SAN FRANCISCO--- SF State junior infielder Drew Andersen (Gilroy, California, William Penn University) hit a two-out single to center field in the bottom of the ninth inning to drive inKeith Garcia (Ventura, California, Oxnard College) with the game-winning run in the Gators' 9-8 victory over the visiting Cal State Monterey Bay Otters. The win gives SF State the weekend series with the Otters three games to one. 

 

Nick Nyman (Susanville, California, Lassen College) gave the Gators a 1-0 lead when he scored the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning. Nyman reached base on a one-out single to center field. He then stole his team leading 15^th base of the season with two outs and scored on a single to left field by Ryan Williams (Woodland, California, Yuba College). 

 

The Otters tied the game in the top of the fourth inning without getting a hit. Brent Sargenti led off the inning reaching on an error and then stole second and advanced to third on another error by the Gators. He then scored on a ground out by Ronnie Fhurong.

 

Cal State Monterey Bay (8-37, 4-32 CCAA) took a 3-1 lead with a two-run sixth inning capped by a Jacob Flores' RBI double. SF State's Tyler Overstreet (Fresno, California, Santa Barbara City College)two-run two-out double to left field capped a three-run sixth for the Gators as they retook the lead, 4-3.

 

The visitors would not go away as they tied the game at 4-4 when Sargenti opened the top of the seventh with a lead-off single and later scored on an error by SF State. 

 

SF State (22-28, 15-21 CCAA) scored four runs in its half of the seventh to take an 8-4 lead. Andersen opened the inning with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a passed ball. He then scored on a RBI single up the middle by Nyman. Kevin Dultz (Altadena, California, Glendale Community College)then singled to advance Nyman to third and then Nyman scored when Williams reached on an error. With the bases loaded and two outs, Garcia then hit a 2-1 pitch to center field for a two-run single that scored Dultz and Williams.

 

The Otters still would not go away as they tied the game in the top of the ninth with Flores' two-run two-out double to left field driving in the tying run in Fhurong. 

 

That set up the heroics for Andersen in the Gator half of the ninth. Garcia singled to right field with one out and then stole second. He advanced to third on Overstreet's fielder's choice. Then with the count, 1-0, Andersen drove in Garcia with the game-winning hit to give the Gators the 9-8 conference victory.

 

Kyle Pfeiffer (Palo Cedro, California, Shasta College) (2-0) picked up the win in relief of Nic Banaugh (Novato, California, College of Marin)for the Gators, pitching two innings, giving up four hits and four runs while striking out two and walking one. Banaugh pitched 7 innings of 6 hit ball, giving up four runs (one earned) while striking out 6 and walking one. 

 

Patrick Fletcher (0-2) recorded the loss for the Otters, pitching 1.2 innings of relief, giving up three hits and one run, striking out one and walking two. Scott Tully started the game for Cal State Monterey Bay, getting the no decision, pitching 6 innings, giving up 8 hits and four runs (one earned) while striking out three. 

 

Three Otters had two hits apiece in Sargenti, Flores, and Jason Okamoto with Flores driving in three runs and Sargenti scoring three times.

 

The Gators had 15 hits led by Garcia and Williams each with three hits while Nyman, Dultz, and Andersen each had two hits.

 

SF State will return to the diamond this Tuesday, April 27 at 2:30pm for a non-conference game against Fresno Pacific at Maloney Field.   

Box Score