Box Score SAN FRANCISCO --- The SF State Gators may have surrendered the first run of the day to the visiting Cal State Stanislaus Warriors, but the home team battled back to take a 6-1 victory in the first of four games with the Warriors. The win improves the Gators to 5-12 overall, 2-7 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, giving Nolan Sheridan his first win of the season (1-0). CSUS falls to 5-11, 2-7 in conference, and hands Byron Lemon his third loss (1-3).

Grady Espinosa and AJ Pianto led the offensive effort for the Gators, each laying down three hits on four appearances at the plate. Espinosa scored one run while batting in another and took an intentional walk. Pianto hit his first double of the season and also picked up an RBI on a single. From the mound, Sheridan pitched three innings, only surrendering one hit and striking out two batters.

Cal State Stanislaus opened the first inning of action by scoring one run off three hits and a Gator error to start the game with a 1-0 lead. In the bottom half of the inning, Espinosa singled into the gap between the Warriors' second baseman and right fielder, but was left stranded in the Gators first chance at bat. 

SF State had another chance to put runs on the board in the second when Pianto laid down a double, tucking it just inside of third base to stay fair, but second base was as far as he would get as the Warriors found three outs to maintain their 1-0 lead.

Back on defense, the Gators made a crucial stop at the plate to prevent the Warriors from sneaking in another run. With two outs and bases loaded, CSUS's Ross Gonsalves attempted to steal home, but a combined effort from Mark Lindsay behind the plate, Joseph Chedid at third and Trae Lopez on the mound prevented the theft to end the inning.

The Gators broke through their scoreless streak in the bottom of the fourth as Espinosa opened the inning with a single to left field. Randy Villa joined Espinosa on base after taking a rogue pitch to the upper arm and Miguel Flores loaded the bases in the next play. Flores attempted to sacrifice a bunt to advance the two runners, but Lemon couldn't get a good grip on the ball to allow Flores to reach on off the error. 

Cal State Stanislaus completed a double play to get two outs, but Espinosa scored in the process to tie the game at 1-1 and give some hope for a two-out rally. Pianto stepped up to the plate and found the gap on the left side for a single, allowing Villa to score the go-ahead run before the Warriors could end the inning.

Looking to respond in the Warriors' next chance at bat, Gonsalves singled to start the top of the fifth. The Gators keyed down defensively, with Carter Loud diving to make the second putout of the inning, to maintain their 2-1 lead. 

In the bottom half of the inning, SF State added an insurance run off three hits. AJ Almaraz opened with a single to center and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt from Dillon Meyer. Loud found a hole over the Warriors' second baseman's glove to single, but CSUS's catcher Andrew Graves stood in the way of Almaraz looking to score at home. With one out and Loud at second after advancing on the throw, Espinosa blasted a hit to left center, scoring Loud to put the Gators up 3-1.

After taking the Warriors down in order in the top of both the sixth and seventh innings, SF State capitalized in the bottom of the seventh to extend its lead. Almaraz opened the inning with a single to left field and was pushed to second with a sacrifice bunt. Loud joined Almaraz on base, taking advantage of a Warrior error, putting runners on second and third with one out. Espinoza took an intentional walk to load the bases and Villa's sacrifice fly--with a diving effort from Craig Beevers at center field--scored Almaraz at third. Flores grabbed an RBI single to left center, sending Loud in from third to put SF State up 5-1 after seven innings.

Once again, SF State took the visiting Warriors down in order in the top of the eighth, heading back to the plate on offense. With two outs on the board, Meyer hit a high bouncing ball toward shortstop and beat the throw to reach first safely. After Meyer stole second, Loud split CSUS's third baseman and shortstop and picked up the RBI as Meyer sprinted to round third and cross home plate to give the Gators the 6-1 lead, which SF State held onto in its last time on defense.

The Gators continue the four-game series Saturday afternoon in Turlock, playing two games back-to-back on the Warriors' home field. The doubleheader starts at 11 a.m., with the final game of the series being played back at Maloney Field on Sunday at 11