Box Score SAN FRANCSICO--- The SF State Gators lost in the series finale of this weekend's four-game CCAA series with Cal State L.A. 7-5 at SF State's Maloney Field. SF State still took the series 3-1 as the Gators won the first three games by scores of 8-7, 2-1 and 2-1.
The Golden Eagles jumped out on top with a three-run second inning keyed by Nick Rodarte's two-run single up the middle that scored James Wharton and Manny Acosta.
Cal State L.A. (11-7, 7-5 CCAA) added an insurance run in the fourth on Daniel Duran's RBI single with one out that scored Brian Compton. The visitors added another run in the fifth on Rodarte's two-out single to left center that drove in Wharton to give the Golden Eagles a 5-0 lead.
SF State though would not go away as the Gators scored three runs in the fifth inning on three hits.
Sam Wilkins was hit by a pitch with one out and went to second on a
Nick McFarland infield single.
Dustin Wold then reached on an error which loaded the bases for AJ Almarez.
Almarez then hit a 1-2 pitch to left single for a single which scored Wilkins. McFarland scored on a sacrifice fly by
AJ Pianto. With two outs,
Miguel Flores hit a double to right center to drive in Wold with the Gators' third run of the game.
Cal State L.A. added two more runs in the seventh inning to take a 7-3 lead.
The Gators still would not back down as they came back with two runs in their half of the seventh inning. McFarland and Wold opened the inning with back to back singles. Almarez reached on a fielder's choice as McFarland was out on the play.
With one out, Pianto reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a throwing error by the Golden Eagles which Wold scored on to make it 7-4 Golden Eagles. Now with two outs, Flores hit a 1-2 pitch to left field to score Pianto and cut the visitor's lead to 7-5.
SF State then loaded the bases as
Mark Lindsay singled and then
Andrew Suvunnachuen walked, but Rodarte struck out the next Gator batter to end the inning with the Golden Eagles' still up 7-5.
Rodarte pitched a scoreless eighth inning and then Cedar Morgan came in the ninth to record his third save and preserve the 7-5 victory for the Golden Eagles.
Justin Harr (2-0) picked up the win for Cal State L.A. pitching 6.1 innings, giving up 8 hits and five runs (one earned) while striking out four and walking one. Rodarte pitched 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, giving up two hits and striking out three while walking two.
Four different Golden Eagles had two hits apiece led by Rodarte who went 2-for-2 with four runs batted in.
Branden Petrangelo (1-2) recorded the loss for the Gators, pitching 6.1 innings, giving up 10 hits and 7 runs (six earned) while striking out four and walking three.
McFarland finished the day 2-for-4 with a run scored. Flores and Lindsay each had two hits also while Flores drove in two runs.
The Gators (8-8, 7-5 CCAA) will return to the diamond this Tuesday, March 6 for a 2pm non-conference game in Reno, Nev., against the University of Nevada Wolf Pack. They will return home this Saturday, March 10 at noon for a non-conference game with Bay Area rival Sonoma State.
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