Phoenix, Ariz.--- SF State's softball team swept this afternoon's non-conference doubleheader from the Grand Canyon Antelopes (22-16) 8-3 and 8-7 to win this weekend's four-game series from Grand Canyon 3-1 and to improve their overall record to 13-14.
Grand Canyon took an early 1-0 lead on a RBI double by Tracy Lubken. SF State came right back with a three-run second inning capped by a two-run two-out single by
Danielle Chapman (San Jose, California, San Jose City College). The Gators added one more run in the third and three more in the fourth keyed by
Kendra Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook)two-run double.
The Antelopes added two runs of their own in their half of the fourth inning to cut into the Gator lead 7-3, but SF State added an insurance run in the fifth on another RBI single by
Chapman, who finished the game 3 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored.
Lea Cardenas (Sanger, California, Sanger)was 2 for 4 for the Gators.
Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, California, St. Patrick's-St. Vincent)(7-5) picked up the win, pitching her sixth complete game while striking out three, walking three, and giving up six hits and three runs.
Lubekn finished 2 for 4 for Grand Canyon and Sammi Tiefenthaler (9-8) recorded the loss for the Antelopes.
SF State took a 4-0 lead in the top of the first inning in the night cap with
Alyssa Esquibel (San Jose, California, Archbishop Mitty) two-out two-run single to center field capping the four-run inning for the Gators. Grand Canyon cut the Gator lead in half with a two-run second inning, but SF State came right back with a four-run third inning.
Cardenas hit a solo home run with one-out in the third to start the Gator scoring.
Danielle Chapman finished the Gator scoring in the third with a two-run single with two-outs to give SF State a 8-2 lead.
Grand Canyon made it interesting as the hosts scored three times in the sixth and two more in the seventh and left the tying run on second as
Kendra Wood got the final two Antelopes out on strikeouts to record first save of the season.
Carolyn Knudson (3-2) picked up the win for the Gators, pitching five innings, giving up five hits and five runs while striking out three and walking three.
Wood pitched the final two innings, giving up three hits and two runs while striking out four and walking one.
SF State will return to league play, when the Gators begin a four-game series with the No. 5 Humboldt State Lumberjacks beginning with this Friday, March 27 at 1pm for a doubleheader at SF State.
