CARSON, Calif. – Playing a rare Friday double header the SF State baseball team had three big innings to take game one of the twin billing 7-5 before falling to host Cal State Dominguez Hills 9-2 in the night cap.
In the opener, the Gators (8-7/2-3 CCAA) scored seven unanswered in the opener of the series and received steady pitching from starter Ryan Bohnet (1-1) and a pair of relievers. At the plate, SF State pounded out 12 hits in the win.
"It's tremendous to get a game one win on the road," said head coach Tony Schifano. "We got a solid effort from Ryan Bohnet and Ulices Moreno came up huge with three strong innings of relief. Game two was a different story. We didn't get a quality start from our pitcher and our hitters were not disciplined with their approach. Their starter did an excellent job of mixing in and out and kept us off balanced. We left some pitches up and they took advantage of it."
Leading the Gators at the dish was shortstop Bryce Brooks who went 4-for-5 while scoring a run and knocking in a run. Chris Nicholson and Myles Franklin also had a pair of RBI's between them in the opener.
The Toros (6-8/1-4 CCAA) drew first blood, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning when a one out base hit through the left side that scored the Toros leadoff hitter Brandon Polizzi who began the rally with a bunt single to third.
The Gators offense did their part, scoring a run in the third, a run in the fourth and blew the game open in the fifth, scoring four runs on four hits. The big hit was a double by Franklin to left field that plated a pair of runs. Franklin later stole third and scored on the sacrifice fly by Ryan Burke.
With a six run cushion, Bohnet made the lead stand, throwing five effect innings to earn his first win of the season. Bohnet scattered five hits, allowing four earned runs, with no walks and a pair of strike outs.
The Gators bullpen was rock solid, throwing four innings of four hit ball with a single run scored. Dylan Bell entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning and got the Gators out of a big jam. With no outs and a pair of runs in, Bell got a crucial 5-4-3 double play to end the Toro threat.
Ulices Moreno entered the game in the bottom of the seventh and closed out the game to earn the save.
In the night cap the Gators were held hitless through the first three innings. Nicholson led off the fourth with single through the right side to end the Toros' starter Joe Bresson (1-1) who went six innings in the win.
The Toros scored four runs in the bottom of the third inning that ended the day for Matthew Hernandez (1-3). Hernandez surrendered six hits, four runs, two earned, with a pair of walks and two strike outs.
SF State cut the Toro lead in half in the top of the fifth inning score two runs on a pair of hits. Dalton Pizzuti scored the first run of the game for the Gators on a bases loaded walk. Alex Kotheimer followed scoring a run on a ground ball from Burke that was misplayed by the Toros.
CSUDH put the game away in the bottom of the sixth scoring five runs five hits to go up 9-2.
The Gators and Toros will wrap up the series tomorrow when they play tomorrow at noon.
Complete Box Score Game 1 (HTML)
Complete Box Score Game 2 (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.
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.
