SAN FRANCISCO – Riding the arm of pitcher
Patrick Haugen (Cayucos, Calif., Cuesta College) and the hot bat of infielder
Ryan Williams (Woodland, Calif., Yuba College), the San Francisco State baseball team defeated visiting Cal State L.A., 5-1, in the second game of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader on Friday at Maloney Field. Earlier in game one, the Gators suffered a 5-4 setback against the Golden Eagles after a ninth-inning rally fell short.
With the victory in the nightcap, SF State put the brakes on a four-game losing streak, improving to 7-9 on the season and 2-4 in league play, while CSULA moves to 6-10 overall and 4-6 in the CCAA.
The Gators grabbed a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the first in game two, as Williams doubled in
Brian Bianchi (Los Altos, Calif., College of San Mateo), who previously walked and advanced to second on
Kevin Dultz's (Altadena, Calif,, Glendale CC) infield single. Moments later, Dultz crossed the plate on
Sean Proni's (Valencia, Calif., College of Marin) single to left field, giving the host school a lead it would not relinquish.
Then in the third, Williams belted a 2-0 pitch over the left field fence for his team-leading fifth home run of the year, putting SF State up 3-0.
The Eagles dented the scoreboard in the top of fifth when Cliff Quick drove in Joe Park with a double off the fence in right center. However, the Gators responded with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the frame to put the game effectively out of reach.
Dultz hit a one-out double to right and promptly took third when a ball four pitch to Williams bounced away from catcher Mario Ramirez. Dultz soon crossed the plate after a pickoff throw by CSULA pitcher Matt Strom sailed into fouled territory as Williams motored around to third. After a pitching change, Proni knocked in Williams with an RBI single up the middle to conclude the scoring.
Haugen went the distance, fanning eight batters, while scattering six hits to pick up his third victory of the year without a loss. Conversely, Strom (0-1) absorbed the loss, giving up five runs (three earned) on seven hits and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.
Along with Dultz and Proni, Williams finished with two hits to raise his average to a team-best .500 and extend his hitting streak to six games.
SF State also got on the board first in the opener when Dultz smacked his third homer of the season over the right field fence off Eagle starter Wally Goodline.
After getting set down in order for three consecutive innings by the Gator starter Spencer
Spencer Kreisberg (Tigard, Ore., Los Medanos College), CSULA broke through in the top of the fourth on Sam Wiley's RBI single up the middle, which knotted the score at 1-1.
SF State went back in front 2-1 in the bottom of the stanza when Proni scored on an Eagle throwing error. Earlier, Proni drew a lead-off walk, stole second and advanced to third on a fielder's choice.
However, CSULA plated two runs in the top of the sixth to reclaim the lead at 3-2. After Quick scored on Wiley's RBI groundout, Chris Matzner strolled home from third when Matt Miradli reached on a fielder's choice. The Eagles then stretched the margin to 5-2, scoring single runs in the eighth and ninth innings, before the Gators mounted a comeback.
Pinch-hitters Bianchi and
Keith Garcia (Ventura, Calif., Oxnard College) got aboard with a single and a walk, respectively, while
Nick Nyman (Susanville, Calif., Lassen College) followed with a base hit to right center. Shortly thereafter,
Drew Andersen (Gilroy, Calif., William Penn Univ.) and Williams each drew a base-loaded walk sandwiched around a flyout to bring in Bianchi and Garcia, respectively. SF State's comeback bid was soon derailed, however, as Quick entered in relief, inducing another flyout to record the save.
Kreisberg (0-4) put together a solid outing, giving up four runs (three earned) on five hits and two walks in 7 2/3 innings, but was saddled with the hard-luck loss. Goodline earned the victory, yielding just one earned run on six hits and two walks, while striking out six in seven innings of work.
Nyman went 3-for-5 at the plate to lead the Gators' nine-hit attack, while Wiley and Miraldi had two RBI apiece for the visitors.
