SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State softball team had a flair for the dramatic on Sunday, posting two walk-off wins over Hawai'i-Hilo in a non-conference doubleheader at SFSU Softball Field. The Gators took the opener, 1-0, on Karolyn Gubbine's (Richmond, California, Pinole Valley) solo home run in the eighth inning before prevailing in the nightcap, 5-4, courtesy of Kelsey Wood's (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) three-run blast in the bottom of the seventh, which erased a 4-2 deficit.
With the sweep SF State improves to 16-17 on the season, while the Vulcans drop to 17-14 overall.
Game one featured a classic pitching duel between the UHH's Amber Waracka and the Gators' Vanessa Truan (San Jose, California, Leland). Neither side threatened until the top of the fourth, when UHH loaded the bases with two outs on a single and two walks. However, Truan got out the jam after Sarah Weisskopf hit into a fielder's choice.
SF State also had a chance to break the 0-0 deadlock in the bottom of the frame after consecutive singles by Kelsey Wood and Lea Cardenas (Sanger, California, Sanger). However, Waracka was able to avoid further damage by inducing a pair of flyouts and a fielder's choice to end the inning.
The contest remained scoreless into extra innings when Gubbine drilled Waracka's 0-1 offering over the fence in left center with one out in the eighth, giving the Gators a thrilling victory.
Truan (3-3) notched her first shutout and second complete game of the season, allowing just two hits and five walks while striking out five. Conversely, Waracka (9-7) took the loss, giving up six hits, including the game-winning blast while fanning six.
In the nightcap, UHH dented the scoreboard in the top of the first when Christina Pedroza doubled home Tessa Truong, who earlier singled and advanced to second on a sacrifice. SF State got the equalizer in the bottom of the third when Arianna Welch (Tracy, California, West) led off with a single and later scored on Gubbine's one-out triple, which knotted the score at 1-1.
However, the Vulcans reclaimed the lead at 4-1 in top of the fifth, highlighted by Nicole Alconcel's two-run double down the left field line. SF State responded with a run in the bottom of the inning when Kelly McDonald (Gilroy, California, Live Oak) led off with a double to deep center and promptly scored on Welch's RBI single up the middle, narrowing the gap to 4-2.
Then in the decisive seventh, pinch-hitter Carolyn Knudson (Napa, California, Vintage, Napa Valley Junior College) drew a one-out walk, while Gubbine delivered a single up the middle. After an infield pop-up, Kelsey Wood stepped up to the plate and smacked a 1-0 pitch over the left field fence to complete the comeback.
Ashley Jackson (8-7) earned the victory, tossing three scoreless innings after relieving Kendra Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) in the fifth. Meanwhile, Waracka, who came in relief of Pedroza in the sixth, was tagged with her second loss of the day after surrendering Wood's shot in the seventh.
Kelsey Wood went 3-for-4 at the plate with three RBI, marking her eighth mulitple-RBI game of the year. Welch and Gubbine also finished with two hits apiece. With her effort, Gubbine now has 10 multiple-hit games this season. Meanwhile Danielle Chapman (San Jose, California, Westmont, San Jose City College), who recorded an infield hit in game one, saw her 12-game hitting streak come to an end in the nightcap after going 0-for-3.
The Gators return to action on Tuesday, March 31, with a single game against Western Washington at SFSU Softball Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
