SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco State wrapped up its four-game series against Cal State Stanislaus in impressive fashion Saturday, posting a pair of 2-0 shutouts in a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader Saturday at SFSU Softball Field. 

 

Gator reliever Kendra Wood (San Jose, Calif., Lynbrook HS) recorded two saves on the afternoon, combining with Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, Calif., St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS) on a three-hitter in game one, before preserving the win in the nightcap for Marisa Ibarra (Hollister, Calif., San Benito HS).

 

With the sweep, SF State (9-3, 7-1 CCAA) stretched its winning streak to nine games after starting the season at 0-3, while the Warriors (1-10-1, 0-8 CCAA) dropped their ninth in a row.

 

In the opener, the SF State scored all the runs it needed in the bottom of the first inning, aided by two CSUS miscues. Kylie Herrada (Gilroy, Calif., Gilroy HS) reached after her fly ball was dropped by Warrior left fielder Sloan Hanna and promptly came around to score when Karolyn Gubbine (Richmond, Calif., Pinole Valley HS) bunted safely and advanced to second on a wild throw by third baseman Erica McIntyre. Moments later, Gubbine crossed the plate on Wood's RBI double to right, putting the Gators in front, 2-0.

 

Despite striking out nine and yielding two unearned runs on just four hits and one walk, Brittani Weatherford (0-5) took the loss for CSUS, as the visitors stranded a combined six runners in the first four innings.

 

Jackson, meanwhile, improved to 4-0 after tossing six innings of three-hit ball, while striking out eight and walking two. Wood then entered in the seventh and retired the side in order to earn the save. She also went 2-for-3 at the plate with two doubles and an RBI. 

 

Runs were also at a premium in the nightcap until the bottom of the fourth when the Gators dented the scoreboard to take another 2-0 lead it would not relinquish.

 

Wood led off with a double to the fence in center field and soon advanced to third on Lea Cardenas' sacrifice bunt.   Alyssa Esquibel (San Jose, Calif., Archbishop Mitty HS) plated Wood shortly thereafter with an RBI single and was subsequently pulled for pinch-runner Danielle Mestas (Los Angeles, Calif., Venice HS). After a groundout, Cara Spence (Colfax, Calif., Colfax HS) hit a roller to short that took a bad hop at the last second before being fielded as Mestas rounded third to put the home team up, 2-0.

 

The Warriors were once again unable to take advantage of their own scoring opportunities, stranding nine runners for the game, including three in the top of the sixth. With the bases loaded and one out in the inning, Summer Powell alertly threw home on Veronica Luna's hot grounder, forcing Jennifer Arnold at the plate. SF State then got of the jam after Wood, who came on in the fifth, induced another groundout.

 

Ibarra (4-1) racked up her fourth straight victory, fanning eight batters, while scattering six hits and one walk in four innings of work, before giving way to Wood, who gave up two hits and two walks in three innings en route to her third save of the year.

 

The Gators return to the diamond next weekend when they head north for a four-game series against CCAA foe Humboldt State, Feb. 26-27, in Arcata, Calif.