LA JOLLA, Calif. – San Francisco State kicked off its 2011 California Collegiate Athletic Association schedule on a sour note Friday, dropping a doubleheader to host UC San Diego by scores of 8-0 and 7-3 at Triton Softball Field.
With the sweep, UCSD moves to 7-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play, while the Gators dip to 2-5 and 0-2 in the CCAA.
In game one, the Tritons managed just four hits, but capitalized on five SF State errors to key their five-inning shutout as starter Camille Gaito (4-0) scattered five hits and issued two walks en route to the complete game victory. Ashley Jackson, meanwhile, was saddled with the hard-luck loss after giving up just two earned runs in four innings of work.
UCSD grabbed a quick 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first and never looked back. With the bases loaded, Caitlin Brown reached on a fielder's choice grounder, which plated Kris Lesovsky, while Taylor Sepulveda and Lyndsay Gaylord soon crossed the plate on a Gator throwing error.
The Tritons quickly extended the margin to 5-0 on a pair of runs in the bottom of the second. After Lesovsky doubled and stole third, Sepulveda reached on an error and took second. Moments later, both UCSD runners touched home when Charly Swanberg got aboard on another SF State miscue.
The Tritons closed out the scoring with three markers in their half of the third on just one hit and two additional Gator errors. Katrin Gabriel's RBI groundout plated Sarah Woofter, who earlier walked, stole second and advanced to third when De Fazio got aboard on one of those gaffes. Shortly thereafter, Lesovsky drove in De Fazio with a sacrifice fly in foul territory near first base, while Esther Strom, who previously singled and moved around to third on Gabriel's grounder and Lesovsky's foul out, came home on SF State's fifth miscue of the contest.
The Gators had a chance to cut the deficit in the fourth on singles by Kendra Wood and Summer Powell, but came up empty as Gaito induced a line out and a grounder to end the threat.
The two sides were held scoreless through three-and-a-half innings in the nightcap when UCSD erupted for three runs in the bottom of the fourth. Woofter doubled down the left field line to knock in Mya Romero, while De Fazio provided a key blast with another two-bagger to bring home Woofter and Gabriel.
SF State's offense awoke in the fifth as Heather Jensen singled in Kelsey Murkami, while Alyssa Esquibel smacked a base hit to plate Jensen and Kylie Herrada.
With the score knotted at 3-3, UCSD pushed across four runs with two outs to take control of the game. After the Tritons loaded the bases, Gabriel, De Fazio and Lesovsky all touched the plate on pinch-hitter Nicole Spangler's grounder that was mishandled by the Gator defense. Romero then delivered an RBI single to bring in Spangler, who took second on the previous play.
Jackson (1-3) once again absorbed the loss, yielding four runs on four hits in 2 2/3 innings after spelling reliever Wood in the fourth. Starter Marisa Ibarra went three innings, allowing one run on two hits with no walks, while her counterpart, Tess Granath (3-1) earned the victory after giving up all three SF State runs on five hits, two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings.
In addition to Esquibel's two RBI, Jensen finished with two hits, while Cara Spence added another in the defeat.
The two teams close out their weekend slate on Saturday with another twin-bill in La Jolla, beginning at 11 a.m.
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
