SAN FRANCISCO-- The SF State Gators improved to 4-4 on the season and secured a series win over the visiting Academy of Art Urban Knights with a 5-1 victory at SF State's Maloney Field.
Matthew Hernandez recorded his first collegiate win, pitching 7.2 innings, striking out four and giving up six hits and one run (unearned) to key the Gator win.
"
Matthew Hernandez was tremendous today with command of three pitches," said SF State head coach
Tony Schifano. "We had some timely hitting to score enough to win this afternoon."
Hernandez improved to 1-2 as he pitched 7.2 innings, striking out four, giving up six hits and one unearned run.
Brent Montgomery pitched 0.1 scoreless innings of relief while
Ulices Moreno pitched a scoreless ninth to preserve the win for the hosts.
The Urban Knights (3-6) struck first as Tyler Strawn's two-out run scoring single in the top of the first inning gave the visitors the 1-0 lead. Joseph Marchiani reached on a two-base two-error by the Gators and then scored on Strawn's single through the left side.
SF State took a 2-1 lead in its half of the second inning.
Joe Chedid had a lead-off walk and went to second on pick-off attempt by the Urban Knights. He scored on a
Chad Thurston single up the middle to tie the game at 1-1.
Carter Gambrell and
Andrew Breen had back to back singles to load the bases. With one out,
Alex Kotheimer drove in Gambrell with a sacrifice fly to give the Gators a 2-1 lead.
Thurston scored the Gators' third run in the fourth. The Gator first baseman reached on a lead-off single, went to second on a sacrifice by Gambrell. Then advanced to third on a ground out by Breen, scored on a wild pitch to increase the Gators' lead to 3-1.
SF State added two more runs (one in the sixth and one in the eighth) to take the 5-1 non-conference victory. The Gators had 11 hits on the day with three batters each with two hits apiece in Thurston, Breen and
Bryce Brooks. Chedid scored two of the Gator's five runs.
Alexander Kuisel (0-3) recorded the loss for the guests, pitching 6 innings, giving up 9 hits, four runs, striking out three and walking three. Strawn and Erick Luna each had two hits to lead Academy of Art's offensive attack.
The two teams will conclude the three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1pm in Oakland, Calif., at Laney College's Field of Dreams.
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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.
