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McKINLEYVILLE, Calif. – Courtney Gravel's grand slam in the top of the seventh inning capped a seven-run rally as the San Francisco State softball team registered a wild 14-12 victory over Humboldt State in game one of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader Saturday at McKinleyville High School. The Gators were also beneficiaries of the big inning in the nightcap, erupting for six runs in the fifth to pull away for a 9-3 triumph to complete the sweep.
 
SF State, which banged out 28 hits on the day, squared the weekend series at two games apiece, improving to 14-26 on the season and 7-19 in conference play, while the Lumberjacks drop to 14-31 on the year and 6-24 in the CCAA.
 
Trailing 12-7 in the opener, the Gators forged their mammoth comeback in the seventh when Cara Spence led off with a single and advanced to third on Kylie Herrada's double, sandwiched around a flyout.  Following a strikeout, Jordan Brenner laced a base hit up the middle to plate Spence and Herrada, while Kelsey Murakami drew a walk. Lucy Fernandez subsequently roped a single and took second on an HSU error, allowing Brenner to score. SF State then loaded the bases as Jenna Wermes was hit by a pitch, setting the stage for Gravel's heroics.  On a 1-0 offering, the Gator freshman connected for her first collegiate home run, putting the Gators up 14-12.
 
Despite yielding a one-out hit to Ally Blenis in the bottom of the frame, SF State starter Marisa Ibarra (7-8) struck out Andrea Chavez and induced a flyout to Serena Aragones to complete the thrilling victory.  The Gator hurler persevered despite giving up 12 runs on nine hits and four walks, while Jacks reliever Jennifer Sizemore (4-6) was tagged with the loss after surrendering all seven runs in the final inning on six hits and a walk.
 
SF State recorded a season-high 15 hits in the contest, including four apiece by Spence and Brenner, who finished with three RBI, along with Wermes. 
 
With the scored tied 5-5, the Gators went ahead in the top of the fifth when Ashley Huff reached on an error, plating Spence, who previously singled and advanced to third on a fielder's choice and a sacrifice.
 
The lead proved to be short-lived, however, as Tanya Walker's grand slam in the bottom of the inning put HSU up 9-6.  Wermes' sacrifice fly in the sixth narrowed the gap, before the Jacks responded with three markers, courtesy of Chrissy Stalf's two-run double and an RBI single by Dani Randall.
 
In addition to Walker, HSU was paced by Kirsten Nouzovsky, who finished with two hits, three RBI and four runs scored, while Alicia Reid added three runs of her own.  
 
SF State got off to a quick start in the nightcap after Ashley Huff led off the first with a double, while Brenner and Murakami followed with consecutive singles to load the bases.  Fernandez then reached on a fielder's choice as Huff was erased at the plate. However, Wermes was hit by a pitch to bring in Brenner, while Gravel knocked in Murakami with an RBI single, giving the visitors a 2-0 advantage.
 
The score remained unchanged until the bottom of the third when Nouzovsky smacked a two-run homer to pull the host school even at 2-2.
 
The Gators eventually seized control in the top of the fifth, sending 10 batters to plate to fuel their six-run outburst.  After a pair of walks sandwiched around a groundout, Brenner drove in Murakami with a single to the right side and took second on an outfielder error. Wermes, who advanced to third on the play, scored moments later on a base hit by Spence, while Herrada drew a walk following a groundout.  With the bases loaded, Huff was struck by a pitch; Brenner delivered a two-run single, while Murakami followed with an RBI double, providing the Purple and Gold an 8-2 cushion.
 
HSU received a solo homer from Randall in the bottom of the frame, but could draw no closer as Huff when deep for SF State in the top of the seventh – her second round-tripper of the season – to account for the final score.
 
Gator starter Becky Nakano (5-5) scattered seven hits and walked none to nail down her fourth complete game of the year, while Alyssa Castillo (3-7) absorbed the loss after allowing eight runs on 11 hits and four walks, before yielding to Sizemore with two outs in the fateful fifth inning.
 
Huff, Brenner and Gravel finished with three hits apiece to spark the SF State offense, while Nouzovsky added three for the Jacks in the defeat.
 
The Gators return to the diamond on Tuesday, April 10, when they play host to CCAA foe Cal State Stanislaus in a doubleheader beginning at 2 p.m.  The two teams will complete their four-game series after their final twin-bill was rained out on March 24.