Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN FRANCISCO --- San Francisco State starting pitcher Marisa Ibarra tossed a two-hit shutout with nine strikeouts in game one of a California Collegiate Athletic Association doubleheader to help lift the Gators 2-0 over No. 5-ranked Cal State Dominguez Hills. However the Gators (9-10, 5-9 CCAA) ended up settling for a split as the visiting Toros' bats came alive in the nightcap to grab a come-from-behind 2-1 victory.

"Both games today are the type of ball games that we're going to see in the post season and the type of tight ball games we're going to see from this conference," said head coach Cristina Byrne. "I was happy for the most part with how we played, but I still think we left too many people on base. We had our opportunities but it took us a little too long in the second game to make adjustments at the plate. When we finally did, we didn't execute and that hurt."

At the plate, Kylie Grabowski went 2-for-6 with two RBIs and a run scored on the day, while Kelsey Murakami grabbed three hits in five appearances at the plate, knocking two hits in the nightcap. However much of the Gators' success came defensively from Ibarra's stellar performance in the circle in the first game. Ibarra held the Toros to only two hits throughout the game, surrendering zero walks and striking out nine batters to keep the CCAA's top team scoreless. Ibarra's defence backed her up as no CSUDH base runners was able to pass first base.

"We kept a team that's hitting so well and tops the conference in most offensive categories in check for the most part," said Byrne. "We gave up one long ball that ended up being a difference maker, but this is the type of game we want to be in. I think we'll come out on the other end of it once we get our feet a little wet in these."
 
Both teams got off to a relatively slow start in game one of this afternoon's doubleheader, until SF State's Lucy Fernandez lined a one-out double down the left line in the bottom of the third.  After advancing to third on a fielder's choice, Fernandez scored easily on a Kylie Grabowski single up the middle to give the Gators a 1-0 lead. 

SF State went on to extend the lead in the bottom half of the sixth after loading the bases against CSUDH's starter Lauren Harper. Sarah Catania took advantage of a Toro's fielding error to reach first and allowed Grabowski to score to make it 2-0 in favor of SF State.  Despite bases loaded, Harper was able to escape the inning with just the one run surrendered.
 
In the nightcap of the doubleheader, the Toros got off to a quicker start, as their offense was ready to explode. After Brittany Brenner's one-out walk, CSUDH's Christina Chavez singled to left fielded, putting runners on first and second.  Stephanie Jimenez later walked to load the bases with two outs, however Gator starter Emily Gibson escaped with inning with no runs allowed.
 
After a couple scoreless innings, SF State struck first in the bottom of the fourth.  Ashley Huff led off the inning with a double to straightaway center and later came around to score on a Courtney Gravel single to left to put the Gators out in front 1-0.
 
The lead didn't last long, however, as Cal State Dominguez Hills quickly responded in the next half inning.  After two quick groundouts, Chavez belted a homerun to even the game at 1-1.  The Toros then continued the two-out rally, grabbing a couple singles to put runners on first and second. Veronica Vazquez broke the tie with a single up the middle, scoring one, to give CSUDH a 2-1 lead.

Feeling the pressure to score one run to keep the game alive in the bottom of the seventh, the Gators were determined to produce offensively. Cara Spence and Kelsey Murakami laid down back-to-back singles to put the tying and go-ahead runs on first and second with no outs. The late-inning comeback fell short, however, as CSUDH starting pitcher Stephanie Jimenez retired the following three hitters to secure the 2-1 victory for the Toros.
 
From the circle, Jimenez went seven strong innings for the Toros, surrendering seven hits and one earned run while striking out four. SF State starter Gibson went five innings allowing two earned on nine hits. Ali Garcia entered the game in relief, pitching two scoreless innings.
 
Day two of the CCAA four-game series continues Saturday with another pair of games beginning at 11 a.m. at SFSU Softball Field.