SEASIDE, Calif. – Bobby Carini's (Pleasant Hill, California, De La Salle, Canada College) two-run homer highlighted a three-run ninth inning as the San Francisco State baseball team rallied to defeat Cal State Monterey Bay, 12-10, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association game Friday afternoon at Otter Field in Seaside, Calif. The Gators scored nine runs over the final four innings to erase a 10-3 deficit, improving to 12-28 overall and 5-24 in the CCAA. Meanwhile with the loss, CSUMB drops to 9-33 on the year and 4-21 in league play.
SF State pounded out 17 hits on the afternoon, led by Sean Proni (Valencia, CA, College of Marin) (3-for-6) and Zack Anderson (Ventura, California, Ventura College) (3-for-5, 2 RBI), while Patrick Haugen (Cayucos, California, Cuesta College), Ryan Williams (Woodland, Yuba College), Greg Kline (Las Vegas, Nevada, San Joaquin Delta College) and Keith Garcia (Ventura, Oxnard College) added two hits apiece. Carini was also among four Gators with two runs scored, joining Haugen, Proni and Kline.
The SF State bullpen came up big as well, limiting the Otters to just one unearned run over the final 5 2/3 innings. Doug Stinson (Walnut Creek, California, Las Lomas HS, Sacramento State) (1-0) picked up his first victory as a Gator, giving up just two hits in three innings, while Danny Graybill (Santa Barbara, California, San Marcos, Santa Barbara City College) earned his second save of the season after pitching a scoreless ninth. CSUMB reliever Brian Callan (2-6) took the loss, allowing three runs on five hits in two innings of work.
The Gators grabbed an early 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning when Otter starter Patrick McClain uncorked a wild pitch to bring home Haugen, who was previously hit by a pitch and advanced to third on Proni's single to right. However, the Otters scored seven times in the bottom of the second to take a 7-1 lead, highlighted by Jacob Flores' solo home run to lead off the frame, followed by Matt DeJesus' three-run blast over the center field fence.
SF State responded with a run in the top of the third after Williams laced a single to knock in Proni, who reached on an Otter error and took second on the throw. CSUMB then added a pair of scores in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI double by Andrew Marquardt and Shea Davis' sacrifice fly, giving the home team a 9-2 cushion.
The two sides traded runs in the fifth before the Gators began their comeback. In the sixth, Anderson's single down the left field line drove in Kline, who earlier reached on an error and advanced to second on a groundout. Then in the seventh, SF State plated five runs to pull within 10-9. Kline knocked in Proni with an infield single, while Williams came home on a balk by Otter reliever Brock Meastas. Consecutive singles by Nick Nyman (Susanville, California, Lassen College) and Anderson would bring in Kline, while Garcia followed with a sacrifice fly to drive in Nyman. Moments later, Anderson raced home on a wild pitch by CSUMB's Andrew Suarez-Lopez.
SF State's comeback bid appeared dim in the ninth after a strikeout and a groundout. However, Garcia kept the visitors' hopes alive with a single to right. Then, Carini stepped to the plate and deposited a 1-0 pitch from Callan over the left center field fence. Haugen followed with a single and stolen base and promptly scored on Proni's double to right to complete the dramatic rally.
The Gators and Otters resume their weekend series on Saturday, April 18, shifting venues to Maloney Field on the SF State campus for a doubleheader beginning at noon. The two teams then return to Seaside for a single game on Sunday with another noon start.
Prior to Saturday's twin bill, the Gators will recognize their nine seniors—Oscar Campos (Santa Monica, California, Santa Monica, LA City College), Bobby Carini, Danny Graybill, Jeff Henning (Chico, California, Pleasant Valley, Shasta College), Eric Keithley (Santa Rosa , Santa Rosa JC), Aaron Laux (Clayton, California, Clayton Valley, Diablo Valley College), Jeff McCall (Santa Rosa, California, Piner, Santa Rosa Junior College), Matt Memeo (Cottonwood, California, West Valley, Shasta College) and Jake Moore (Palisade, Colorado, Palisade, Cerritos College)—as part of Senior Day Festivities.
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