Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

SAN FRANCISCO – Jordan Brenner went 3-for-3 with two runs scored, including the game-winner as the San Francisco State softball team rallied for a 4-3 victory Saturday over 10th-ranked UC San Diego in the first game of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader.  However, the Tritons erupted for seven runs in the third inning of the nightcap and hung on for an 11-6 triumph to take the series three games to one.  
 
In the opener, the Gators (5-12, 3-9 CCAA) erased a 3-0 deficit, scoring two runs in each of the final two frames to provide starting pitcher Marisa Ibarra the win. Ibarra gave up three unearned runs on just two hits, while striking out five to even her record at 3-3 on the year.
 
SF State began its rally in the bottom of the sixth when Brenner got aboard on an infield single, while Heather Jensen reached on a dropped throw at first base during a sacrifice attempt.  Both runners advanced on Kylie Herrada's successful sacrifice and promptly scored on Ashley Huff's two-run single through the right side.  The Gators had a chance to add more after pinch-hitter Torrey Rook laced a base hit up the middle and Kelsey Murakami reached on a fielding error to load the bases.  However, Huff was subsequently thrown out at home on Courtney Gravel's fielder's choice grounder, while Triton ace Camille Gaito received a strikeout to get out the inning.
 
Still, SF State managed to flash its resiliency in the seventh as Jenna Wermes and Brenner roped consecutive singles to lead off the frame.  Shortly thereafter, Sarah Catania, who entered as a pinch-runner for Wermes, moved over to third on Jensen's sacrifice and promptly raced home on Lucy Fernandez's slow infield grounder, beating the throw to tie the contest at 3-3.  On a nearly identical play moments later, Brenner scored the game winner on another infield grounder, this time off the bat of Huff, as the Gator freshman slid under the tag at the plate, sending the SF State bench into a jubilant celebration.
 
Gaito (7-3), who allowed just three hits until the final two innings, absorbed the loss despite striking out four hitters and giving up no walks.
 
UCSD tallied all three of its runs in the third as Charly Swanberg supplied the big hit with a two-out double to knock in Kirsten Willmon and Mya Romero.
 
In game two, the Gators took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning when Jensen touched home on Huff's RBI single.
 
However, the Tritons (12-6, 8-4 CCAA) sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the third, scoring seven runs on seven hits, while taking advantage of an error to break the contest wide open.  Nicole Spangler knocked in two runners with a single to right center, while Romero doubled home a pair to highlight the outburst.
 
After SF State tallied a run in the bottom of the frame, UCSD scored four times over the next three innings, featuring RBI singles by Kris Lesovsky and Swanberg in the sixth to grab an 11-2 advantage.
 
The Gators tallied four markers in the bottom of the sixth to cut the deficit to 11-6, as Gravel, Cara Spence, Kylie Grabowski and Maggi Horn reached on four consecutive hits to lead off the inning.  Jenna Robertson then drew a bases-loaded walk, while Wermes was hit by a pitch to bring home another.  Huff subsequently reached on a fielder's choice, but was erased at second shortly thereafter on another infield grounder, while Triton pitcher Jennifer Manuel induced a pop-fly to get out of the jam.
 
Manuel (1-0) tossed six innings, giving up all six runs on eight hits and two walks to earn her first victory of the year, before yielding to Michelle Escamilla in the seventh.  SF State starter Becky Nakano (0-3) was tagged with the loss, surrendering seven runs (two earned) on nine hits and two walks, before giving way to Rook with two outs in the third.
 
Huff finished with a combined five RBI on the day, including two in the nightcap, while Swanberg (3-for-5), Lesovsky, Romero and Spangler contributed two RBI apiece for the Tritons in the game-two win.
 
SF State returns to the diamond next weekend when it travels to south to tackle No. 20 Cal State Dominguez Hills in a pair of doubleheaders, March 2-3, in Carson, Calif.

Game One Box Score

Game Two Box Score