand Canyon in a pair of doubleheaders, March 20-21, in Phoenix, Ariz.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
