ROHNERT PARK--  Using a solid team effort, the SF State Gators defeated the Sonoma State Seawolves 12-1 this afternoon in a non-conference affair between the two CCAA foes at Seawolf Diamond in Rohnert Park.  The Gators now have won eight of their last ten games to improve to 16-13.
 
"We received tremendous efforts on the mound from (Dillon) Houser, Josh (Whetstone), Shane (Martin) and Grant (Vogenthaler)," said SF State head coach Tony Schifano.  "The offense continued to stay aggressive and put some runs up early.  It was a solid team effort."
 
Ryan Burke's first home run of the season, gave the Gators a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning.  The Gator first baseman hit the fourth pitch he saw for a two-out three-run home run which brought in Bryce Brooks and Myles Franklin.  Both Brooks and Franklin led off the inning with infield singles.
 
Sonoma State (12-15) cut the Gator lead to 3-1 in its half of the fourth as Grant St. Martin scored when Jackson Leslie singled with two-outs to left field and St. Martin crossed home plate as the Gators misplayed the single in the outfield.  St. Martin reached on a one-out single through the left side.
 
SF State broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning.  Andrew Breen had a lead-off double and scored on a single by Nick Jackson.  Jackson then stole his second of three bases on the day to give him 11 on the season.  The junior center fielder scored when Brooks reached on an error.  Franklin then drove home Brooks with his eighth double of the season.  CCAA Player of the Week, Chris Nicholson, brought in Franklin with a single to left field to give the Gators a 7-1 lead heading into the final four innings.
 
The Gators added two more runs in the sixth as Logan Marston, who was one of three batters to have three hits on the day, had a lead-off double.  He advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored with one out on another wild pitch.  Jackson then singled for his third of the game, stole second and scored on a Brooks' double to left field to increase the Gator lead to 9-1.
 
SF  State, who had 19 hits on the day, added another run in the seventh on a lead-off home run by Nicholson (his fourth of the season) as the visitors took a 10-1 lead. 
 
The visitors added two more runs in their half of the ninth inning when Mike Phelan had a one-out single.  He advanced to second on a single by Chad Thurston.  Marston drove home Phelan with a double down the left field line and then Thurston scored on a ground out by Noeh Martinez to make the final 12-1 Gators.
 
Four Gators pitched with Dillon Houser (3-2) picking up the win.  He went three innings, giving up just two hits while striking out four.  Josh Whetstone, in his first appearance of the season, pitched two innings, giving up two hits and one unearned run.  Shane Martin pitched three scoreless innings of relief, giving up just one hit and striking out three.  Grant Vogenthaler pitched a scoreless ninth with one strikeout.
 
Besides Jackson and Marston each with three hits, Brooks also had three hits.  Four Gators had two hits apiece in Franklin, Nicholson, Burke and Breen. 
 
Michael Byerline (0-1) picked up the loss for the Seawolves, pitching 1.1 innings, giving up two hits and two runs.  St. Martin had two of the hosts' 6 hits on the day.
 
SF State will return to the diamond tomorrow evening for a 7:10pm exhibition game in Stockton, Calif., against the Oakland Athletics' Single A Affiliate, Stockton Ports.  The Gators will return home this weekend, April 9-10, for a three-game conference series with the Cal State San Marcos Cougars.  The series will begin this Saturday with a noon starting doubleheader at SF State's Maloney Field. 

Box Score
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About SF State Athletics
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.