SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State softball team scored all of their runs on Sunday in the sixth inning or later, putting a scare into the opposing dugout. Unfortunately in both contests, the Gators rally would fall short as Cal State East Bay took both halves of the twin billing, winning game one 2-1 before taking the nightcap 5-4.
SF State (3-3/2-2 CCAA) was never truly out of it, but desperately needed the hit in a crucial situation. The Gators were just 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position on Sunday and 0-for-2 on the day with runners on third and less than two outs.
In the opener,
Lindsey Cassidy (2-1) took the ball for SF State and pitched well. She scattered eight hits over seven complete innings. Only one of those hits was an extra base hit. The two runs she allowed both came on balls that were softly hit singles.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, with SF State trialing 2-0, the Gators finally got on the board.
Megan Clark started off the inning with a one-out base hit to deep short. Singles by
Alexis Mattos and
Kasie Trezona allowed Clark to score. The rally ended on Trezona's single when The Pioneers (6-2/2-2 CCAA) threw out Mattos who attempted to take third on the throw home.
The Gators were held to just seven hits in the opener, with Trezona and Mattos both collecting a pair of hits.
In the nightcap,
Megan Clark (1-2) took the ball for SF State. She had it all working early, holding the Pioneers hitless until the top of the fourth inning. When CSUEB finally lit up the scoreboard.
A one out walk, and a single through the left side had two runners on for Cal State East Bay's third baseman Marisa Lerma. On the first pitch that Lerma saw she hit a three-run home run over the left field fence to give the Pioneers a 3-0 cushion. They would add a run in the fifth go up 4-0.
In the sixth inning, SF State scored all four of their runs.
Sara Higa led off the inning with a double to left field. She eventually scored on a base hit by
Gabby Reta.
Aryn Guzman followed Reta's single with a single of her own. Clark doubled that scored Guzman and moved Reta to third. The Gators plated a pair of runs on heads up base running.
Angelica Terrel laid down an excellent sacrifice bunt and reached on a throwing error by the third baseman that allowed both Reta and Clark to score.
The 4-4 tie would not last long. The Pioneers reclaimed the lead in the top of the seventh scoring a run on two hits.
Clark finished the game, allowing eight hits, five runs, four earned with three walks and four strike outs. At the plate for the day, she was 3-for-4 with a double and a triple.
The Gators return to action on Tuesday when they host Northwest Nazarene for a non-conference double header starting at 1:00 p.m. at the SF State Softball Field.
