Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 San Francisco – Strong starting pitching and phenomenal defense paved the way as the SF State softball team earned a split with No. 15 UC San Diego during Friday's doubleheader.  The Gators took game one, 1-0, on the strength of Megan Clark's fourth shutout of the season. the Tritons rallied back to take game two, 3-1, spoiling a beautiful pitching performance by Jenny Obbema.

Entering Friday's contest UC San Diego (29-8/18-4 CCAA) found itself at the top of the table in the conference.  The Gators (16-29/7-19 CCAA) young pitchers did not seem intimidated by the top-25 ranking as Clark and Obbema combined to throw 14 innings, while only allowing one earned run and eight hits.

Clark (7-11) got the Gators going in the first game, needing just 62 pitches to go the distance, throwing her fourth complete game shutout of the season.  The only blemish on her performance was an infield hit in the first inning and a two-out triple in the third both by the Triton's speedy Callie Grant.

The only real threat by the Tritons in game one, came after the two-out triple by Grant.  Clark responded by getting the next batter to fly out harmlessly to center field, starting a string of 13-consecutive batters sent down in a row to end the game.

The Gators scored their only run in the bottom of the third inning when Aryn Guzman singled to right field to lead things off.  Courtney Gravel moved Guzman into scoring position with a well-executed sacrifice bunt.  Jennifer Lewis knocked Guzman in with a two-out double to right center, jumping all over the first pitch of the at bat.

Aiding Clark in the win was the tremendous defense behind her.  Lucy Fernandez displayed gold glove caliber defense robbing the Tritons of what would have been a double down the line, diving for a ball, getting up and throwing to first for the out.  Murakami followed suit an inning later, diving for a ball to her left and flipping to first in time for another crucial out.

Taking the loss for the Tritons in game one was starter Alexis Edwards (16-3) who pitched very well, holding the Gators to three hits and one run over six innings with three walks and four strike outs.  Kelsey Murakami had the only other hit for the Gators, a one out single in the second. 

In the nightcap the Gators and Tritons settled into a familiar pattern.  The two sides traded zeroes in the first inning.  Obbema (2-4) retired UC San Diego in order, while Triton's starter Jennifer Manuel (6-4) escaped a jam early, getting Murakami to ground out to first stranding a pair of runners.

UC San Diego scored first, when catcher Katie Saunders led off the inning with a base hit up the middle, she moved to second on a softly hit ground ball to Gravel at short.  After stealing third, Saunders scored on a single through the right side by Kirsten Willmon.

SF State answered, scoring a run in the bottom half of the inning.  Marisa Andrade started the rally with a two-out double to right center on a full count.  One batter later Guzman doubled down the left field line, scoring Andrade easily.  That would be the last scoring opportunity for the Gators as Manuel effectively held the Gators offense in check.

Manuel's line, seven innings pitched, six hits, one earned run, with three walks and a strike out.  Obbema matched her going seven complete, scattering six hits, three runs, one earned, with no walks and no strike outs.

The Tritons took the lead in the top of the sixth inning when defensive miscues allowed the inning to extend. UC San Diego scored two runs on two hits, with two errors to go up 3-1, the winning run scored when Caitlin Brown scored on an error that allowed pinch hitter Alissa Gutierrez to reach safely and keep the inning alive. 

The Gators and Tritons will wrap up the four-game series tomorrow, playing a double header at the SF State Softball Field, game one is slated for an 11:00 a.m. first pitch.  The Gators will be hosting their annual Strike Out Cancer Day in honor of breast cancer awareness; there will be a ceremonial first pitch before game one. 

Complete Box Score Game 1 (HTML)

Complete Box Score Game 2 (HTML)