SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State baseball team ran into a juggernaut on Saturday, dropping a pair of games to No. 1-ranked Cal State Stanislaus in a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader at Maloney Field. The Gators (5-12, 1-10 CCAA) suffered a 15-2 defeat in the opener before falling 6-1 in the nightcap, as the Warriors (15-3, 7-2 CCAA) combined for five home runs en route to the sweep.
SF State trailed 2-0 early in game one before plating a run in the bottom of the first inning. Bobby Carini (Pleasant Hill, California, De La Salle, Canada College) hit a one-out triple to deep center field and promptly scored on Sean Proni (San Francisco, College of Marin) sacrifice fly, pulling the home team to within 2-1. The Gators then knotted things up in the third after Proni reached on a fielder's choice to bring in Patrick Haugen (Cayucos, California, Cuesta College) from third.
In the top of the fourth however, CSUS took the lead for good when Leandro Dottavio belted a two-run homer, driving in Seth Hudson, who led off the frame with a single to right. The Warriors then broke the game open with five runs in the fifth, highlighted by Zach Cadet's three-run blast over the left field fence with two outs, which gave the visitors a 9-2 cushion. CSUS later closed out the scoring on Kyle Loretelli's solo home run to lead off the ninth.
Andrew Stueve (1-0) allowed one earned run on seven hits and no walks in six innings to earn the victory, while Jeff Henning (Chico, California, Pleasant Valley, Shasta College) (1-2) took the loss, giving up four runs on eight hits in four innings of work.
Haugen went 3-for-3 at the plate, while Keith Garcia (Ventura, Oxnard College) notched two hits to lead the Gator offense.
In the nightcap, the Warriors wasted no time in getting on the board as Cadet went deep on the very first pitch of the game, while Loretelli delivered a solo shot in the third to give CSUS a 2-0 advantage it would not relinquish. Alex Zanini's triple in the fourth drove in two additional Warrior runners, while Dottavio's two-run single in the fifth put CSUS ahead 6-0.
SF State plated its lone run of the contest in the bottom of the frame after Jake Moore (Palisade, Colorado, Palisade, Cerritos College) scored from third on Haugen's one-out single to left.
Dakota Watts posted seven strikeouts in five innings, giving up one unearned run on four hits and one walk to remain unbeaten at 5-0. Meanwhile, Kyle Mastellar (Corning, Shasta Junior College) (0-4) took the loss, fanning six batters in six innings of duty.
The Gators and Warriors conclude their four-game series on Sunday, March 8, with a single game in Turlock, Calif. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
