HAYWARD – Down 3-0 heading into the final three innings, the SF State Gators scored seven runs to defeat Cal State East Bay 7-3 this afternoon of the series finale of the four-game weekend CCAA series.
Chad Thurston had a two-run double, with what proved to be the game-winning hit, in the ninth for the Gators as they swept the weekend series from the Pioneers.
The Pioneers (4-12, 1-11 CCAA) scored all three of their runs off of SF State starter
Preston Tarter in the second inning. Rob Link hit a solo home run with one out in the second to begin the scoring for the hosts. Marcus Williams and Ryan Kochan had back to back doubles to increase their lead to 2-0. With two outs, Michael Frantz drove in Kochan to give Cal State East Bay a 3-0 lead.
Tarter, who recorded the no-decision, shut down the Pioneers for the next five innings to keep the score 3-0 Cal State East Bay. The senior right-hander pitched 7 innings, giving up 6 hits and three runs, walking two and striking out one.
SF State scored its first run in the seventh on a two-double by
Jacob Lopez, which brought in
Nick Jackson who reached on a fielder's choice.
The Gators tied the game in their half of the eighth.
Mark Lindsay, who finished the game 3-for-3 with three runs scored, had a lead-off walk. He went to second when pinch-hitter
Joseph Chedid was hit by a pitch. Still with no outs, pinch-hitter
Chad Thurston hit a single to right center to bring in Lindsay.
Danny Souza then drove home Thurston with the tying run on a one-out single to left field.
SF State (8-10, 7-5 CCAA) broke the game open with a four-run ninth inning. Lopez had a lead-off single and went to second on a ground out by
Fernando Escobar. Lindsay and Chedid each walked to load the bases for Thurston, who delivered with a two-run ground rule double to left field to give SF State a 5-3 lead. The Gators added two more runs to take a 7-3 lead heading into the bottom of the ninth.
Cory Davis (1-0), who came on in relief in the eighth inning, pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the come-from-behind 7-3 Gator win. The senior reliever, who on Saturday tied the Gator career record with 16 saves, pitched two scoreless innings, giving up no hits and striking out one. Davis now has a 1.35 earned run average with 15 strikeouts and 5 walks in 13.1 innings pitched in 8 appearances.
Jacob Phillips (0-1) recorded the loss in relief for Cal State East Bay. He pitched 0.1 innings, giving up one hit and three runs while walking two. Alex Vesia had the no-decision in the start for the hosts, pitching 7 innings, giving up 7 hits and three runs, striking out 7 and walking one. Kochan had two of the Pioneers' 6 hits.
SF State, who has won six of its last eight games, pounded out 12 hits on afternoon. Besides Lindsay's three hits, Thurston and Lopez each had two hits for the Gators. They are now in a tie for fourth place with Cal State L.A. and Cal State Dominguez Hills.
The Gators are off this coming week and will return to the diamond on Friday, March 20 when they begin a four-game series with Cal State Dominguez Hills in Carson, Calif. The first game is set for 3pm on the 20
th at Toro Diamond. The teams will then play a noon starting doubleheader on Saturday, March 21. The series will conclude on Sunday, March 22 at 11am for a single nine-inning game. SF State will return home to Maloney Field on Friday, March 27 at 3pm, when the Gators begin a four-game home and away series with Cal State Stanislaus.
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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.
