Kylie Herrada hit a combined 7-for-9 with four runs scored on the day; Alyssa Esquibel went 4-for-8 with three RBI to lead the offense, while Ashley Jackson picked up both wins in the pitching circle to help SF State raise its overall record to 13-24. Conversely, the Argonauts slip to 16-19 on the season.

 

Trailing 6-2 entering the final frame of the opener, the Gators sent 10 batters to the plate as Lea Cardenas and Jenna Robertson fueled the rally with two RBIs each, while Summer Powell and Rachael Kroneder knocked in one run apiece.

 

Jackson pitched 1 2/3 innings in relief of starter Marisa Ibarra to pick up the victory, giving up one run on two hits with no walks, while her NDNU counterpart Sammy McConvey (7-8) went the distance in the loss, allowing all eight runs on 11 hits and one walk.

 

With score tied at 2-2, the Argonauts smacked three homers in their half of the sixth, including two-run blast by Robin Araujo, to open a seemingly comfortable four-run advantage.

 

However, the Gators unleashed a hitting bonanza in their final turn at bat as Heather Jensen, Herrada, Esquibel and Cardenas opened the seventh with consecutive singles. Cardenas' hit plated Jensen and Herrada, while Esquibel touched home on Powell's sacrifice fly two batters later. Shortly thereafter, Kroneder singled in Lauren Maslak, who pinch ran for Cardenas, to tie the score, while Robertson followed with her first collegiate triple to bring in Kendra Wood, who previously reached on a fielder's choice, and Kroneder to suddenly put the visitors ahead to stay at 8-6.

 

Despite allowing a two-out single in the bottom of the inning, Jackson ended NDNU's last remaining threat with a strikeout to cement the comeback win.

 

Cardenas (three RBI) and Herrada (three runs) each went 3-for-4 in the game, while Esquibel finished with two hits of her own. With her RBI total, Cardenas now has 103 for her career, which moves her into a tie for third place in that statistic. Conversely, NDNU received a two-run shot by Emily Castro in the third, while Mary Ortega and Danielle Gray added solo homers in the sixth to go along with Araujo's big hit.

 

SF State kept the momentum rolling in game two, banging out a season-high 14 hits, including Powell's first two homers of the season, while Jensen and Kroneder added solo shots.

 

The Gators displayed their power in their very first at-bat as Jensen connected for her first homer of the year, while Esquibel's two-run single in the third plated Robertson and Herrada to give the visitors a 3-0 bulge.

 

After Powell went deep in the fourth to bring in Kendra Wood, who previously singled, SF State continued its barrage with five runs in the fifth to build an insurmountable 10-0 advantage. A walk to Cardenas was followed by Powell's second two-run homer of the contest, while Robertson and Esquibel each belted RBI doubles, sandwiched around a Herrada run-scoring single.

 

The Argos tallied four unearned markers in the bottom of the fifth to avoid a run-rule defeat, capitalizing on a Gator error as Araujo singled home Mary Ortega, while McConvey followed with a three-run homer shortly thereafter.

 

However, the deficit proved too much to overcome as Kroneder launched a solo shot over the fence in the top of the seventh to account for the 11-4 final.

 

Jackson (8-12) tossed her 14^th complete game of the season, scattering seven hits and three walks for her 50^th career victory, which ranks second in school history. On the other hand, NDNU starter Kristina Sewell (2-4) was tagged with the loss after giving up five runs on seven hits and one walk in four innings, before yielding to Ortega in the fifth.

 

Herrada finished the game with four hits, while Powell's four RBI were a career high.

 

SF State jumps back into conference play at home on Friday when it tackles California Collegiate Athletic Association foe Cal State San Bernardino in a doubleheader to kick off a four-game series. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score