SEASIDE–   Despite scoring 12 runs on a season high 19 hits, the SF State Gators lost 15-12 in ten innings to the Cal State Monterey Bay Otters in game one of this weekend's four-game conference series between the two teams.  Kevin Davidson hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the tenth to give the Otters (21-12, 17-8 CCAA) the victory.

This was the second game in a row that the Gators have scored 12 runs and had at least 14 hits.  In their last two games, SF State (11-16, 10-11 CCAA) have scored 24 runs and had 33 hits.  Going into this evening's three CCAA games, the Gators are now in 7^th place while the Otters stay in fourth place.

For the fifth straight game, the Gators took an early lead in their first at bat.  Nick Jackson had a lead-off single and advanced to second on a sacrifice by Fernando Escobar.  Jackson scored on a single through the right site by Mark Lindsay.  Chad Thurston singled Lindsay over to second still with one out.  Lindsay advanced to third on a fly out by Bryce Cherry.  Jacob Lopez hit the first pitch he saw for a two-out single through the right side to drive in Lindsay.  Thurston scored on a single up the middle by Garrett Heisinger.

SF State starter Nolan Sheridan shut down the Otters in their half of the first inning.  The Gators added three more runs in the second inning.  Jackson had another lead-off single and went to second on a ground out by Escobar.  Lindsay walked to put runners on first and second for Thurston, who delivered with a double to bring in Jackson.  Lindsay scored on a ground out by Cherry and then Thurston scored on a two-out single by Lopez to give the visitors a 6-0 lead.

The Otters came back with four runs of their own in second inning with Ty Morris' bases clearing single capping the inning for the hosts.  SF State came back with a run in the third on a two-out RBI by Lindsay which brought in Jackson, who reached on a two-out hit batsman to increase the Gators' lead to 7-4.  CSUMB scored a run in the third and fourth inning to close the gap to 7-6. 

The Gators scored two runs in the fifth to take a 9-6 lead.  Jackson had a one-out single and went to second on an infield single by Escobar.  Lindsay walked to load the bases and Jackson came in on a ground out by Thurston.  Lindsay scored on a passed ball.

The Otters tied the game at 9-9 with a three-run fifth inning capped by a sacrifice fly by Shawn Wheeler. 

SF State retook the lead in the sixth inning on a one-out single up the middle by Andrew Breen which scored Heisinger, who reached on a single.  The Otters' Davidson hit his first home run of the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at 10-10.

The Gators came back with a one run of their own on a one-out single by Lopez which brought in Thurston to give SF State a 11-10 lead.  Thurston reached on a single and advanced to second when Cherry was hit by a pitch.

Matt Urakami led off the Otter half of the seventh with a solo home run to right to tie the game once again at 11-11. In the Otter eighth, Curtis Gomez had a lead-off double to left center scored on a double by Davidson to give CSUMB its first lead of the game 12-11.

SF State battled back in its half of the ninth inning.  Escobar, who reached base safely for the 14^th straight game, had a lead-off double.  The senior infielder advanced to third on a ground out by Lindsay.  He scored when Thurston reached on a fielder's choice to tie the game at 12-12.

Cory Davis (2-2) came on in the bottom of the ninth and struck out two batters and retired the Otters in order to send the game into extra-innings.  This was the Gators' second straight series opener that went into extra-innings.

Heisinger, who finished 4-for-6 with a RBI and a run scored, had a one-out single but the Otters' Kory Groves retired the next two Gator batters on strikeouts to preserve the 12-12 tie.

Gomez and Justin Flores had back-to-back singles to lead off the tenth.  Then with the count 2-1, Davidson hit his 8^th home run of the season and second of the game for a walk-off 15-12 Otter win.  Davidson had five of the Otters' 19 hits.  The Otter first baseman also drove in five of their runs and scored four of them. 

Groves (1-0) picked up the win in relief for the Otters, pitching two innings of two-hit ball giving up one hit and striking out three.  Jacob Cox had the start for CSUMB recording the no-decision.

Besides Heisinger's four hits, four other Gators had three hits in Jackson, Escobar, Thurston and Lopez.  This was Jackson's 11^th straight game reaching base safely.  Lopez drove in three of the Gators' 12 runs and Jackson scored four of the runs.  Sheridan recorded the no-decision in the start for SF State while Davis (1-2) had the loss. 

The two teams will return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon for a noon starting doubleheader at SF State's Maloney Field.  The series finale will be this Saturday, April 4 also at noon back at the Otter Sports Complex on the campus of Cal State Monterey Bay in Seaside. 

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