Box Score SAN FRANCISCO--- Playing in their first home game in over two weeks, it was the SF State Gators rallying from a 4-0 deficit to defeat the visiting Cal State L.A. Golden Eagles 5-4 in the first game of this weekend's four-game conference series.
Mark Lindsay drove in
Nick Jackson with the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh with a one-out infield single.
Cal State L.A. (14-20, 12-16 CCAA) took the early 1-0 lead in the second inning. Drew Vanisi had a lead-off single and went to second on a fielding error by the Gators. He scored on a one-out single by David Trejo to left center. The Golden Eagles made it 2-0 visitors on a Jesus Cuevas pinch-hit run scoring single to left field that brought in Casey Ryan in the third inning.
The Golden Eagles doubled their advantage as they scored two more runs in the fifth inning to take a 4-0 lead.
The Gators came right back though with three runs of their own in their half of the fifth inning.
Dillon Meyer, who finished 2-for-5 and two stolen bases, had a lead-off single up the middle. He went to second on a balk, and then advanced to third on a ground out. Meyer scored on a double down the left field line by
Carter Loud. Loud scored on a single to left field by
Trevor Diskin. The Gators cut the deficit to 4-3 on a double to left center by
Grady Espinosa that brought in Diskin with the Gators' third run of the game.
The game remained 4-3 Cal State L.A. until the bottom of the seventh inning. Loud had a lead-off double to start the seventh inning for the Gators (14-21, 9-16 CCAA). He went to second on a pinch-hit bunt single by Jackson. Jackson then stole second. Loud scored the tying run on a ground out by Espinosa which Jackson advanced to third on. With one out, Jackson scored what proved to be the game-winner on an infield single by Lindsay.
The Golden Eagles looked like they were going to tie the game twice in the final two innings. In the eighth, they had runners on first and second with no outs. Gator reliever,
Taylor Wade, induced the next batter to ground out to a fielder's choice. Then the next two flied out to deep center and fouled out to end the inning.
Then in the ninth, once again the first two batters reached for the visitors. They put runners on second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Vanisi. SF State junior reliever
Cory Davis induced the next batter to ground out and the final batter to line out to
Joe Chedid at second to preserve the 5-4 Gator win.
The Golden Eagles had 15 hits on the day paced by Cuevas and Vanisi each with three hits apiece. Cuevas had two runs batted in to go with his three hits.
Chris Oropesa (0-1) recorded the loss for the Golden Eagles in relief, pitching one inning, giving up three hits and two runs.
Ryan Santhon, who pitched 123 pitches, went 6 innings, giving up 8 hits and three runs while striking out 5 and walking three.
SF State had 11 hits for the afternoon, besides Meyer's two hits Loud and Lindsay each had three hits. Loud also drove in a run and scored twice.
Ryan Romero started the game for the Gators, going 4.2 innings, giving up 11 hits and four runs (two earned), striking out three and walking one.
Tyler Cobb (1-1) picked up the win in relief, pitching 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and no runs. Wade pitched a scoreless eighth while Davis pitched a scoreless ninth en route to his ninth save of the year.
The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon at noon for a doubleheader at Maloney Field. The series will conclude on Sunday at 11am with a single nine-inning game.
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