SAN FRANCISCO – Starting pitcher
Pat Haugen (Cayucos, Calif., Cuesta College) tossed his fourth complete game of the year on Sunday, leading the San Francisco State baseball team to a 5-2 triumph over Cal State East Bay at Maloney Field in the finale of a four-game weekend set.
Haugen (5-1) struck out nine batters on the day, the second-highest total of his career, giving up two runs, while scattering 10 hits and two walks en route to the win.
Drew Andersen (Gilroy, Calif., William Penn Univ.) also came up with a clutch single in the bottom of fifth, which scored
Geoff Downing (Half Moon Bay, Calif., New Mexico State Univ.) with the go-head run as the Gators (11-17, 5-11 California Collegiate Athletic Association) pulled away for the victory to gain a series split. Meanwhile with the defeat, the Pioneers slip to 8-18-1 on the year and 5-15 in the CCAA.
Trailing 2-0, SF State trimmed the deficit in half when
Greg Kline (Las Vegas, Nev., San Joaquin Delta College) led off the bottom of the third with his first home run of the season. The Gators took advantage of a Pioneer throwing error in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2. With two outs,
Nick Bowerman (Oakley, Calif., Mount Mercy College) singled and promptly advanced to third on a hit-and-run play as
Devon King's (San Diego, Calif., CCSF) grounder found daylight through the right side. Moments later, CSUEB starter John Volk tried to pick off King at first, but threw wildly into foul territory, allowing Bowerman to race home with the equalizer.
In the fifth, Downing was hit by a pitch to start the inning and, after a pop out, advanced to second on a balk. Andersen then stepped up to the plate and roped a 2-2 pitch into center field as Downing motored home to put SF State ahead to stay at 3-2.
The Gators added two insurance runs in the bottom of the sixth to account for the final outcome of 5-2. After Bowerman led off with an infield single and King was struck by a pitch,
Sean Proni (Valencia, Calif., College of Marin) hit a sharp grounder through the left side to bring in Bowerman from second, while King moved around to third.
Ben Mielke (Arcata, Calif., Shasta College) then laid down a perfect squeeze bunt as King crossed the plate standing up.
The Pioneers threatened with one out in the eighth when Nick McManus walked and Charlie Sharrer singled to left center. However, SF State got out the jam as Haugen struck out the next two batters, preserving the three-run cushion.
Eight different Gators had a hit in the game, including Bowerman, who went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Conversely, McManus, Sharrer and Alex Anicich had two hits apiece for CSUEB, while Volk (0-7) took the loss on the mound after allowing five runs on nine hits and one walk in 6 1/3 innings before yielding to Rich Kemp in the seventh.
SF State returns to action on Tuesday, March 23, when it travels to Rohnert Park, Calif., for a non-conference road game against Sonoma State. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
Box Score
