SAN FRANCISCO – The SF State softball team earned a Friday split with visiting UC San Diego getting an sublime pitching performance from starter
Megan Clark to take game one of the series 2-0, in the nightcap the Tritons rallied back from a four run deficit to take game two 6-5.
In the series opener the story was all about Clark, (11-7) who dazzled for SF State (23-18/17-11 CCAA). The junior starting pitcher retired the first eight batters she faced, getting out of the first two innings on just 18 pitches.
Clark's no-hit bid ended with an infield single in the top of the fifth inning. For the day, she faced 26 batters, just five over the minimum while striking out four in her two-hit complete game shutout.
UC San Diego (26-16/16-12 CCAA) countered with Lexi Edwards (12-6) who pitched around some early trouble and did enough to keep the Gators off the scoreboard. She went the distance going 6.0 complete, scattering six hits, two earned runs with three strike outs in the game one loss.
Second baseman
Kayli Shaw was the answer to the Edwards riddle early, she doubled in the first inning, crushing a ball to dead center field. She followed that up with a solo home run over the center field fence on a 3-2 offering in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The lone run is all Clark would need, however the Gators added an insurance run in the fifth when
Jennifer Lewis doubled down the right field line that scored
Alexis Mattos all the way from first.
In the night cap the Gators bats came out hot. SF State scored four in the first inning and another run in the second to take an early 5-1 lead. The big hit in the first was a three-run home run over the left field fence by catcher
Angelica Terrel, her second of the season.
Chelsea Brent followed up with a solo home run to the same spot an inning later. For Brent it was home run number three on the year.
All five runs were charged to game two starter Lauren Brown, who was lifted in favor of Hannah Duarte before she could record an out in the second. In one inning of work, Brown allowed four hits, five runs, all earned with a walk.
Trying to hold a 5-1 lead, Gators starter
Lindsey Cassidy ran into trouble in the top of the third where she was lifted in favor of Clark. Cassidy went 2.2 innings, surrendering five hits, three runs, two earned with a walk.
Clark got the Gators out of a jam in the third and kept UCSD off the scoreboard until the top of the fifth when defensive miscues allowed the Tritons to tie the game up at five. In 4.1 innings, Clark surrendered four hits, three runs, two earned with a walk and a strike out.
The Triton combination of Duarte and Edwards pitched well enough and kept SF State off the scoreboard for a combined six innings. Duarte exited the game in the fifth after facing one batter in favor of game one starter Edwards, who stranded two hits and a pair of walks over the final three innings for the win.
Brent, Shaw and
Aryn Guzman all collected multiple hit sin the night cap with Guzman and Brent both collecting doubles.
The series will resume tomorrow morning with game one slated for an 11:00 a.m. first pitch. However with the forecast calling for rains in the morning the start time could be pushed back to an afternoon double header. For updates on the schedule be sure to follow the Gators on twitter
@SFState_Gators.
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About San Francisco 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.
