SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State baseball team stepped out of conference Tuesday afternoon, posting a 12-7 triumph over Hawai'i-Hilo at Maloney Field. The Gators sent nine batters to the plate in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings, scoring four runs in each frame to pull away for the victory. With the win, SF State moves to 7-20 on the year, while the Vulcans slip to 12-10.
The contest was a pitcher's duel through the first four-and-a-half innings, with UHH maintaining a slim 1-0 edge after Peter Rodgers' RBI single in the top of the first.
The complexion of the game turned in the bottom of the fifth as the Gators dented the scoreboard with four runs, highlighted by Zack Anderson's (Ventura, California, Ventura College) two-run homer to left center.
The Vulcans reclaimed a 5-4 advantage in the top of the sixth, scoring twice on a pair SF State throwing errors sandwiched around Keoni Manago's two-run single.
However, the Gators responded with another four-run outburst in the sixth to take the lead for good at 8-5. Bobby Carini (Pleasant Hill, California, De La Salle, Canada College) led off with a double and later scored when Keith Garcia (Ventura, Oxnard College) bunted and advanced to third on a UHH error and Nick Nyman's (Susanville, California, Lassen, Lassen College) sacrifice, respectively. After Sean Proni (Valencia, CA, College of Marin)was hit by a pitch, Vulcan reliever Jeff Jones uncorked a wild pitch to bring in Garcia, while Jeff McCall (Santa Rosa, California, Pinor, Santa Rosa Junior College)promptly drew an intentional walk. Moments later, Anderson hit a towering double to left center, driving in Proni and McCall.
Carini was once again was the catalyst for the Gators in the seventh, scoring on Garcia's single through the left side after smacking his fifth double of the year to lead off the inning. Garcia, who stole second and advanced on an error, subsequently came home on a Proni sacrifice fly. Shortly thereafter, SF State loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a Ryan Williams (Woodland, Yuba College) single. Then Matt Memeo (Cottonwood, California, West Valley, Shasta College) delivered a two-run single through the right side, giving the home team a 12-5 bulge.
UHH scored single runs in the eighth and the ninth; however, the deficit proved too much overcome. Reliever Kyle Pfeiffer (Palo Cedro, Shasta College) came in with two runners aboard in the ninth and retired the final two batters as the Gators snapped a four-game skid.
Carini went 3-for-5 and scored three times, while Garcia crossed the plate on three occasions as well. In addition, Anderson, Nyman and Williams finished with two hits apiece.
Reliever Eric Keithley (Santa Rosa , Santa Rosa JC) (2-1) picked up the victory, giving up one run on two hits and one walk in two innings of work, while Jones (0-2) was tagged with the loss after surrendering the tying and go-ahead runs in the sixth. Doug Stinson (Walnut Creek, California, Las Lomas HS, Sacramento State)made his first career start for SF State, allowing four runs (one earned) on six hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings of work.
The Gators hit the road this weekend when they square off against No. 7 UC San Diego in a four-game series, March 27-29, in La Jolla, Calif.
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