HAYWARD, Calif. – Despite a season-high six RBI from leftfielder Nick Bowerman (Oakley, Calif., Mount Mercy College), the San Francisco State baseball team had a late rally come up short against Cal State East Bay, falling 12-11 in game one of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader on Saturday at Pioneer Field in Hayward, Calif. The nightcap was also unkind to the Gators, as the Pioneers broke a 2-2 tie with two runs in the fifth inning en route to a 4-2 victory.
With the sweep, SF State slips to 10-17 on the season and 4-11 in conference play, while CSUEB improves to 8-17-1 overall and 5-14 in the CCAA.
The Gators jumped out to a quick 3-0 advantage in the top of the first inning as Bowerman hit a two-out double to left field to bring in Ryan Williams (Woodland, Calif., Yuba College) and Sean Proni (Valencia, Calif., College of Marin), who both drew a base on balls. Moments later, Drew Andersen (Gilroy, Calif., William Penn Univ. drove in Bowerman with a single to right.
The lead proved to be short-lived, however, as the Pioneers struck back with four runs in the bottom of the frame, highlighted by Nick McManus' two-run double. Shortly thereafter, James McShane and Aaron Brown delivered RBI singles to put the host school up, 4-3.
SF State knotted things up at 4-4 in the top of the second when Ben Mielke (Arcata, Calif., Shasta College) hit a sacrifice fly to score Matt Quintero (San Gabriel, Calif., Univ. of San Francisco), who previous doubled and advanced to third on an error.
CSUEB pushed across four more runs their half of the inning to forge an 8-4 cushion. With two runners aboard, Charlie Scharrer doubled in Alex Anicich, while McShane followed with a three-run homer.
The Pioneers added single runs in the third and fifth innings before the Gators rallied with four markers of their own in the top of the sixth. Kevin Dultz (Altadena, Calif., Glendale CC) was hit by a pitch to lead off the frame, while Williams followed with a single. Bowerman then stepped to the plate and smacked his fourth home run of the season. SF State also tacked on an unearned run later in the inning when Andersen, who walked an advanced to second on a balk, scored on an error to pull the visitors to within 10-8.
CSUEB increased the margin to 12-8 in the bottom of the seventh when Jake Walter drove in Brown and McShane with a single to left.
The Gators would not go quietly as they loaded the bases in the top of the ninth after Mielke was hit by a pitch, while Williams and Dultz each walked. Bowerman was then hit by a pitch himself to bring home Mielke. Andersen then knocked in pinch-runner Kyle Amick (Manteca, Calif., Sierra HS) and Dultz with a single, which narrowed the gap to 12-11. However, SF State could not get the equalizer as Pioneer reliever Devin Grigg got a strikeout to end the game.
Despite giving up nine runs, CSUEB starter Paul Jinkins (2-1) earned the victory, striking out eight batters in eight innings, while AJ Comaskey (Fresno, Calif., West Hills CC) (0-3) took the loss after yielding eight runs in 5 2/3 innings in relief of Ryan DeJesus (Westlake Village, Calif., Westlake HS).
Bowerman, Andersen and Quintero had two hit apiece to lead SF State, while McShane and Walter each went 3-for-4 to pace the Pioneers.
The Gators also drew first blood in game two as Andersen's single in the top of the first plated Nick Nyman (Susanville, Calif., Lassen College) who reached on an error and advanced to second.
CSUEB went out in front, 2-1, in the bottom of the second on Stephen Gatehouse's two-run single before SF State tied the game in the third on Mielke's RBI groundout.
The Pioneers took the lead for good, 4-2, in the bottom of the fifth when Sharrer hit a bases-loaded to single to score Anicich and Gatehouse.
The Gators managed just one hit in the final two innings as CSUEB starter Aaron Hannigan (3-1) went the distance to pick up the win, giving up two runs (one earned) on four hits to go along with six strikeouts in seven innings.
Meanwhile, SF State starter Dultz (2-1) was tagged with loss after allowing four runs on three hits and five walks in 4 2/3 innings before giving way to Nic Banaugh (Novato, Calif., College of Marin)
The two teams conclude their four-game series on Sunday, March 21, with a single game at SF State's Maloney Field. First pitch is slated for noon. The Gators will then battle Sonoma State on Tuesday, March 23, in a non-conference road game beginning at 2 p.m.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
