Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 ROHNERT PARK – After being shutout 28-0 in last year's four-game series, SF State turned around and beat Sonoma State 4-1 in the first game, but fell 8-0 in five innings in the nightcap. The split puts the Gators 5-2 overall, 1-1 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, while the Seawolves stand at 6-3 overall and 1-1 in conference.
 
SF State grabbed nine hits in the opening game, but was limited to four hits in the second. Kelsey Murakami led the Gators at the plate with three hits on the day, including a 2-for-2 showing in the nightcap. Courtney Gravel and Sarah Catania each posted two hits in the first game.
 
After back-to-back scoreless innings to open the series, the Gators got on the board first in the top of the third to take a 3-0 lead. With one out, Gabby Reta singled to right field to reach on base. Gravel found a hole in center with her first hit of the day, pushing Reta to second.
 
With runners on first and second, Kylie Grabowski stepped up to the plate and blasted a pitch to right center. The hit bounced on top of the fence and out of the field, awarding Grabowski her second home run of the season, picking up three RBIs with Reta and Gravel crossing home plate to give SF State the 3-0 lead. The Gators had a chance to do more damage in the inning, with bases loaded, but the Seawolves found the third out before they could find themselves in a bigger hole.
 
The Gators struck again in the fifth, despite giving up two early outs. Catania started the two-out rally by laying down a hit that snuck past SSU's third baseman to give Catania the green light to go to second. Murakami send Catania home with a single in the gap at right field, putting the Gators up 4-0.
 
SF State looked like it would grab a shutout of its own as the game wound down into the final innings, but Sonoma State was determined to get a run on the scoreboard. In the bottom of the sixth, the Seawolves broke the scoreless streak off three hits to cut the lead to 4-1. The Gators, however, tightened up on defense and held Sonoma State to only that run, finishing the first game with a 4-1 victory.
 
Looking to carry the momentum into the nightcap, Lucy Fernandez started the first inning with a double deep to left field. The Gators couldn't find another hit, however, leading her stranded on second.
 
Sonoma State turned right around in the next half inning with three hits, putting two runs on the board. With two outs and runners at second and third, Ali Palermo doubled to left field, allowing both runners to score to put SSU up 2-0 after one complete inning.
 
Despite Jennifer Lewis and Murakami each posting singles in the second and third innings, respectively, the Gators couldn't get a string of hits together to remain trailing Sonoma State 2-0.
 
The Seawolves opened the floodgates in the bottom of the fourth after Hayley Condon opened the inning with a home run to left field. The Gators put out the next two batters, but five hits later, SF State found itself down 7-0 heading into the top of the fifth.
 
Melissa Andrade started things off for SF State with a free walk to first base and Chelsea Brent took over running for her. Catania capitalized on a Seawolf throwing error to join Brent on base and Murakami picked up her second hit in the nightcap to load up the bases with no outs. Determined to not relinquish any runs, the Seawolves grabbed three quick outs to keep the Gators off the board, despite the loaded bases.
 
Needing just one more run to end the game due to the eight-run rule, Keisi Chinen opened the bottom half of the inning with a leadoff home run to left center. The homer ended the game at 8-0, forcing the Gators to settle with a split on the day.
 
SF State continues its four-game series at Sonoma State tomorrow with another doubleheader, beginning at 11 a.m.