ROHNERT PARK – The SF State Gators defeated the Sonoma State Seawolves 7-1 afternoon in a non-conference game at Seawolf Diamond in Rohnert Park, Calif.
Mark Lindsay tied the Gators' all-time career record this afternoon going 2-for-4 to give him 211 in his four-year career. Lindsay ties Phil Kernan's 20-year record that he compiled during the 1992-95 seasons.
Jacob Lopez (1-0) picked up the win in relief with six strikeouts in five innings of work.
The Gators jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning.
Nick Jackson had a lead-off walk and to second on a ground out by
Fernando Escobar. He advanced to third on Lindsay's first hit of the day, a single to center field. Jackson scored the game's first run on a RBI double by
Garrett Heisinger, which was his 12
th double of the season. Cherry then singled home Lindsay on a 1-1 pitch. Still with one out,
Ryan Burke was hit by a pitch to load the bases for
Matt Vera. The senior infielder singled home Heisinger to give the Gators a 3-0 lead.
SF State (18-26) added three more runs in its half of the third inning. Heisinger had a lead-off single and scored on Cherry's team leading 13
th double of the season. Cherry came in to score on Burke's double to left center. Then with two outs,
Danny Souza drove in Burke with a single to increase the Gators' lead to 6-0.
Matthew Hernandez, who started the game for the Gators, did not give up a hit until the Seawolf third inning. He retired the first two batters and then Cameron Merriwether hit a single to left field. Jourdan Weiks singled to put runners on first and second with two outs, but Hernandez induced the next batter to fly out to Jackson in center field to end the rally.
Sonoma State (23-23) scored its first run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Devin Alexander singled to lead off the inning. Logan Frandsen pinch ran for Alexander and advanced to second on a one-out single by Brandon Baranzini. He scored on a single by Hayden Cronenbold to cut the Gator lead to 6-1.
Lopez came in relief of Hernandez, who pitched four innings, giving up 5 hits, one run, walking three and striking out three, in the fifth inning. SF State added an insurance run in the 7
th inning. Lindsay had a lead-off single, which tied Kernan's record of 211 career hits at SF State. He went to second on a single by Heisinger. Both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch with one out. Lindsay scored on a single by Burke to increase the Gators' lead to 7-1.
The Gator junior retired the Seawolves in order in the seventh and eighth innings. Then in the ninth, he walked the lead-off batter. Then with one out Dustyn Macaluso singled Baranzini to second, but Lopez then struck out his sixth batter of the day. He induced the last Seawolf to fly out to Jackson to center field to end the game with a Gators' 7-1 win.
Matt Manfre (0-1) took the loss in the start for the Seawolves, who sent nine different pitchers to the mound. Baranzini had two of Sonoma State's 7 hits.
The Gators pounded out 12 hits paced by Heisinger's three-hit day. Lindsay, Cherry and Burke each had two hits for the guests. Cherry and Burke also drove in two runs apiece and Lindsay and Heisinger each scored twice. The senior catcher also walked today to give him 67 in his career, which is 8
th on the Gators' all-time career list.
SF State will return home for the final time this weekend for a four-game CCAA series with No. 19 Cal Poly Pomona. The series will begin with a single nine-inning game at 3pm this Friday, May 1. The two teams will play a noon starting doubleheader on Saturday, May 2. The series will conclude this Sunday, May 3 at 11am. Prior to the game on Sunday morning, the Gators will recognize its nine seniors with a ceremony beginning at 10:40am at The Swamp at Maloney Field. This year's class of seniors is:
Cory Davis,
Fernando Escobar,
Will Hein,
Garrett Heisinger,
Mark Lindsay,
Ryan Romero,
Danny Souza,
Preston Tarter and
Matt Vera.
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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.
