CARSON, Calif. – San Francisco State kicked off its four-game series at Cal State Dominguez Hills on a sour note Friday as the Toros came away with a pair of run-rule victories, 10-2 and 8-0, in a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader at Toro Diamond.
The Gators were limited to five hits and committed seven errors in the twin-bill, falling to 20-31 on the season and 13-21 in league play, while CSUDH raises its record to 29-19 and 21-13 in the CCAA.
The Toros finished with a combined 24 hits on the day, including five apiece by Katie Garcia and Caitlin McGrath, while Emiley McEwen posted five RBI.
SF State jumped out to a 1-0 advantage in the first inning of game one, when Kendra Wood (San Jose, Calif., Lynbrook HS) doubled home Karolyn Gubbine (Richmond, Calif., Pinole Valley HS), who drew a lead-off walk and moved over to second on Kylie Herrada's (Gilroy, Calif., Gilroy HS) sacrifice bunt.
The Toros responded with a run in the bottom of the frame, however, as Garcia and McGrath hit back-to-back doubles, before taking the lead for good in the second on Garcia's infield single, which plated Michelle Miranda.
CSUDH broke the game open with six markers in the fourth, highlighted by McEwen's three-run homer and a two-run single by Krista Gould.
Trailing 8-1, the Gators tacked on a run in the top of the fifth when Kelly McDonald (Gilroy, Calif., Live Oak HS) crossed the plate on Wood's sacrifice fly to right. However, McEwen ended the contest in the bottom of the stanza with her own sacrifice fly as Garcia touched the plate, while an error scored McGrath on the play as well, giving the host school the eight-run margin at 10-2.
Stephanie Jimenez (16-9) earned the victory in relief, allowing one run on two hits and three walks in four innings after replacing starter Lauren Harper in the top of the second. Meanwhile Ashley Jackson (Vallejo, Calif., St. Patrick-St. Vincent HS) (11-12) took loss after giving up two runs (one earned) on seven hits in 2 2/3 innings before yielding to Vanessa Truan (San Jose, Calif., Leland HS).
In the nightcap, the Toros grabbed a 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second and never looked back. Katie Jordan reached on a fielder's choice to plate Miranda, who previously walked and advanced to third on a double by Gould. Shortly thereafter, Gould came home on Garcia's RBI single, Jordan scored on a McGrath double, while Amber Angel knocked in Garcia with a base hit to center.
After stretching the margin to 6-0 with a pair of runs in the third, CSUDH once again ended the game early with two additional scores in the fifth as McGrath and Jacke Reyes drilled RBI singles to provide for the final outcome.
Harper (9-6) limited SF State to just two base runners in the contest – a walk to Deana Querubin (San Jose, Calif., Milpitas HS) in the fourth and a Lea Cardenas (Sanger, Calif., Sanger HS) single in fifth – en route to the victory, while Marisa Ibarra (Hollister, Calif., San Benito HS) (6-10) absorbed the defeat, giving up 12 hits and five walks in 4 2/3 innings.
The Gators wrap their 2010 regular-season slate on Saturday with another doubleheader against the Toros, beginning at 11 a.m.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
