SAN BERNARDINO, Calif.--- The SF State Gators won their consecutive weekend conference series this afternoon by defeating the Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes 13-8 in the series finale to take the series two games to one. With the win, the Gators are now 7-3 in their last ten games to improve to 15-13 overall and 9-9 in the CCAA.
"Today was a good character win after yesterday's tough loss," said SF State head coach
Tony Schifano. "I'm very proud of this group with the way they bounced back," added the first-year head coach. We talked about the opportunity to win a road series in our grasps last night and they fough hard to get it."
The Gators were down 3-1 heading into the top of the fourth inning. SF State erupted for 7 runs on six errors to take an 8-3 lead.
Chris Nicholson had a lead-off single, he scored on a
Carter Gambrell double down the left field line which the left fielder bobbled and Nicholson capitalized on to score for the visitors.
Dalton Pizzuti singled to advance Gambrell to third. Gambrell scored on a ground out by
Connor Fraser.
With one out,
Jake Faulkner doubled home Pizzuti as the Gators tied the game at 3-3.
Nick Jackson then singled Faulkner to third and then
Bryce Brooks walked to load the bases. Faulkner scored on a wild pitch to give the Gators the lead, a lead they would not relinquish. Jackson scored on a double by
Myles Franklin Then still with one out,
Joe Chedid reached on an error which Brooks scored on as the Gators took an 8-3 lead.
The Coyotes scored in the bottom of fourth to cut the Gator lead to 8-4 heading into the fifth. The score remained 8-4 SF State until the top of the sixth when the guests scored four runs to take a commanding 12-4 lead capped by a two-out single by Pizzuti.
Cal State San Bernardino (15-17, 10-10 CCAA) added three more runs in the sixth and seventh innings as the Gators held a 12-7 lead heading into the final two innings. The Gators added their 13
th run of the game on a
Myles Franklin sacrifice fly which drove in Fraser after he reached on a lead-off double.
Jordan Simon's single cut the Gator lead to 13-8, but reliever
Dillon Houser retired the next two Coyotes to preserve the 13-8 SF State road conference victory.
SF State had 15 hits on the day paced the
Bryce Brooks' four-for-five day as he drove in three runs and scored twice and had a home run and a double. Franklin, Nicholson and Pizzuti each had two hits apiece also for the victors.
Ulices Moreno (2-1) picked up the win in the start for SF State, pitching five innings, giving up 9 hits, four runs (three earned), striking out two and walking one.
Ryan Bohnet,
Dylan Bell and
Dillon Houser pitched the final four innings for the Gators, giving up 6 hits, four runs, striking out two and walking two.
SF State will return to the diamond this Tuesday, April 5 at 2pm for a non-conference game in Rohnert Park, Calif., against Sonoma State. The Gators will return home this weekend for a three-game conference series with Cal State San Marcos beginning with an 11am starting doubleheader this Saturday, April 9 at Maloney Field.
Box Score ---
About SF State AthleticsGator 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.
