Box Score San Francisco, Calif. – The SF State pitching staff was completely dominant, throwing up zeroes all afternoon helping lead Gators (9-6/4-1 CCAA) to a 4-3 win in 12 innings over visiting CSU San Bernardino (3-12/3-6 CCAA) Friday afternoon at Maloney Field.  Preston Tarter, Taylor Wade, and Cory Davis combined to throw 10 scoreless innings in the pitcher's duel.

In a game that looked as though it would not get the required five inning in before it would be called off for rain, it took a 12^th inning rally started by first baseman Garrett Heisinger to finally send the Gator faithful home happy.

Heisinger got the ball rolling with a one out single to short, he then advanced to second on the errant throw by the Coyotes' shortstop William Ouellette.  Matt Vera also hit a hard hit ball to short and once again Ouellette could not make the play allowing Heisinger to advance to third and Vera reach safely to extend the inning.  With two outs and runners on the corners, second baseman Fernando Escobar got the clutch hit the Gators needed, hitting a 1-0 offering back up the middle for a base hit that allowed Heisinger to score from third to win the game.

"Huge base hit from Escobar," said head coach Mike Cummins.  "He had two hits today, two good at bats. Obviously we only got five hits, that's something we need to do better, but we're winning games.  Our pitching has been outstanding, Tarter again was outstanding late. Wade came in with a  clean eighth inning and it set up just perfectly for us."

The 4-3 win made a winner out of reliever Cory Davis (2-0) who pitched lights out over four innings for the Gators.  He scattered four hits, surrendering one earned run which cost Davis the save, however he did strike out three, of his 47 pitches thrown, 35 were strikes.

"He's been lights out all year, (speaking about Cory Davis)," said Cummins.  "He came in and should have been out of it in the ninth, but wasn't, but that didn't rattle him.  He just kept throwing and kept throwing strikes, getting guys out, giving us a chance to come back and win."

In the top of the ninth inning Nick Oddo led off the rally with a single to center field, a sacrifice bunt moved him to second base.  A single to right field by Kevin Meriwether put runners at the corners with one out for Nolan Almadovar, who hit a soft ground ball to first base.  Heisinger threw the ball to short attempting to start the 3-6-3 game ending double play, however the throw from short went wide allowing the pinch runner Aaron Owen to score from third and tie the game.

Taking the loss for the Coyotes was relief pitcher Dylan Mitchell (0-4) who was tough on the Gators for three innings before taking the loss in the 12^th.  His line for the afternoon 3.2 innings pitched, allowing two hits, one run with a walk and five strike outs.

CSUSB's starter Kerry Kelly was sharp.  It looked as though he might throw a five inning no-hitter as he held the Gators hitless and faced the minimum until Escobar reached after getting hit on an inside fastball.  Grady Espinosa worked the count full before fouling off several pitches and earned a free pass to put two on for Dillon Meyer who finally got the Gators the elusive hit, an RBI single through the right side that scored Escobar from second.  Mark Lindsay was walked intentionally to load the bases with two outs for designated hitter Bryce Cherry who singled down the right field line scoring Espinosa and Meyer to take the 3-2 lead.

Kelly went eight innings, scattering three hits, all three runs he surrendered were earned, and he also allowed three walks while striking out six.

Preston Tarter pitched seven complete in the no decision.  He scattered six hits, surrendered two runs in the bottom of the second, walked two and struck out five.  After the second inning Tarter was lights out, throwing up five consecutive zeroes to end his day.  Taylor Wade pitched a perfect eight inning, he threw just seven pitches, all of them for strikes for the 1-2-3 inning.

The Gators and the Coyotes will return to action tomorrow as both teams attempt to play a double header at Maloney Field.  Game one is scheduled for an 11 am first pitch.
 
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