Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 SAN FRANCISCO --- Visiting Cal State East Bay grabbed ealry leads in both games of Friday's doubleheader, but SF State rallied back to tie each game. The Gators (21-29, 13-21 CCAA) walked away with the first game with a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over the Pioneers (16-34, 10-24 CCAA), but CSUEB managed to score two runs in the ninth inning of the nightcap to steal a 5-3 win.

Three Gators had great showings at the plate, led by Cara Spence's 5-for-7 effort, adding one run and two RBIs. Brittany Barcellos went 3-for-4, picking up three walks, stealing two bases and scoring two runs. Courtney Gravel batted in 2 RBIs in her 4-for-6 performance. Marisa Ibarra tossed four strikeouts--along with picking up one hit and one RBI in two appearances at the plate--en route to her 15th victory of the season.

Cal State East Bay jumped on the board first in the top of the third, plating four runs in an explosive inning. The Pioneers laid down four hits and capitalized on a Gator error to go ahead 4-0.

The Gators responded in the next half inning, however, cutting the Pioneers' lead in half. With one out, Barcellos took her first free trip to first base and Ashley Huff beat out the throw to first after laying down a bunt to put runners on first and second. Jennifer Lewis advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, putting them in closer scoring positions. Gravel hit a shot to left center, allowing the pair of runners in front of her to score, but a ground double play ended the inning before SF State could really build momentum.

In the bottom of the fifth with Barcellos on second, Gravel found a gap between the Pioneers' shortstop and third baseman to advance Barcellos to third. Cal State East Bay's left fielder tried to throw the ball home to make sure Barcellos wasn't going anywhere at third, but the Pioneer catcher mishandled the ball, giving Barcellos the chance to score and bring the score to 4-3 in favor of CSUEB.

The Pioneers looked to tack on some more runs in the top of the sixth and loaded up the bases. The Gators keyed down on defense and got out of the inning without surrendering any more runs to keep the score at 4-3.

SF State took control of the game in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs to lead 5-4. Kelsey Murakami opened the inning with a double, tucking it inside the left field fair line. Spence sent a blooper into shallow left center, just short of a diving Pioneer outfielder. As the ball skirted away from the defender, Spence grabbed the double and Murakami took her place on third. Ibarra stepped up to the plate and sent a fly ball deep in the outfield. As the Pioneer made the catch, Murakami tagged up to tie the game at 4-4. With one outs, Gabby Reta laid down a suicide squeeze bunt, scoring Spence as she slid home to hand the lead over to the Gators. 

Needing three outs to secure the victory, SF State's defense went down to business to take Cal State East Bay down in order. Ibarra snagged the first putout and Lucy Fernandez caught a pop fly for out two and Murakami fielded a routine grounder, hurling it to Spence to lift the Gators 5-4.

Cal State East Bay started the nightcap in a similar fashion, scoring multiple runs first to take an early lead. In the opening inning, the Pioneers plated three runs on a two-out rally before the Gators could grab the third putout to end the inning.

SF State answered right back in the bottom half of the inning as Reta singled to left over the shortstop's head. With two outs, Kylie Grabowski knocked a basehit to right center to join Reta on base. Murakami's grounder to shortstop looked to end the inning as the infielder attempted to put Grabowski out at second, but the throw was off target, pulling the second baseman off the bag, allowing Reta to score and keep runners on first and second. Spence found a hole on the right side to load up the bases, but CSUEB was able to find the force out on the next play.

In the third, Grabowski took a pitch to the body for a free trip to first base and advanced to third on a double from Murakami. With runners on second and third, Spence singled up the middle to score Grabowski safely. Murakami came streaking into home plate and slid around the tag to tie the game at 3-3.

The Pioneers once again came knocking in the top of the sixth with runners on second and third and one out. Taryn Thomas sent a high-bouncing ball back at pitcher Ali Garcia, but Garcia got a piece of her glove on the ball, giving Murakami a chance to collect it and toss it to Spence for the third out without surrendering the lead.

Still tied at 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh, Gravel led the inning with a basehit to left center. Grabowski sacrificed a bunt to advance Gravel to second and Murakami joined her on base with ball four. CSUEB's center fielder Meli Sanchez made a diving catch for out two, but the pair of runners tagged up to put themselves in better scoring positions. With two outs and a full count on the board, Lewis made solid contact with the ball, but unfortunately found the glove of Shauna Purkey at shortstop to end the inning before the Gators could score the game winner.

Heading into the ninth inning, the Pioneers scored the go-ahead run on one out and added an insurance run despite Huff grabbing a crucial catch for the second out. The Gators found the third out, sending them to the plate with pressure to score two runs to keep the game alive. 

CSUEB held firm on defense, however, taking the SF State batters out in order to seal the 5-3 extra-inning victory. 

SF State and Cal State East Bay have one last doubleheader left in the 2013 season, each hoping to end its season on a high note. Five Gator seniors and five Pioneer seniors will be honored prior to the first pitch, scheduled for 12 p.m.