SAN FRANCISCO – Jessica Delgado (Monterey, Calif., Cal State Monterey Bay) hit a two-run bloop double in the bottom of the sixth inning to key San Francisco State's thrilling 3-2 victory over visiting Cal State Stanislaus in the second game of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader on Friday at SFSU Softball Field.
Earlier, the Gators prevailed by a 4-3 count in the opener as
Summer Powell (Rocklin, Calif., Rocklin HS) and
Karolyn Gubbine (Richmond, Calif. Pinole Valley HS) each hit solo home runs, while
Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, Calif., St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS) (3-0) provided another strong pitching performance with seven strikeouts en route to her third complete game of the season and 42nd of her career.
With the sweep, SF State stretched its winning streak to seven games, improving to 7-3 overall and 5-1 in league play, while the Warriors slip to 1-8-1 on the year and 0-6 in the CCAA.
CSUS drew first blood in the third inning of game two when C.C. Carlos lifted a sacrifice fly to deep left field, plating Brittany Balanesi, who led off with a single and subsequently advanced on a bunt and wild pitch.
The Gators knotted things up at 1-1 in the bottom of the frame when Gubbine drove in
Heather Jensen (Sacramento, Calif., Del Campo HS) from third with an infield single that fell in just out of the reach of Warrior second baseman Nikky Rissetto.
SF State went ahead to stay in the bottom of the sixth as
Kendra Wood (San Jose, Calif., Lynbrook HS) and
Lea Cardenas (Sanger, Calif., Sanger HS) scored on Delgado's aforementioned double that found daylight just in front of center fielder Balanesi's sliding attempt. Wood, who entered as a pinch-hitter, got the rally started with a one-out single up the middle, while Cardenas followed with a walk. Both runners promptly advanced on a groundout, setting the stage for Delgado's clutch hit.
The Gators had to endure to some tense moments in the top of the seventh after CSUS's Kylie Mendez roped a two-out double down the left field line, sending Jennifer Arnold, who drew a lead-off walk, around to third. Arnold scored moments later on a Balanesi single; however, Mendez was gunned down at the plate when SF State left fielder
Kelly McDonald (Gilroy, Calif., Live Oak HS) threw a perfect strike to the waiting mitt of Gubbine, preserving the victory.
Marisa Ibarra (Hollister, Calif., San Benito HS ) (3-1) won her third straight, picking up the win after giving up one run on three hits and one walk in three innings of relief duty. Starter
Carolyn Knudson (Napa, Calif., Napa Valley College) also pitched well, surrendering one run on just two hits and one walk in four innings of work.
Meanwhile, Arnold (1-4) went the distance, but was tagged with the loss after allowing three runs on six hits and two walks in six innings.
SF State jumped to a 2-0 advantage in the second inning of game one as Powell belted her first collegiate homer, driving in Delgado, who led off with a walk.
The Warriors dented the scoreboard in their half of the fourth when Arnold hit a solo shot to left, trimming the Gator lead to 2-1.
SF State scored what would prove to be two crucial insurance runs on Gubbine's home run in the fifth and Jensen's RBI single in the sixth.
CSUS tacked on two scores in the seventh to make things interesting, as a sacrifice fly by Missy Corral and an Ashton Brown RBI single brought the visitors to within 4-3. However, the Warrior rally came to a screeching halt after Mendez ground into a 4-3 double play to end the game.
Jackson went the distance, scattering four hits and two walks, while Brittani Weatherford (0-4) absorbed the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits and four walks in 5 2/3 innings.
