TURLOCK, Calif. – Starting pitcher Ashley Jackson earned a complete-game victory on Saturday as the San Francisco State softball team defeated Sonoma State, 5-2, in the opening game of the Best of the West Tournament at Pedretti Park. The Gators (1-2) could not duplicate their success in the ensuing two contests, however, suffering a tough 4-3 setback at the hands of host Cal State Stanislaus, before dropping a 2-0 decision to Chico State.
“I was very proud of our pitching staff today,” said SF State head coach Cristina Byrne. “They gave up only two walks and that kept us in all three games. We had opportunities to win, but offensively we have to be more selectively aggressive at the plate and come up with the timely hit. We just left too many runners on base.”
Against SSU, Jackson went all seven innings, allowing two runs on eight hits while striking out five batters for her 43rd career win, which ties her for second on the Gators' all-time list.
Trailing 1-0, SF State erupted for three runs in the bottom of the second on RBI singles by Summer Powell, Kylie Herrada and Kendra Wood.
The Seawolves cut the margin to 3-2 in the top of the third on Brittany Martinez's run scoring double to left. However, the Gators answered right back in the bottom half of the frame on Lea Cardenas' solo home run with two outs.
SSU threatened in the top of the sixth with two runners aboard and one out. However, Jackson fanned pinch-hitter Megan Konieczka and induced a groundout to Brittanie Verissimo to get out the jam.
The Gators then gave themselves some additional breathing room in the bottom of the inning when Herrada doubled down the left field line to plate Kelly McDonald, who previously walked and stole second.
Cara Spence also contributed to SF State's attack with a single in the third inning.
Despite 11 strikeouts, the Seawolves starter Samantha Lipperd absorbed the loss after yielding all five runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
In game two, Cal State Stanislaus erased a 3-0 Gator lead by scoring two runs in the bottom of the third and fourth innings to escape with the victory.
SF State jumped out in front 2-0 in the top of the first on an RBI fielder's choice by Alyssa Esquibel and a Cardenas sacrifice fly. The Gators then added a run in the top of the third when Esquibel's single to left plated Kelsey Murkami, who previously doubled.
However, the Warriors struck back in the bottom of the frame with run scoring singles by Lauren Nagle and Vanessa Del Toro. Then in the bottom of the fourth, Stanislaus went ahead to stay as Brieanna Stone knocked in Jordan Flora with a single to center, while Kristan Burns crossed the plate shortly thereafter on a base hit by Sarah Locarnini.
The Gators had a chance to tie in the top of the seventh after Heather Jensen led off with a single and advanced to third following a sacrifice and a wild pitch sandwiched around a pop fly. However, the rally was snuffed out moments later when Warrior starter Burns induced a groundout to end the game.
Burns went the distance, yielding three runs on six hits, while Marisa Ibarra was saddled with the loss after giving up all four Stanislaus runs on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of work.
In the day one finale against Chico State, SF State received another solid performance from Jackson in the circle to go along with two hits apiece from Herrada and Esquibel, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats pushed across single runs in the top of the second and seventh to secure the shutout.
Jackson tossed another complete game, but took the loss after giving up the deciding runs on eight hits, while her counterpart Sam Baker emerged with the win after striking out nine batters while scattering six hits in seven innings of her own.
Chico State dented the scoreboard in the top of the second on Britt Wright's RBI single and added an insurance run in the seventh when Diana Payan doubled home Sam Quadt with two outs.
SF State had the bases loaded with two out in the top of the first, but its best chance to score came up empty as Baker wiggled out of the jam with a groundout.
The Gators will wrap up play at the Best of the West Tournament on Sunday when they square off against Cal State San Marcos at 11 a.m., before locking horns with Dominican University at 1:30 p.m.
Box Score vs. Sonoma State
Box Score vs. Cal State Stanislaus
Box Score vs. Chico State
