SAN FRANCISCO – Timely pitching and clutch hitting were once again on display for the San Francisco State baseball team as it captured both ends of a home doubleheader Saturday, defeating Fresno Pacific 2-1 in game one, before earning a 3-2 victory in the nightcap.
The two wins enabled the Gators (3-0) to complete the weekend sweep of the No. 15 Sunbirds, who saw their record fall to 1-3 on the young season.
“Our pitching was phenomenal this weekend,” said SF State head coach Mike Cummins. “A lot of guys contributed throughout the series and we played great defense. I was also very pleased with our depth.”
In the opener, starter Branden Petrangelo (1-0) impressed in his Gator debut, yielding just one run while scattering eight hits in nine innings of work for the complete game victory.
FPU got its only run in the top of the first inning when Michael Rivera laced an RBI grounder up the middle to plate Trent Soares.
SF State countered with a pair of markers in the bottom of the fourth to take the lead for good at 2-1. After Michael Sanchez led off with a single to left center and Ian Fregosi walked, Jason Ochart put down a sacrifice bunt in front of home plate to move both runners into scoring position. Following a strikeout, the Gators did not waste the opportunity as Drew Andersen's single to left brought home Sanchez and Fregosi to give the host school all the runs it would need.
The Sunbirds made things interesting in the top of the ninth after putting two runners aboard on a pair of singles. However, Petrangelo got out of the jam by getting pinch-hitter Steven Lozier to foul out behind first base, while Soares lifted a fly ball into the waiting glove of Ben Mielke in center to end the game.
Kyle Lovero, who pitched the fateful fourth, took the loss for FPU after allowing four hits in 4.2 innings after relieving starter Jesse Darrah.
Game two featured another nail-biter as SF State scored the eventual game winner in the bottom of the fourth when Matt Quintero's sacrifice fly to right drove in Chris Schindler. Schindler previously led off with a single and advanced to second on an error. Moments later, another Sunbird miscue enabled Trevor Pasiecznik to get aboard, while Tyler Tulowitzki reached on a bunt single, setting the stage for Quintero's clutch RBI.
Reliever Jeff Clegg (1-0), who entered the game in the top half of the fourth, earned the victory after giving up a hit and a walk in 1 1/3 innings, while Kevin Dultz, who also finished with two hits, picked up the save by limiting FPU to just one hit over the final two frames.
The Gators took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third when Dultz doubled home Dustin Wold, who walked and advanced to second on Michael Cala's infield single. Earlier in the frame, Nic Gauldin roped a one-out triple down the right field line and promptly scored on a Will Klein sacrifice fly.
The Sunbirds threatened in the top of the fourth after three straight walks, but managed just one run on a David Hawes sacrifice fly, before Clegg retired the final two batters.
“I believe we have a chance to be pretty good this year, Cummins added.”
SF State returns to the diamond next weekend, Feb. 11-13, when it squares off against Menlo College in a three-game series. Friday's and Sunday's games will be contested on the road in Atherton, Calif., while Saturday's game will be played at Maloney Field.
Box Score Game One
Box Score Game Two
