SAN FRANCISCO– SF State senior starter
Peter Reyes keyed the Gators 6-2 win over the visiting Chico State Wildcats this afternoon in the finale of this weekend's conference series at Maloney Field. With the win, the Gators split the series with the Wildcats for the second straight season.
"Today was about (Peter) Reyes and his competitive spirit," said SF State head coach
Tony Schifano. "The team followed his lead and it was a great team win."
Reyes (2-3) pitched 7.2 innings, giving up four hits and two runs (one earned), striking out one and walking four. In his last two outings against Chico State the past the seasons, the Benicia native is 2-0 against the Wildcats, pitching 13.2 innings, giving up two earned runs and 9 hits, striking out five and walking seven.
Brent Montgomery pitched the final 1.1 scoreless innings of relief, giving up just one hit and striking out one as the Gators improved to 21-22 overall and 13-18 in the CCAA.
The Wildcats, who were ranked third in the region going into this weekend, took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning. Ben Gamba had a two-out single up the middle, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Dillon Kelley. SF State tied the game in its half of the second inning.
Chris Nicholson had a one-out single, went to second on a ground out by
Carter Gambrell. With two outs, Nicholson scored on a
Jake Faulkner single to right center to tie the game at 1-1.
Chico State retook the lead with a run in its half of the seventh inning. Gamba had a lead-off double and later scored when Cody Snider reached on a two-out error by the Gators to give the visitors a 2-1 lead.
The Gators scored five runs in their half of the seventh to take a 6-2 lead. With two outs, Faulkner had a double down to left field.
Joe Chedid hit a 0-2 pitch for a double to left center to bring in Faulkner with the tying run. Chedid scored on a double down the left field line by
Andrew Breen as the Gators took a 3-2 lead. Breen advanced to third on a wild pitch. Still with two outs,
Myles Franklin was intentionally walked and stole his 12
th base of the season. Breen scored on another wild pitch by Chico State to give the Gators a 4-2 lead. Franklin came in on a triple by
Bryce Brooks to left center as the Gators increased their lead to 5-2.
Ryan Burke hit a single up the middle to drive in Brooks with the fifth run of the game as the hosts took a 6-2 lead heading into the final two innings.
Chico State had a rally going in its half of the eighth inning. Pinch hitter Brandon Phillips reached on a lead-off walk, but Reyes induced the next Wildcat to ground out to a 4-6-3 double play. With two outs, Cameron Santos and Gamba walked. Montgomery came in to relieve Reyes and struck out the next Wildcat to preserve the 6-2 Gator lead.
In the Wildcat ninth, Josh Falco had a lead-off double. Montgomery got the final three outs of the game on a pop up to Brooks at short and back to back ground outs to Chedid at second as the Gators took the series finale 6-2.
Dalton Erb (6-2) recorded the loss in the start for Chico State, who going into the weekend was leading the CCAA North Division. The Wildcats fall into second place with Cal State Monterey Bay moving ahead of them. The top three teams in each of the two divisions in the CCAA will receive bids to the CCAA Baseball Championships, which begin on May 11 at Banner Island Ballpark in Stockton, California.
SF State had 9 hits on the day with three Gators with two hits apiece in Brooks, Faulkner and Chedid.
The Gators will return to the diamond this Tuesday, May 3 for a 3pm conference game in Hayward, Calif., against the Cal State East Bay Pioneers. This will be the final game of the four-game series that was scheduled in March. The Pioneers have won two of the first three games between the two teams 7-5 and 6-2 with the Gators winning 14-3.
SF State will then finish off its 2016 regular season with a four-game home-away series with Sonoma State this weekend, May 6-8. The series will begin at 2pm this Friday, May 6 at SF State's Maloney Field. The series will move to Rohnert Park on Saturday, May 7 for an 11am starting doubleheader. The two teams will play the series finale a week from today with an 11am starting single game. Prior to the game at 10:30am, the Gators will recognize their seniors in
Ryan Burke,
Joe Chedid,
Connor Fraser,
Shane Martin and
Peter Reyes in a pre-game ceremony.
Box Score
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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.
