SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The San Francisco State baseball team returned to action for the first time in nearly two weeks on Friday, but came up on the short end of a 12-7 decision to Cal State San Bernardino in the first game of a weekend series at Fiscalini Field in San Bernardino, Calif. With the loss the Gators dip to 14-30 overall and 7-26 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Coyotes move to 20-23 overall and 14-18 in conference play.

 

SF State jumped out to a quick 3-0 advantage with two outs in the top of the first inning as Matt Memeo (Cottonwood, California, West Valley, Shasta College) belted his third home run of the season, driving in Patrick Haugen (Cayucos, California, Cuesta College) and Ryan Williams (Woodland, Yuba College). However, CSUSB responded with a pair of scores in the bottom of the frame on a Brent Planck sacrifice fly and Jesus Beltran's RBI single, which narrowed the gap to 3-2. The Coyotes then got the equalizer in the bottom of the second after Chris Olsen crossed the plate on a double-play grounder.

 

The Gators went back in front, 4-3, in the top of the fourth thanks to Sean Proni 's (Valencia, CA, College of Marin)RBI single to right, which drove in Keith Garcia (Ventura, Oxnard College). The lead proved to be short-lived, however, as the host team knotted things up once again in the bottom of the inning as Jordan Lowe's single plated Olsen.

 

CSUSB went ahead to stay in the fifth after Beltran smacked the first of his two home runs on the day, a two-run shot to left, which gave the Coyotes a 6-4 lead. After the Gators added a run on Williams' sacrifice fly in the sixth, CSUSB tallied three runs in both the seventh and eighth innings to seize control of the game. The big blast was once again provided by Beltran, who drilled another two-shot in the eighth, while Andrew Tapia followed with an RBI single to give the Coyotes a comfortable 12-5 cushion.

 

SF State tried to rally in the top of the ninth as Nick Nyman's (Susanville, California, Lassen, Lassen College) two-run double with two outs plated Jake Moore (Palisade, Colorado, Palisade, Cerritos College) and Kyle Amick (Manteca, California, Sierra), cutting the deficit to 12-7. However, the comeback effort fell short as CSUSB reliever Chad Borowski induced a pop fly to end the game.

 

Daniel Stenavich (5-1) picked up the victory, allowing five runs on nine hits and two walks in seven innings, while Spencer Kreisberg (Tigard, Oregon, Tigard, Los Medanos College) (1-5) took the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits and one walk in 4 2/3 innings of work.

 

Haugen (two steals), Nyman, Williams and Greg Kline (Las Vegas, Nevada, San Joaquin Delta College) each had two hits for the Gators, while Beltran went 3-for-5 with 2 homers and 5 RBI to pace the Coyotes.

 

The two teams resume their four-game-set with a doubleheader on Saturday, May 2, followed by a single game on Sunday, May 3. First pitch for both dates is set for noon.

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