SAN BERNARDINO, Calif--- SF State's softball team split its California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) doubleheader with the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes this afternoon at Coyote Softball Park in San Bernardino winning game one 10-1 in five innings, but losing the night cap 4-3. The Gators are now 11-9 overall and 9-7 in the CCAA while Cal State San Bernardino is 10-15 overall and 9-7 in the CCAA.
Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, California, St. Patrick's-St. Vincent) picked up the win in game one improving to 6-2. The junior pitcher pitched five innings, giving up three hits and one run while striking out five. The Gators scored all the runs that Jackson needed with a six-run second inning.
Lea Cardenas (Sanger, California, Sanger)and Jessica Delgado (Monterey, California, North Monterey) opened up the inning with back to back singles. Cardenas scored the game's first run when Rachael Kroneder (Pleasanton, California, Amador Valley)reached on an error. Kylie Herrada (Gilroy, California, Gilroy) singled home Delgado and then Heather Jensen (Sacramento, California, Del Campo) loaded the bases with another single. Karolyn Gubbine (Pinole Valley) drove home the next Gator run on a single and Kendra Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) finished out the scoring for SF State on a two-out three-run home run to center field to give the Gators a 6-0 lead.
SF State added another run in the third inning on Delgado's lead-off home run. Heather Justin drove in the Coyotes' only run with a home run in their half of the third inning. The Gators added three more runs in the fourth on Gubbine's solo home run and Cardenas' two-run two-out home run to make it 10-1 Gators.
Jackson shut down the Coyotes in the final two innings to give SF State the 10-1 victory. Erica Prentice picked up the loss for Cal State San Bernardino, pitching two innings, giving up 8 hits and 7 runs (two earned while walking one).
Gubbine finished game one 3-for-4 with two runs batted in while Cardenas, Delgado, and Jensen all had two hits apiece.
Cal State San Bernardino took a 2-0 lead in its half of the first inning. Britney Butler led off the inning with a double and then Jaquelyn Holtzclaw walked. With one out, Felicia Cervates singled home Holtzclaw with a one-out single and then Ashley Collinwood singled home Courtney Wilhelms (who reached on a fielder's choice) to give the Coyotes a 2-0 lead.
Summer Powell (Rocklin, California, Rocklin )opened up the Gator third with a walk and scored on a two-out single by Kelsey Wood (San Jose, California, Lynbrook) to cut the Coyote lead in half. Delgado's fourth home run of the season tied the game in the fourth for SF State, 2-2. SF State took the lead in its half of the fifth, when Alyssa Esquibel (San Jose, California, Archbishop Mitty) two-out single drove home Kendra Wood with the go-ahead run for the Gators.
The game remained 3-2 Gators until the Coyotes' sixth inning. Butler walked and then stole second and scored the tying run when Wilhelms reached on an error with two-outs. She later scored on a double by Curriel to give Cal State San Bernardino the 4-3 lead.
Prentice (4-3) then retired the Gators in order in their half of the seventh to preserve the 4-3 win for Cal State San Bernardino. She pitched 2.1 innings of scoreless relief for the Coyotes. Vanessa Truan (San Jose, California, Leland) (2-2) recorded the loss for the Gators, giving up two hits and two unearned runs in 2.2 innings of relief.
Kelsey Wood and Esquibel each went 2-for-3 for the Gators, who will continue their season long 11-game road trip this Tuesday, March 16 at 10am for a CCAA doubleheader with Humboldt State University at McKinleyville High School in McKinleyville, California.
Box Score Game one
Box Score Game two
