SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State baseball team split its first two games in a four-game series against Oregon Tech on Saturday, rallying for a 6-5 triumph in 12 innings in the opener before dropping a 12-6 decision in the nightcap. With the results, the Gators move to 3-4 on the season, while the Owls find themselves at 3-7 overall.

 

Greg Kline (Las Vegas, Nev., Bishop Gorman HS, San Joaquin Delta College) drove in Sean Proni (Valencia, Calif., Valencia HS, College of Marin) with the game-winning two-out single in the bottom of the 12^th to give the SF State the victory in game one. 

 

Oregon Tech jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second and fourth innings on a pair of RBI from Kevin Armendariz. SF State then tied the game with a two-run fourth inning capped by a Kline RBI ground out which scored Kevin Dultz (Altadena, Calif., Pasadena HS, Glendale College). 

 

The Owls struck back with two runs in the fifth inning. Trent Smith walked to open the frame and scored on a double to left by Ryson Mauricio. Moments later, Mauricio scored on Cory Spires' RBI single to center field to give the visitors a 4-2 lead.

 

The Gators pulled within 4-3 in their half of the sixth inning, as Ryan Williams' sacrifice fly brought in Nick Nyman (Susanville, Calif., Lassen HS, Lassen College), who led off with a single, advanced to second on a Proni base hit and then tagged up to third on a fly out to center by Dultz. 

 

SF State got the equalizer in the seventh when Matt Quintero touched the plate on Nick Bowerman's (Oakley, Calif., Freedom HS, Mount Mercy College) single to center, which knotted things up at 5-5. 

 

The game remained tied deadlocked until the top of the 11^th when Trent Smith drove in Armendariz with a single through the left side. Undaunted, SF State came back to tie the game once again in the bottom of the frame on a two-out RBI double to center field by Bowerman, which scored Tyler Overstreet.

 

Patrick Haugen (Cayucos, Calif., Morro Bay, Cuesta College) (1-0) came on to pitch the 12^th and struck out the side. Proni then walked with one out in the Gators' half of the inning and advanced to second on a two-out walk by Williams. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, with Proni scoring the game-winning run on Kline's single to give the Gators their second extra-inning victory in five games.

 

Armendariz went 4-for-5 with two RBI, including two doubles, while five other Owls had two hits apiece. Shea Bedortha (0-2) took the loss in relief for Oregon Tech and was one of five pitchers to see action on the mound for the visitors.

 

Bowerman led the Gators' hitting attack with a 3-for-5 effort, including two doubles to go along with two RBI. Williams had two hits in his first action of the season. 

 

Haugen picked up the win in relief and had three strikeouts. Ryan DeJesus (Westlake Village, Westlake HS) started the game for SF State and Nic Banaugh pitched four innings of relief, giving up five hits and one run while striking out four and walking one.

 

The Gators were not as fortunate in the nightcap, however, as Oregon Tech erupted for six runs in the top of the fourth inning to build an 8-1 advantage it would not relinquish. 

 

SF State spotted the Owls two runs in the second before denting the scoreboard in its half of the third on Dultz's RBI infield single, which plated Ben Mielke (Arcata, Calif., Arcata HS, Shasta College).

 

Oregon Tech promptly broke open the contest in the next frame, scoring six runs on seven hits after sending 10 batters to the plate. Mauricio capped the long inning by lacing a two-run single to center with two outs, chasing Gator starter AJ Comaskey (Fresno, Calif., Central HS, West Hills CC).

 

SF State fought back with a pair of runs in its half of the fourth when Bowerman roped a double off the fence in left center to bring home Proni and Devon King (San Diego, Calif., Sierra HS, CCSF).

 

The Owls stretched their lead back to seven at 10-3 in the top of the fifth when Trent Smith doubled in Kory Locken and Wade Elliott. The Gators tried to rally once again in the bottom of the inning, scoring three times with two outs to pull within 10-6. Williams crushed his first home run of the year, while Proni and King scored on a fielding error by OIT shortstop Zack Earle.

 

SF State could draw no closer as Armendariz added a two-run single in the top of the seventh to complete the scoring.

 

Jody Potter (1-1) pitched five innings, allowing six runs (one earned) on eight hits and two walks to earn the victory, while Comaskey (0-2) absorbed the loss, giving up eight runs on nine hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. 

 

Locken went 3-for-3 at the plate and scored three runs to lead the Owls, matching Armendariz's total of three RBI as well. Conversely, Dultz and King had two hits apiece for the Gators in the loss.

 

SF State and OIT will conclude their weekend series on Sunday with another twin-bill at Maloney Field. First pitch is set for 11 a.m.