HAYWARD, Calif. – The SF State softball team brought out the brooms on Wednesday taking down host Cal State East Bay 3-2 in game one and 1-0 in the nightcap.  The Gators pitching staff dominated the Pioneers, Megan Clark earned her seventh win in game one, while Lindsey Cassidy struck out a career-high eight batters in the series finale.
 
With the wins, SF State (15-12/12-8 CCAA) is four games over .500 in conference for the first time since the Gators started CCAA action 7-1 in the 2010 season.  At 12-8 the Gators currently find themselves tied for third in the CCAA.
 
"I'm extremely proud of our team effort today," said head coach Lisa Allen.  "Megan and Lindsey both had stellar performances on the mound.  The defense was rock solid all day.  We didn't have as many hits today, but we manufactured just enough runs.  Our offense did a good job of using bunts to move runners again. We have one more day before head off to San Marcos, and we look to take this momentum with us."
 
All afternoon the Pioneers (9-15/6-12 CCAA) could not figure out the riddle of the Gators two starting pitchers.  Clark (7-4) held CSUEB to two runs and four hits over seven inning of work, all while striking out a season-high six batters. 
 
As good as Clark was in game one, Cassidy (4-5) was even better.  The Gators sophomore turned in a masterful performance, holding Cal State East Bay to three hits and no runs while striking out a career-high eight batters.  
 
In game one, SF State found themselves trailing 2-1 heading to the top of the seventh inning.  The Gators offense did their job, rallying for two runs on three hits and was aided by a pair of Pioneer errors. Kayli Shaw led off the inning with a single deep in the hole towards short, she moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. 
 
Maddison Collins remains red-hot in the two hole, she singled to center field, and a throwing error by the center fielder allowed Shaw to tie the game at 2-2 and moved Collins to third.  Sara Higa put the ball in play and a throwing error by the Pioneers allowed Collins to score the winning run.
 
Clark threw a beauty, she got out of a jam in the bottom of the first inning when she loaded the bases with one out but managed to keep the Pioneers off the scoreboard.  The Pioneers scored a run in the bottom of the second and again in the bottom of the fifth, but that was all they would get as the Gators rallied for the win. 
 
Taking the loss for CSUEB was Tatiana Beilstein (3-7) who threw a complete game, surrendering 10 hits, three runs, two earned, with a walk and two strike outs.  The Gators offense finally got on the board in the top of the fourth when Chelsea Brent clubbed a two-out double to left field that scored Marisa Andrade from second.  The double was Brent's third of the season.
 
In the night cap the Gators offense was quiet, but still managed to do just enough to get Cassidy the run she needed.  SF State scored their lone run in the top of the second inning, when Higa led off the frame getting hit by a pitch.  She moved up 60 feet on the fielder's choice sacrifice bunt by Angelica Terrel.  Both Terrel and Higa advanced another 60 feet when Aryn Guzman executed another sacrifice bunt.  Higa came around to score on the two-out single to right field by Brent.
 
The Gators offense could not muster another hit until a pinch hit single by Celeste Adriano in the top of the sixth inning, but the one run would be enough for Cassidy.  Taking the tough luck loss for the Pioneers was starter Sierra Clark (5-7).  Clark threw seven complete, scattering two hits with an earned run while striking out five.
 
The Gators will continue their busy spring break when they travel south to San Marcos for a four game CCAA series against Cal State San Marcos starting Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the CSUSM Softball Field. 

Complete Box Score Game 1 (HTML)

Complete Box Score Game 2 (HTML)

--

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.