BELMONT, Calif. – After a nine-day hiatus, the San Francisco State softball team returned to action on Tuesday, defeating Notre Dame de Namur, 10-2 and 7-2, in a non-conference doubleheader in Belmont, Calif. With the sweep, the Gators raise their record to 24-19 on the season, while the Argonauts fall to 10-35-1 overall.
In the opener, seven players recorded at least two hits in the Gators' season-high 19-hit attack, led by Arianna Welch (Tracy, California, West) (3-for-3, 2 RBI) and Alyssa Esquibel (San Jose, California, Archbishop Mitty) (3-for-5). Lea Cardenas (Sanger, California, Sanger) also got into the act with three RBI, including her team-leading seventh homer of the season, while Kendra Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook)scored three runs.
Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, California, St. Patrick-St. Vincent) (13-7) pitched her 11th complete game of the year, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and two walks while striking out four. Conversely, Brittany Cowart (1-7) lasted just two innings, surrendering six runs on 12 hits and one walk in the defeat.
SF State took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a Welch sacrifice fly sandwiched between RBI singles from Esquibel and Jessica Delgado (Monterey, California, North Monterey, Cal State Monterey Bay). However, the Argos scored twice in the bottom of the frame, taking advantage of two Gator errors to pull within 3-2.
SF State gave itself some breathing room with three runs in the second to extend the margin to 6-2. Kelsey Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) drove in Danielle Chapman (San Jose, California, Westmont, San Jose City College) with an RBI double, while Kendra Wood crossed the plate on a Cardenas groundout. Welch soon followed with an RBI single to plate Kelsey Wood, putting the visitors in control.
After Cardenas belted a solo homer to lead off the fourth, the Gators stretched their lead to 9-2 with a pair of runs in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Carolyn Knudson (Napa, California, Vintage, Napa Valley Junior College) doubled home Esquibel, while Welch came home on a Kelly McDonald (Gilroy, California, Live Oak) sacrifice fly to center. SF State then closed out the scoring in the seventh as Cardenas' sacrifice fly to right plated Kendra Wood.
In the nightcap, the Gators grabbed an early 1-0 advantage in the first after Cardenas laced a single to drive in Karolyn Gubbine (Richmond, California, Pinole Valley). However, NDNU took its only lead of the day in the bottom of the third when Carli Leary singled in Lauren Esteban and later scored on Robyn Araujo's RBI double.
SF State answered with two unearned runs in the top of the fourth, capitalizing on an Argonaut miscue to go back in front for good at 3-2. Delgado scored from second as Kendra Wood reached on an error by NDNU second baseman Cassie Avila, while Cardenas followed with a single to knock in Wood.
The Gators then broke the game open with three runs in the fifth as Chapman singled home Welch, while Gubbine's key two-out double plated Chapman and Delgado, who previously got aboard on a fielder's choice.
Leading 6-2, SF State tacked on another unearned run in the sixth when pinch-runner Lauren Candia (San Francisco, California, University of San Francisco) scored from second after Elizabeth Best-Still (Rancho Cordova, California, Cordova)reached on an Argo error, giving the contest its final outcome.
Vanessa Truan (San Jose, California, Leland) (4-5) pitched five scoreless innings in relief of starter Carolyn Knudson, giving up two hits and three walks while striking seven to earn the victory. NDNU reliever Michelle McMahon (5-12) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs on three hits and one walk in two innings of work after entering in the third for starter Kristina Sewell.
Chapman went 3-for-4 with an RBI, while Gubbine and Cardenas added two hits and two RBI each to pace the SF State offense.
The Gators jump back into California Collegiate Athletic Association play this weekend when they head north to battle Chico State in a pair of doubleheaders Friday (1 p.m.) and Saturday (noon).
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
