SAN FRANCISCO – The SF State Softball team came within 60 feet of earning a Saturday sweep which would have given the Gators the series victory against Stanislaus State. Unfortunately with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the seventh trailing a run, the Gators were held scoreless and settled for the Saturday split, taking game one 2-1 before falling to the Warriors 3-2 in the series finale.
"The team came to play today," said head coach
Lisa Allen. "Jenny and the defense held strong for the 2-1 win. Lindsey gave another solid pitching performance. One more clutch hit and we come away with the series. We learned a couple things as a team this weekend and look to improve upon them in our next games on Monday against Cal State East Bay."
Jenny Obbema (2-3) was brilliant for the Gators in the opener, scattering three hits and an earned run over seven strong innings for her second win of the season.
The Gators defense made some tremendous plays in support of their senior starter, notably right fielder
Aryn Guzman who showed great range tracking down deep fly balls and flashed her strong arm throwing a pair of runners out at second base.
Offensively, the Gators (11-12/8-8 CCAA) did just enough, recording two runs on seven hits in game one. The top of the order combo of
Alexis Mattos and
Madison Collins both tallied a pair of hits, with Collins knocking in the winning run in the bottom of the third with a single to left field that scored
Kayli Shaw.
SF State also had some thunder in the lineup, Mattos clubbed her third double of the year in the bottom of the third inning. Senior first baseman
Marisa Andrade launched her first home run of the season, a solo shot to deep left field in the bottom of the second.
The two runs would be just enough for Obbema who held the Warriors (15-12/12-10 CCAA) scoreless through 3.2 innings before a two-out single to center field netted the Warriors their only run of the game.
Taking the loss for the Warriors in game one was Kylie Ragsdale (9-7) who threw six innings, surrendering seven hits, two runs, both earned with a strike out.
In the nightcap the Gators stranded eight runners on the afternoon, none loomed larger than the three standing on the bases when the Warriors recorded the final and SF State was down a run.
The Gators and Warriors were mired in a tight pitcher's duel between
Lindsey Cassidy (2-5) and Karina Callazo (5-1) before the Warriors struck first, scoring three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth inning.
SF State's offense was quiet through most of the afternoon against Callazo, but finally broke through in the bottom of the fifth inning. Collins struck again with the second of her two doubles in the contest, this time she plated a pair of runs to cut the Warrior lead to one, 3-2.
Cassidy came back out for the Gators in the top of the seventh inning, but a leadoff walk ended her afternoon. She threw 6.0 innings, scattering nine hits, three runs with three walks and four strike outs for a quality start.
Megan Clark threw the final frame for SF State, getting out of a bases loaded jam with the help of a great catch on a hard hit line drive by Andrade who then tagged the runner out at first for the inning ending double play.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Ragsdale came in on relief for the Warriors and after loading the bases up following a walk, an error and a base hit, she managed to get the final three outs for the save.
Earning the win was Callazo who threw six complete, surrendering six hits, two runs, both earned, with a walk and a strike out.
Collins was 2-for-4 with two RBI in game two.
Chelsea Brent had a solid day at the plate, she went 2-for-2 with a run scored. Guzman, Higa and Shaw all had a hit as well.
SF State returns to action on Monday when they travel to Hayward, Calif. to take on Cal State East Bay for a four-game series starting at 1:00 PM at Pioneer Field.
Complete Box Score Game 1 (
PDF)
Complete Box Score Game 2 (
PDF)
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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.