PHOENIX – The San Francisco State softball team was unable to withstand a late rally by No. 11 Grand Canyon on Monday, dropping a tough 5-4 decision in the finale of a three-game series at Stapleton-Pierson Field in Phoenix, Ariz.

 

The Antelopes (25-4) erased a 4-2 deficit with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to eke out their 11^th straight victory and complete the three-game sweep, while the Gators slip to 11-12 overall.

 

GCU wasted no time with its comeback as Nikki Lorenzi led off the frame with a base hit to left field, while Kara Holtorf followed with a bunt single. Moments later, Tracy Lubken stepped up to the plate and laced a double to left, knocking in Lorenzi and Holtorf to tie the score at 4-4. The Antelopes soon loaded the bases on an intentional walk to Teddy Barry and another bunt single by Kelli Bridges. Michelle Rasmussen then recorded the game-winner with an infield hit to first base, plating Lubken from third.

 

Ivy Campas (13-2) tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Amy Searcy to pick up win, scattering four hits and three walks. Meanwhile, Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, Calif., St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS) (6-4) took the loss, allowing seven hits and two walks over the final three-plus innings after replacing starter Carolyn Knudson (Napa, Calif., Napa Valley College) in the fourth.

 

The Gators grabbed the early momentum by putting two runners aboard in the top of the second as Kelly McDonald (Gilroy, Calif., Live Oak HS) reached on an error, while Rachael Kroneder (Pleasanton, Calif.,  Chabot JC) was struck by a pitch. After a Kylie Herrada (Gilroy, Calif., Gilroy HS) sacrifice bunt advanced both runners, McDonald scored on wild pitch by Searcy, while Kroneder crossed the plate on Heather Jensen's (Sacramento, Calif., Del Campo HS) infield single, giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage.

 

SF State stretched the margin to 4-0 in the third when Alyssa Esquibel (San Jose, Calif., Archbishop Mitty HS) smacked a 1-0 pitch over the fence in left field for her second home run of the season, driving in Lea Cardenas (Sanger, Calif., Sanger HS), who previously singled.  

 

GCU finally broke through with a pair of runs in the bottom of the stanza as a Lubken sacrifice fly scored Holtorf, while Bridges followed with RBI double to plate Barry, narrowing the gap to 4-2.

  

The Gators were poised to extend their lead in the top of the seventh, loading the bases on consecutive two-out walks to McDonald and Kroneder, followed by a Herrada single. However, Campas got out of the jam by inducing a pop-out, setting the stage for the Antelopes' fateful rally.

 

Herrada, Cardenas and Karolyn Gubbine (Richmond, Calif., Pinole Valley HS) had two hits apiece for SF State, while the Antelopes had four players with two hits each, including Lorenzi, Holtorf, Barry, Bridges and Rasmussen.

 

The Gators return home to face Western Washington on Wednesday, March 24, in a non-conference doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.

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