TURLOCK – The SF State softball team dropped the opener and the finale of Friday's triple header on day one of the Cal State Stanislaus hosted Tournament of Champions at the Pedretti Sports Complex. The Gators fell to Azusa Pacific 8-4, in the second game they defeated Chaminade 2-1 before falling to Notre Dame de Namur 4-3 in the finale.
Highlighting the day was the brilliant pitching performance of
Jenny Obbema in game two and the bat of
Delanie Chrisman. For the day the Gators pounded offense pounded out 21 hits and scored eight runs. Chrisman had a breakout performance accounting for five of those 21 hits, scoring three runs and driving in three.
In the tournament opener against Azusa Pacific (20-18) the Gators (8-23) offense did their part, scoring four runs off six hits. SF State scored two in the first, and a run in the second and third. The Cougars scored three runs in the top of the first inning, a single and a two run home run accounted for the run producing hits.
SF State offense would respond.
Sara Higa singled through the left side with two outs to score
Jennifer Lewis and
Courtney Gravel in the first. SF State tacked on a run in the second when Chrisman singled to lead-off the inning, she eventually scored on an APU error. In the third inning the Gators struck again, on a solo home run by Lewis, her third of the season.
After giving up four runs, early, starter
Megan Clark (3-10) settled into a groove. She made it to the sixth inning before the Cougars scored four runs, all four runs coming after Clark got the first two outs of the inning. Clark came out and finished the game throwing a scoreless seventh. She threw 7.0 complete, surrendering 14 hits, eight runs, five earned, with two walks and three strike outs.
Earning the win for the Cougars was reliever Destinee Levesque (2-3). Levesque threw 4.1 innings shutting the Gators offense, limiting them to just one hit, with one walk while striking out eight.
In the second game of the afternoon it was all
Jenny Obbema (2-4). The Gators' starter stifled Chaminade (7-25). Holding the Silver Swords to one run and eight hits over seven innings.
The Gators offense did their part scoring a pair of runs, which is all Obbema would need. SF State got on the board in the bottom of the third. Chrisman led off with a single to right field, she moved up 60 feet on the sacrifice bunt by
Aryn Guzman. Chrisman eventually scored on the double to left field by
Selina Rodriguez.
Chaminade tied it up in the top of the fourth with a leadoff single, two wild pitches and a deep fly ball plated their only run of the game.
The Gators broke the 1-1 tie in the bottom of the fifth when once again Chrisman led off the inning with a base hit. Once again ar sac bunt by Guzman moved her into scoring position. Rodriguez single moved up Chrisman 60 feet to third base where she came around to score on the sacrifice fly by
Chelsea Brent.
In the top of the seventh the Silver Swords had the tying run at third, but Obbema calmly ended the game getting the final out by way of a strike out. Taking the loss for Chaminade was starter Luana Moreno (3-9). Moreno threw 6.0 complete, surrendering seven hits, two earned runs with a walk.
In the finale Notre Dame de Namur (15-19) scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Things could have been worse for Clark, who took the ball for her second start of the night. However, after giving up an RBI double, she got the Gators back into the dugout getting a pop out and a lazy ground out.
SF State responded scoring three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning. The Gators loaded the bases following Lewis' leadoff single. Higa followed with a one out single to through the left side. Andrade loaded the bases with a great at bat. Clark was unable to score Lewis from third, but managed to reach safely where the bases remained loaded for Chrisman, who singled to center field scoring Higa and Andrade and moved Clark to third. The Gators briefly tied the game on a two-out single by Guzman who scored Clark from third.
The Argonauts responded scoring two runs on four hits in the bottom half of the inning. Clark got out of the inning but not before the damage was done. In her second start of the night, Clark went 4.0 innings, surrendering nine hits, four runs, with two strike outs.
Guzman pitched beautifully in in relief, she threw two scoreless frames, scattering a hit, with two walks and two strike outs.
Earning the win for NDNU was Monica Volz (1-3). Volz lasted just four innings, surrendering four hits, three runs, all earned with three walks and a strike out. Closing the game out was Jenna Bassler who earned her second save of the year. She threw three scoreless innings, scattering four hits, with two strike outs.
The Gators return to action tomorrow when they take on Western Washington and Hawaii Pacific to wrap up pool play. The Gators and Western Washington square off at 12:15. The Hawaii Pacific game is scheduled for a 4:15 p.m. first pitch.
--
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.