CARSON – The SF State Gators took game one of this weekend's four-game conference series from Cal State Dominguez Hills 7-5 this afternoon at Toro Field in Carson, Calif.
Matt Vera (3 for 5 with three RBIS) had a two-out bases clearing double in the first inning to key the Gator win with
Nolan Sheridan (3-3) recording up the victory in the start.
Fernando Escobar reached base on a one-out double in the first inning for SF State.
Mark Lindsay and
Bryce Cherry had back to back walks to load the bases still with one out. With two outs and the count 1-2, Vera hit a bases clearing double to left center to give the Gators a 3-0 lead.
The Toros cut into the Gator 3-0 lead with a two-run second inning which was started by an Adrian Guzman run scoring single. Sheridan (3-3) pitched out of that jam as the bases were loaded with one out. The junior right-hander induced the final two CSUDH batters to foul out to
Garrett Heisinger at first and to fly out to
Nick Jackson in center field.
SF State added another run in the fourth on a two-out run scoring single by Jackson to left which brought in Heisinger, who reached base on a one-out double.
CSUDH added another run in the sixth on a two-out double by Guzman to cut the Gator lead to 4-3.
The Gators increased their lead to 6-3 with a two-run seventh inning.
Jacob Lopez and Escobar had led off the seventh with back to back singles. Lopez scored on Lindsay's run scoring single to left field. With one out and runners on the corners,
Chad Thurston hit a sacrifice fly to center field to bring in Escobar to give the Gators a 6-3 lead.
They added an insurance run in the eighth on a Jackson run scoring single which brought in
Andrew Breen, who reached base on a lead-off double to increase the Gators' lead to 7-3.
The Toros (13-12, 8-9 CCAA) made it interesting in the ninth as
Cory Davis came in to relief for Sheridan. Brandon Polizzi had a lead-off walk and went to second on a single by Fernando Gallegos. Polizzi scored on a single up the middle by Young, who finished the day 3-for-5 with a RBI. Gallegos scored on a one-out ground out by Johnny Palmer which brought up the tying run with two outs. Davis struck the last Toro batter out looking to preserve the 7-5 Gator win.
With the win, SF State improves to 9-10 overall and 8-5 in the CCAA. The Gators have won their last five in a row and 7 of their last 9 games and move into fourth place all alone in the CCAA.
Winston Lavendier (5-2) recorded the loss in the start for CSUDH. He pitched 7 innings, giving up 11 hits and six runs while striking out five and walking two. Young had three of the Toros' 9 hits on the day.
Sheridan picked up the win, pitching 8 innings, giving up 7 hits and three runs, walking four and striking out two. Davis pitched the final inning, giving up two hits, two runs (one earned), striking out two and walking one.
Five Gators had multiple-hit days led by Vera's 3-for-5 day with two doubles and three runs batted in. Jackson had two hits and drove in two runs while Escobar also had two hits and scored twice. Lindsay finished the day also with two hits as did Breen.
The two teams will continue the four-game series tomorrow morning at 11am for a doubleheader at Toro Field in Carson, Calif. The series finale will be this Sunday, March 22 at 11am also at Toro Field in Carson.
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Gator Athletics has a proud tradition of competitive success within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The department offers 12 intercollegiate sports programs: Baseball, Men's and Women's Basketball, Men's and Women's Cross Country, Men's and Women's Soccer, Softball, Women's Track & Field, Women's Volleyball and Men's Wrestling.
Gator Athletics places great emphasis on academic performance as well as athletic achievement. The program offers student athletes the opportunity to reach their educational goals, as well pursue meaningful athletic accomplishments. For more information, visit SF State Athletics' website, Twitter and Facebook pages.
