SAN FRANCISCO--- The SF State Gators won game one of this weekend's four-game series with the visiting Chico State Wildcats 4-3 this afternoon at The Swamp at Maloney Field.
Peter Reyes picked up the win in the start for the Gators with
Cory Davis recording his 20
th career save.
Chad Thurston had his 9
th multiple-hit game with three of the Gators' 6 hits while driving in two of their four runs.
Reyes (3-5) went 6 innings in his 10
th start for the Gators, giving up five hits, two runs (one earned), striking out four and walking three.
Shane Martin pitched a inning of relief, giving up no hits and no runs, walking one and striking out one. Davis came on and pitched two innings of scoreless relief, giving up no hits and striking out one en route to his 7
th save of the season, which ties him for fifth on the Gators' single season list in saves.
The Gators (15-21, 14-15 CCAA) took a 3-0 lead in their first at bat in the bottom of the first inning off of the Wildcat ace, Luke Barker.
Nick Jackson led off the inning for the hosts with a double to left field, which was his third of the season. Jackson now has reached base safely for the last 20 straight games. He advanced to third on a ground out by
Fernando Escobar.
Mark Lindsay walked to put runners on the corner with one out. Jackson scored the game's first run when Barker tried to pick off Lindsay at first, which the senior catcher advanced to third.
With the count 1-2, Thurston singled up the middle to bring in Lindsay with the inning's second run. Thurston advanced to second on a wild pitch two outs. He scored on a two-out single up the middle by
Jacob Lopez to increase the Gator lead to 3-0.
Chico State cut into the Gator lead in its half of the third inning to 3-1 on a two-out single by Connor Huesers which drove in Gordon Deacon who reached on a double.
SF State came right back with an insurance run in its half of the third. Escobar had a lead-off single, went to second on a wild pitch. The senior infielder advanced to third on a ground out by Lindsay. He scored on a Thurston single to right center to increase the Gator lead to 4-1.
The Wildcats cut the deficit to 4-2 on a run scoring single by Clayton Gelfano which brought in Danny Miller. Miller had a lead-off single, went to third on a failed pickoff attempt and scored on Gelfano's single. Gelfano advanced to second on a wild pitch, but was stranded there as Reyes retired the next three Wildcat batters two on fly outs and one on a strikeout.
The visitors cut the Gator lead to 4-3 in the seventh inning with Gator reliever,
Matthew Hernandez into pitch for Reyes. Sean Smith walked, went to second on a Cody Bistline bunt single. Still with no outs, Cody Slader was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Shane Martin came into pitch for Hernandez induced a fielder's choice that Smith was thrown out on at home. Pinch-hitter Andrew Carrillo brought in Bistline with a sacrifice fly to Jackson in center field to cut the Gator lead to 4-3. Martin recorded his only strikeout on the final out of the inning.
Chico State had another chance to tie the game or take the lead in its half of the eighth. Miller had a lead-off walk and then the Gators'
Cory Davis came in to pitch for Martin. Davis induced the first Wildcat batter to a fielder's choice bunt, which Miller was thrown out at second. Cameron Santos then reached on a Gator error which placed runners on first and second with one out. Davis struck out the next Wildcat batter for the second out. Then with the first pitch he saw, pinch-hitter Jeff Ortega hit a shot to deep center field which the Gators'
Nick Jackson made a diving catch to preserve the 4-3 Gator lead.
Davis then retired the Wildcats in order in the top of the ninth as the Gators took game one 4-3. With the win, SF State moves into a three-way tie for fifth place with Cal State Dominguez Hills and Sonoma State in the CCAA.
Barker recorded the loss for Chico State (15-21, 14-19 CCAA), as he pitched 6.2 innings, giving up 6 hits and four runs (three earned), striking out three and walking four. AJ Epstein pitched the final 1.1 inning of relief, striking out two. Six Wildcats had one hit apiece as they had six hits on the day.
Thurston had three of SF State's 6 hits and drove in two of the Gators' four runs. Jackson, Escobar, Lindsay and Thurston all scored for SF State. The top four batters for the hosts went 5-for-14, scoring four runs and driving in two runs. With his two walks, Lindsay now has 62 for his career which places him ninth on the Gators' all-time walks list.
The two teams will continue their four-game series tomorrow at noon for a doubleheader at The Swamp at Maloney Field. The series will conclude this Sunday, April 19 with a single nine-inning game at 11am.
Jackson's Diving Catch VideoCatch on ESPN Top 10Catch on Comcast BayArea Sports NetBox ScoreHighlight Video---
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.
