SAN FRANCISCO– The visiting 25
th ranked Cal Poly Pomona Broncos won the final two games of this weekend's three-game series with the SF State Gators 7-4 and 9-4 to take the series 2-1. SF State is now 7-6 overall and 1-2 in the CCAA and will return to the diamond March 5-6 in Carson, Calif., for a three-game series with Cal State Dominguez Hills.
"Game three got away from us with some poor pitches and sloppy defense," said SF State head coach
Tony Schifano. "I thought we played competitively all weekend but simply lost the focus it takes to win a series against a nationally ranked team." "Overall it was a huge win for the program in game one and will continue to work to find a way to win hose close games versus quality opponents."
Game two of the series went to Cal Poly Pomona 7-4 as the game took two days to conclude.
Noeh Martinez put the Gators on the board first driving in
Logan Marston with a ground out. Marston reached on a lead-off single, went to third on a single by
Carter Gambrell and scored on Martinez's ground out. The Broncos came right back and tied the game in their half of the third inning on a one-out single by Jared James which brought in Chris Stratton with the tying run. Stratton reached on a lead-off single, stole second and scored on James' single.
SF State retook the lead, 3-1, with a two-run third inning.
Alex Kotheimer had a lead-off walk, went to second on a single by
Chris Nicholson.
Myles Franklin loaded the bases with a bunt single. With one out, Marston hit a 2-2 pitch for a two-run single to center field which scored both Kotheimer and Nicholson and give the hosts a 3-1 lead.
Cal Poly Pomona (10-4, 2-1 CCAA) tied the game with a two-run fifth inning. Stratton and Nicholas Bruno had back to back one out singles. They each stole a base and then James walked to load the bases. Stratton came home on a sacrifice fly by Caleb Romo. Bruno scored the tying run on a two-out single by Nic Hernandez.
The score remained tied until the top of the seventh. Stratton had a lead-off single, went to second on a stolen base. He scored on a run scoring single by Bruno to give the Broncos the 4-3 lead. Cal Poly Pomona added two more runs in the inning to increase their lead to 6-3.
SF State had a chance to tie the game in its half of the eighth inning. Pinch-hitter
Chad Thurston walked to lead off the inning, went to second when Marston walked. With one out, pinch-hitter
Ryan Burke walked to load the bases. Peter Beattie came in relief and induced the next two Gator batters to strike out to end the scoring threat by the Gators.
The game then was halted because of darkness. When the game started up again this morning, the Broncos added an insurance run in the top of the ninth on a Romo one-out doubled which drove in James who reached on a Gator error. The Gators had a mini-rally in the bottom of the ninth. Kotheimer singled to lead off the inning, went to second on a wild pitch. He then scored on a two-out single by Thurston. Beattie then got the final out of the game on a ground out to preserve the 7-4 Bronco win.
Tyler Rowe (2-0) picked up the win in relief for the Broncos, pitching 4.1 scoreless innings of relief, striking out two and walking six. Beattie pitched the final 1.2 innings en route to his second save of the season. He gave up two hits, one run while striking out three. Stratton had three of the Broncos' 8 this and scored three of their 7 runs.
Ulices Moreno (1-1) recorded the loss for SF State, pitching two innings, giving up three hits and two runs, striking out one and walking one. Three Gators had two hits apiece in Nicholson, Franklin and Marston.
Then in the scheduled game for today, the Broncos capitalized on a Gator error in the top of the first inning. Stratton reached on that error to lead off the game, went to second when James grounded out. He then stole third and scored on a Romo two-out single to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
The Broncos took a 5-0 lead with a four-run fourth inning which was started with a two-run home run by Romo, his second of the season. SF State cut the Bronco lead to 5-2 with a two-run seventh inning.
Jake Faulkner had a two-out single, went to second when Gambrell walked. They both advanced a base on a wild pitch and scored on a pinch-hit two-run single by Burke after
Mike Phelan walked to load the bases.
The Broncos broke open the game with a four-run eighth inning as they increased their lead to 9-2. Ryan Webberly two-run home run to left field was the big hit of the inning for Cal Poly Pomona.
The Gators came right back with a two-run inning of their own in the bottom of the eighth. Thurston walked, went to second on a wild pitch. He advanced to third on an infield single by
Bryce Brooks. Thurston scored on a wild pitch, which Brooks went to second on. Then with one out, Brooks scored on a single by Faulkner to cut the deficit to 9-4. The Broncos held the Gators scoreless in the ninth to take the series from SF State.
Jason Padlo had three of the Broncos' 12 hits. Peter Bayer (1-0) picked up the win in the start, pitching 6.2 innings, giving up four hits, two runs, striking out 10 and walking two. Ryan Allsworth record his second save by pitching 2.1 innings, giving up three hits and two runs (one earned), striking out two and walking one.
Faulkner and Phelan each had two of the Gators' 8 hits with Burke driving in two of their four runs.
Joe Chedid (1-1) recorded the loss in the start for SF State.
Box Score Game TwoBox Score Game Three-----
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.
