Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

HAYWARD, Calif. – Kelsey Murakami hit a key two-run single in the top of the third inning as San Francisco State held on for a 4-3 victory over host Cal State East Bay in the second game of a California Collegiate Athletic Association softball doubleheader Saturday at Pioneer Field.  The win enabled the Gators to salvage a split after dropping a 6-3 decision in the opener.
                                  
SF State (3-6, 1-3 CCAA) erased an early 1-0 deficit in the nightcap, scoring all of its runs in the third to help provide starter Jordan Stanaland (1-2) her first victory of the season, while Marisa Ibarra pitched the final 2 2/3 innings, getting out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to register her first collegiate save.
 
Stanaland survived six walks, giving up three runs (two earned) on just two hits for the win, before yielding to Ibarra with one out in the fifth.  Conversely, East Bay starter Talia Ferrari (2-1) went the distance, but was saddled with the loss after allowing all four runs on eight hits and two walks.
 
Trailing 1-0 in the third, Heather Jensen began the Purple and Gold's rally with a lead-off single, advancing to third on a sacrifice by Brittany Barcellos and a stolen base, before racing home when Ashley Huff got aboard on an infield error.  Moments later, the Gators loaded the bases when Cara Spence was hit by a pitch, while Courtney Gravel singled to left on the first pitch she saw.  Murakami then roped a base hit to center, plating Huff and Spence, while Gravel took third.  Shortly thereafter, Murakami stole second as Gravel scored on the throw.
 
The Pioneers (7-3, 3-1 CCAA) eventually trimmed the deficit to 4-3 as Heidi McAllister and Taylor Newhouse recorded sacrifice flies in the fourth and fifth, respectively.  SF State put a runner aboard in the sixth and seventh, but could not capitalize, setting the stage for a tense finish.
 
East Bay loaded the bases in its last turn to the plate as Mishka Hamor led off with a single, while Taylor Neumann was hit by a pitch following a pop-out. Ibarra then struck out Devin Salmones, while Sara Holdridge drew a walk.  However, the Pioneers were left stranded when Emily Montanez popped out to Ibarra on a 2-1 count, as the Gators snapped a three-game slide.

Spence and Gravel finished with two hits to lead SF State, while Jamie Yaller scored two runs for the Pioneers in the defeat.
 
In game one, East Bay tallied four runs on just one hit in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of four walks, two illegal pitches and a hit batter, while Montanez added an RBI single.
 
The Pioneers upped their advantage to 5-0 in the third when Holdridge smacked a 1-1 pitch over the fence in left center for her third round-tripper of the series.
 
The Gators fought back with three runs in the top of the sixth as Huff led off with her first collegiate homer, while Spence drew a bases-loaded walk, followed by Gravel's run-scoring single.  With the bases still loaded, however, Pioneer reliever Lauren Zweigle induced a pop-up and a fly-out to get out of the jam.
 
East Bay got a run back in the bottom of the frame when McAllister blasted a solo shot to put the hosts in front 6-3.
 
SF State threatened once again in the top of the seventh after a one-out single by Lucy Fernandez and a walk to Jenna Robertson.  However, Zweigle fought herself off the ropes with a strikeout and a pop-up to nail down her first save of the year. 
 
Pioneer starter Kelly Lowe weathered five walks to earn the victory, giving up all three runs on five hits to raise her record to 3-0 overall.  On the flip side, Gator starter Torrey Rook (0-1) took the loss after facing five batters in the first without recording an out.  Ibarra pitched the remainder of the contest, giving up two runs on six hits, while tying a career-high with eight strikeouts.
 
SF State will head back out on the road next weekend, Feb. 17-18, when it opens a four-game CCAA series at Cal State San Bernardino.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score