ROHNERT PARK--- Sonoma State used four home runs including two two-run homers in the fourth inning and held off a late-inning rally by their visitors to key their 8-7 victory over the visiting SF State Gators. With the win, the Seawolves and the Gators split their four-game California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) weekend series that was extended two days due to the rain in the area with each team winning on their home field.
The Seawolves jumped out to an early 2-0 lead on a two-out two-run home run to left field by Cameron Cook. SF State cut the Seawolves' lead in half as the Gators scored a run without getting a hit.
Matt Quintero (San Gabriel, California, University of San Francisco) walked and then
Ben Mielke (Arcata, California, Shasta College) was hit by a pitch while
Drew Andersen (Gilroy, California, William Penn University)sacrificed them over a base. Quintero then scored on a wild pitch in the top of the third.
SF State tied the game at 2-2 in its half of the fourth as the visitors scored a run without getting a hit. With two outs,
Brian Bianchi (Los Altos, California, College of San Mateo) and Quintero walked and Mielke was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Bianchi then scored the tying run when Andersen also was hit by a pitch.
Sonoma State (18-22, 11-17 CCAA) retook the lead on a two-run home run down the left field line by Randy Wells after Ryan Stevens opened the Seawolf fourth with a lead-off double. Then two outs later and a runner in Ian Cook, who reached on a hits batsman, Joey Parigi hit the first pitch he saw over the left field fence to increase their lead to 6-2. They added an insurance run on a home run in the fifth by Stevens to make it 7-2.
The Gators came back with a four run seventh to cut the hosts lead to 7-6. Andersen led off the inning with a walk and then
Kevin Dultz (Altadena, California, Glendale Community College)and
Nick Nyman (Susanville, California, Lassen College)singled to load the bases. With one out,
Greg Kline (Las Vegas, Nevada, San Joaquin Delta College) singled home Andersen.
Sean Proni (Valencia, California, College of Marin)came in and pinch hit for
Nick Bowerman (Oakley, California, Mount Mercy College) and hit a single home Dultz while Nyman, who finished 2-for-5, scored on an error by the Seawolves. Bianchi then drove home Kline to make it 7-6 Sonoma State.
Keith Garcia (Ventura, California, Oxnard College) then pinch hit for Quintero and was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Brian Bordagaray pitched out of the inning getting the next Gator strike out and the final out on a fly out.
Back to back two –out doubles by Joey Parigi, who finished the day going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and scoring twice, and Brian Wright gave Sonoma State a 8-6 lead going into the top of the ninth inning.
SF State rallied again in its half of the ninth inning, Kline opened the inning with a lead off single. He advanced to second on a wild pitch with one out. Then with two outs, Garcia's single advanced Kline to third. Kline scored when Mielke reached on an error to make it 8-7 Sonoma State. Thomas Lee got the final Gator to ground out to preserve the 8-7 victory for the Seawolves. Tyler Hess (2-2) picked up the win in the start for Sonoma State, pitching five innings, giving up just one hit and two runs while striking out seven and walking three. Lee pitched the final
Besides Nyman getting two hits, Kline was 2-for-5 scoring twice and had a RBI while Bianchi also had two hits. Dultz fell to 3-2 as he started the game for the Gators, giving up four hits and four runs while striking out five and walking two.
The Gators (19-23, 12-16 CCAA) will return to the diamond this weekend for a four-game conference series in San Bernardino against the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes. The series will begin this Friday, April 16 for a single game at 2pm.
Box Score
