SAN FRANCISCO – The SF State softball played two complete games, getting timely hitting and solid pitching but ultimately it wasn't enough, as fifth ranked Cal State Monterey Bay took both games of Friday's CCAA double-header, winning game one 4-3 and followed that up with a 7-5 win in the nightcap.
SF State (10-32/5-21 CCAA) put a scare into the Otters (35-9/19-7) all afternoon.
Megan Clark (4-14) outdueled the Otter's Cori Reihnardt (21-2) for the better part of game one before the Otters rallied back with four runs late.
Clark was near unhittable in the early going. She retired the first eight batters she faced recording two by strike out. A bloop-shot with two outs in the third ended the no-hit bid, but Clark carried the shutout deep in the game.
The Gators allowed Clark to pitch with the lead, scoring three runs off the dangerous CSUMB starter. Reinhardt entered Friday's contest with a minuscule ERA of 1.84. In the third inning Gravel started the rally with a one out double to left center field.
Chelsea Brent traded places with her, doubling to left field.
Brent eventually scored on the two-out triple by
Lucy Fernandez, who later scored the third run of the game on the base hit to right field by
Sara Higa. The Gators clubbed three extra base hits and scored three runs after two outs in the inning.
The Otters eventually solved the riddle that was Clark. With two outs in the top of the sixth inning CSUMB left fielder Bianca Noriega homered to right center field on a 2-2 offering. It was just the third hit allowed all day by Clark, and the first runner to get to second base.
In the top of the seventh things unraveled for Clark, but not before she got two outs. A leadoff bunt that fell in for a single and a walk put two runners on with no outs. A sacrifice bunt put the tying run at second with one out. A pop up to the pitcher had Clark one out away from holding the fifth ranked team to four hits and one run.
But the euphoria would not last. With two outs, the Otters bottom of the order delivered. A double to right center by Alissa Greenhaw plated a pair. She eventually scored the winning run on a single up the middle by Anneliese Lopez.
Reinhardt pitched a 1-2-3 bottom of the seventh to earn the win. For the day she surrendered nine hits, giving up three earned runs with two strike outs. Clark took the hard luck loss going seven complete, scattering six hits, four runs, all earned, with three walks and four strike outs.
In the night cap
Jenny Obbema (3-7) took the ball for the Gators. She pitched a clean top of the first inning but ran into trouble in the second and was not able to get out of the third. Obbema's line for the day: 2.1 innings pitched, six hits, four runs, all earned with a walk.
The Otters added two more in the fourth, of relief pitcher
Aryn Guzman to go up 6-0. Guzman pitched effectively out of the pen for the Gators, she went 4.2 innings, surrendering five hits, three runs, all earned with two walks and five strike outs. Keeping the Gators in the game.
The offense made things exciting in the bottom of the sixth inning. Against the Otters starter Danica Arterburn (2-1). SF State rallied for four runs on some very loud contact. With one on, Higa came to the plate and smashed the first pitch she saw over the left field fence for a two-run home run. It was her second home run of the year. With two outs, Clark and
Delanie Chrisman both singled. A double by Guzman would plate both runners and cut the lead to 6-4. That's where the rally ended.
Guzman and Higa joined Fernandez and Clark with multiple hits on the day. Every Gator starter had at least one hit over the two games.
SF State and Cal State Monterey Bay will resume their series tomorrow, game one of Saturday's double header is scheduled for a Noon first pitch. Game two is slated for a 2:00 p.m. start time.
Game 1 Box Score (HTML)Game 2 Box Score (HTML)--
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.
