CARSON, Calif. – The SF State softball team earned a hard fought series victory on the strength of a three-game sweep on Saturday's triple header.  The Gators received a tremendous pitching performance from Lindsey Cassidy, while the offense did their part scoring 22 runs on the day at Toro Diamond.

"We had a spectacular day," said head coach Lisa Allen.  "Jenny earned her first win of the season, Lindsey pitched really well today, and Megan Clark fought through all 10 innings.  We had several people step up offensively, one of the biggest coming from Gabby.  I am extremely proud of how we played as a team and never game up.  Each person on the roster stepped up when we needed them to."

SF State (9-8/6-6 CCAA) pounded out 22 runs on 27 hits on the day, but it was the Gators pitching staff that proved to be the difference.  The Gators starters combined to throw 23.2 innings while holding the Toros (8-19/5-15 CCAA) to 12 earned runs.  Cassidy was outstanding earning a save in game one and threw a complete game gem in game two.

The Gators and Toros resumed game two at 10 a.m., with the two sides knotted up 3-3 following a wild first inning that saw both sides score six runs on just a combined four hits.  Angelica Terrel plated a run for the Gators with their sole hit of the inning, a single back up the middle that scored Jennifer Lewis.

The Toros managed to knock Gators' starter Jenny Obbema (1-3) pretty good to begin the contest, but she settled down and was still in the circle for the Gators holding onto a 9-4 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.  Four doubles later ended her day and SF State turned the ball over to Cassidy who got the final out for the save.

Obbema threw 6.2 effective innings, allowing 12 hits, seven runs, all earned with no walks or strike outs.  Cassidy earned her first save of the year striking out the only batter she faced.

The big inning for the Gators came in the fifth, when they scored four runs to retake the lead.  Kayli Shaw got the scoring started when she singled up the middle that plated a run.  Alexis Mattos had the big hit of the inning, a bases clearing double, she scored on an error that put SF State out front 7-4.

The Gators added a pair of insurance runs in the top of the seventh that they would need as the Toros plated three four runs in the home half of the inning before Cassidy could close it out.

In the second game SF State got a tremendous pitching performance from Cassidy (2-2), who took the ball as a starter.  Cassidy scattered seven hits and two runs over seven innings while pitching around three walks and recording three strike outs.

The Gators offense struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Chelsea Brent plated a pair of runs on a one-out single to center field that scored Higa and Cleveland.

CSUDH scored a run in the bottom half of the inning on a leadoff home run in the first pitch of the inning.  They later tied the game up in the bottom of the fourth, again on a leadoff solo home run, this one coming on a full count.

Cassidy shut the door on the Toros' bats and kept them quiet for the remainder of the game.  In the top of the seventh inning a two-out pinch hit single up the middle by Gabby Reta scored Brent who proved to be the winning run.

The series finale proved to be a wild one.  The Gators offense was limited to two runs early on a two-run home run by Shaw that drove in Reta.  The Toros retook the lead later that inning, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third, they would add a run in the bottom of the fifth on a solo home run. 

From the fifth to the remainder of the game Megan Clark (5-3) battled and kept the Toros off the scoreboard.  Including stranding runners at third in both the seventh and the ninth.

Mallory Cleveland tied the game up with a two-run home run to right field, her second of the year. With the game tied at 4-4 SF State needed extra innings, finally breaking the tie in the top of the 10^th inning where the Gators offense exploded for six runs on four hits. 

Clark shut the door on the Toros in the home half of the inning to secure the win.  For the day, Clark threw 10.0 complete, scattering 10 hits, four runs, three earned, with six walks and five strike outs.

The Gators return home and host Cal Baptist for a non-conference double header on Tuesday.  Game one of the twin billing begins at 1:00 p.m. at the SF State Softball Field.
 
Complete Box Score Game 1 (HTML)

Complete Box Score Game 2 (HTML)

Complete Box Score Game 3 (HTML)

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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.

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