Softball | 2/10/2016 2:37:00 PM
SAN FRANCISCO – The SF State women's softball team will make its 2016 debut on Friday when it plays the first of five games against three opponents over the weekend. The Gators begin the weekend hosting GNAC foe Northwest Nazarene on Friday for a double header, they will also play a game against Notre Dame de Namur and a pair of games against Academy of Art.
Live stats will be available for all five games this weekend and can be accessed on the softball schedule page. The Northwest Nazarene series will begin at 1:00 p.m. with the nightcap taking place at 3:00 p.m. On Saturday, the Gators will travel to Belmont, Calif., for a single game starting at noon against the Argonauts. The weekend wraps up with the Gators hosting the Urban Knights for a double-header starting at noon at the SF State Softball Field.
The Gators, under first year head coach
Lisa Allen, return 13 players, including six starters and a bulk of the pitching staff from last year's squad that finished the season 12-40. Key returners include
Jennifer Lewis who hit .291 and was named to the All-CCAA Honorable Mention team, and sophomore
Sara Higa who hit .301 in her freshman campaign.
In the circle the Gators return 82 percent of the innings thrown from last season, including junior
Megan Clark who led the Gators in wins and ERA. Also providing depth for the Gators off the pitchers slab is
Aryn Guzman,
Jenny Obbema and
Lindsey Cassidy.
Northwest Nazarene enters Friday's contest with an overall record of 3-2. The Crusaders made their 2016 debut last weekend at the MSUB Desert Stinger where they defeated Minot State, Azusa Pacific, and Western New Mexico, and fell to Cal State Dominguez Hills and New Mexico Highlands.
NNU returns nine players from last year's squad that finished 9-37 in the GNAC and was a preseason pick to finish eighth in their conference this season. As a team, Northwest Nazarene is hitting .316 and averaging 5.4 runs per game. Leading the team in hitting is freshman infielder Cassidy Fifield who is hitting .571, with eight runs scored, 12 hits, three doubles and four RBI in her first five collegiate games.
In the circle, NNU boasts a staff ERA of 3.82, in 33.0 innings pitched they have allowed 38 hits, 23 runs, 14 earned, with 18 walks and 18 strike outs. Leading the team is freshman Kendall Goodwin who is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA.
Notre Dame de Namur makes its 2016 debut against the Gators on Saturday when SF State travels to Belmont. The Argonauts were picked to finish eighth in the PacWest after finishing fourth in the PacWest last year. NDNU has two key returners in sophomores Toni Cardoza and Alessandra Giannavola, who were both named to the Preseason All-PacWest team. Cardoza, a sophomore shortstop, was the first player in NDNU history to be named to the First Team All-PacWest as a freshman, Giannavola also just a sophomore, earned Second Team honors in her freshman campaign.
Academy of Art enters this week with a 1-2-1 record after going 0-1-1 against Humboldt State and splitting with Chico State last week. As a team, the Urban Knights are hitting .168, and averaging 2.5 runs per game. Leading the team at the plate is Brenna Youngquist who is hitting .417 with a home run and two RBI.
In the circle ArtU boasts a staff ERA of 5.73. In 25.2 innings pitched they have allowed 33 hits, 23 runs, 21 of them earned, with seven walks and 13 strike outs. Brenna Mitchell leads the team with a 1-1 record and a 2.52 ERA.
For in game updates for the Gators be sure to follow SF State on twitter
@SFState_Gators.
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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.
