SAN FRANCISCO --- The 2013 campaign may be winding down for the SF State Gators, but that won't stop them from trying to finish the season on a positive note. SF State (20-28, 12-20 CCAA) will host Cal State East Bay (14-32, 9-23 CCAA) in its final California Collegiate Athletic Association four-game series with doubleheaders on Friday and Saturday. Friday's action will begin at 1 p.m. and Saturday, which will also be San Francisco Little League Day and Senior Day, starts at 12 p.m., with a ceremony honoring both teams seniors prior to the first pitch.
The Gators come off a successful 3-1 series against Cal State San Bernardino, outscoring the Coyotes 17-to-8.
Ali Garcia (3-0) went 2-0 on the weekend, recording a 1.17 ERA, surrendering three runs (two earned) while only walking one batter. Garcia started the weekend, pitching five innings of relief in the Gators' 5-4 come-from-behind win over the Coyotes on Friday afternoon. She gave up just two hits and one unearned en route to the win. On Saturday, she pitched a complete game win, giving up eight hits and two runs, while wakling two, to hold a 2.23 ERA on the season.
Also finding success in the circle,
Marisa Ibarra (14-11) threw her 100th strikeout of the season against the Coyotes, putting her tally to 102 total knockouts. Ibarra also boasts a 1.78 ERA, putting her in third on the CCAA leader board for pitchers.
Offensively,
Ashley Huff leads the Gator hitters with a .292 average and 40 hits on the season, holding a .409 on-base percentage.
Courtney Gravel follows right on her tail with a .289 average and has knocked in 17 RBIs, second-best on the team. Freshman
Gabby Reta and junior
Kylie Grabowski round out the top four batters, averaging .267 and .263, respectively, at the plate. Grabowski holds a team-high 20 RBIs as well.
The Pioneers, who will play a mid-week doubleheader against Notre Dame de Namur on Tuesday, enters the weekend after dropping a 1-3 series against Cal State Stanislaus. CSUEB took the first game, but couldn't see the momentum build as the Warriors took the next three in a row.
Sara Holdridge leads the team with a .353 average and 24 RBIs, followed by Taryn Thomas at .344 off a team-high 53 hits. Holdridge ranks eighth in the conference with a .449 on-base percentage.
As both the Gators and Pioneers finish the season this weekend, seniors will be honored prior to Saturday's action. For SF State:
Cara Spence,
Marisa Ibarra,
Sarah Catania,
Brittany Barcellos and
Ali Garcia. For Cal State East Bay: Nicole Adair, Sara Holdridge, Emily Montanez, Taryn Thomas and Lauren Zweigle. Both days will feature live stats found at:
http://www.sidearmstats.com/sfsu/softball/xlive.htm.