SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State softball team had their chances late in both games of Tuesday's double header against Northwest Nazarene.  Unfortunately, the clutch hit eluded the Gators who dropped both games 4-2 (9) and 3-2. 
 
In the opener, the Gators received a tremendous pitching performance from senior Megan Clark (1-3).  Clark went five plus innings before allowing two runs in the sixth. 
 
NNU (4-7) broke through with a leadoff double in the top of the sixth.  By the end of the inning, two runs were in on three hits.  Clark limited the damage getting a ground ball to third to leave the bases loaded.
 
In the bottom half of the inning, the Gators got to work offensively.  Kasie Trezona doubled down the line to start the inning.  Sara Higa moved Trezona over to third on a ground ball to the pitcher.  Gabby Reta remains red-hot, she singled to center field scoring Trezona.  Later in the inning, with one out, Clark beat out an infield single that put runners at the corner.  Two pitches later, Clark and Reta executed a double-steal with Reta scoring to tie the game at two. 
 
In the opener, Clark was a force, she went 3-for-4 with a pair of steals.  Reta was also had a three-hit game, she also drove in a run and scored a run.
 
Clark threw up zeros in the seventh and eighth inning, but surrendered two runs on a pair of hits in the top of the ninth that proved to be the difference.  Clark went the distance in the loss, scattering eight hits, while allowing four earned runs.
 
In the night cap, the Gators were battling time, as the sunlight was fading quickly.  Northwest Nazarene scored three runs in the top of the first before starter Lindsey Cassidy (2-2) could find her groove. 
 
A leadoff walk, and back-to-back doubles and a single down the right field line was how the Crusaders scored all the runs they would need in the contest.  Following the first inning, Cassidy dominated, scattering three hits over the final six innings, holding the Crusaders to the three runs.  She struck out the side in the fourth inning.
 
SF State scored a run in the second and again in the fifth.  Delanie Chrisman knocked in Clark from third with a two-out base hit to get the Gators on the board.  In the bottom of the fifth Freshman Savannah Ozuna recorded her first career RBI when she singled on a bunt that scored Aryn Guzman from third.  The Gators had their chances later in the game, leaving the tying run at third in the sixth and the seventh inning.
 
In the nightcap, Clark went 2-for-3 with a run scored.  She finished the day going 5-for-7 at the plate with two runs scored and two stolen bases.  Delanie Chrisman also had a multiple hit game, she was 2-for-3 with an RBI. 
 
The Gators return to action on Friday when they begin a four-game CCAA series against Chico State at the SF State Softball Field.  Friday's double header is scheduled to begin at Noon with game two scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.