SAN FRANCISCO – SF State's softball team split its last two home games of the 2009 regular season this afternoon winning game one 3-2, but the visiting CSU Dominguez Hills Toros (36-19, 17-11 CCAA) won the night cap 2-1 as the two teams split their four-game series the past two days. The Gators are now 29-22 overall and 11-17 in the CCAA.
Prior to the first pitch of game, the Gators recognized both teams' seniors including their own
Monica Amburgey (Monterey, California, Monterey),
Danielle Chapman (San Jose, California, San Jose City College), and
Lauren Candia (San Francisco, California, University of San Francisco).
In the opener, the CSUDH jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the top of the first inning when Amber Angel doubled home Katie Garcia, who led off the game with a single to left field.
However, SF State scored a pair of runs with two outs in its first turn at bat to take the lead for good at 2-1.
After Danielle Chapman led off with a walk and advanced on a sacrifice and a groundout, Lea Cardenas (Sanger, California, Sanger) followed with an RBI double and promptly scored on Alyssa Esquibel (San Jose, California, Archbishop Mitty) single to right.
The Gators took advantage of another lead-off walk in the bottom of the six as
Jessica Delgado (Monterey, California, North Monterey) drew a base on balls and subsequently crossed the plate on
Kelly McDonald (Gilroy, California, Live Oak) double to left center, giving the host team a crucial insurance run.
The Toros made things interesting in the top of the seventh when Kristin Tanaka hit a one-out double to left, while Regina Farfan reached on a fielder's choice to advance Michelle Miranda, who entered as a pinch runner at second. Shortly thereafter, Katie Jordan laced a single through the left side to plate Miranda, which narrowed the gap to 3-2.
With two runners still aboard, however, SF State starter
Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, California, St. Patrick's-St. Vincent) fanned the next two batters to preserve the win. Jackson (16-9) tossed her 15
th complete game of the season, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five en route to the the victory. Meanwhile, Farfan (25-13) took the loss after giving up two runs on five hits and one walk in 2 1/3 innings.
With her effort, Jackson is now tied for fifth on the Gators' all-time list with 31 career wins, while her 16 victories thus far in 2009 equals the eighth highest single-season total in school history.
In the nightcap, the Toros jumped out to a 1-0 lead when Liz Vasquez led off the inning with a double down the right field line. She later scored on a fielder's choice RBI by Jessica Marlow.
SF State tied the game in its half of the second.
Monica Amburgey began the inning with a single up the middle and advanced to second on a sacrifice by
Arianna Welch. She then scored with two outs when
Danielle Chapman reached first base on an error by the Toros' infield.
The game remained tied at 1-1 until the Toros' half of the fifth. Marlow reached first on a hit by pitch to lead off the fifth. She advanced to third on consecutive ground outs by Katie Jordan and Katie Garcia. She scored on an errant throw to pick off for what proved to be the game-winning run.
The Gators had a chance to tie or win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning. With one out, Chapman reached base on an infield single. Then one out later, she advance to second on a single through the left side by
Kelsey Wood. They advanced one base on a wild pitch.
Lea Cardenas then was hit by a pitch to load the bases with two outs. The starting pitcher, Regina Farfan, came back in to preserve the win as she got the last Gator to ground on to first base en route to her first save of the season.
Wendy Espindola (3-1) picked up the win in relief as she pitched 4.1 innings of two-hit ball while striking out one and walking none. Vasquez finished game two 2 for 3 with a run scored for the Toros.
Vanessa Truan (San Jose, California, Leland) (6-6) recorded the loss while giving up just four hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out two and walking three.
Chapman finished the night cap 2 for 4 while
Alyssa Esquibel was 3 for 4 for the Gators, who will finish off their 2009 regular season with a pair of conference doubleheaders against Sonoma State in Rohnert Park this Friday and Saturday, April 24 and 25.
