SAN FRANCISCO – The San Francisco State Softball team battled hard in both contests against No. 7 Chico State but would have to settle for the series split against the Wildcats. The Gators could not get the shutdown inning they needed in order to preserve a win, falling to the Chico State 4-2 in game one and 9-6 in the nightcap.
In the opener,
Megan Clark (5-8) was throwing a beauty. The senior lefty stymied the Wildcats (17-4/12-4 CCAA) for 6.1 innings before Chico State was able to break through in a big way.
With one out in the top of the seventh, and the bags full of Wildcats, opposing pitcher Haley Gilham (9-3) helped her own cause, smashing a grand slam over the left-center field fence, giving Chico State a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom of the seventh.
SF State (8-16/7-13) scored a pair of runs in the bottom half of the inning, and even had the tying run on first base when Clark ground out sharply to third to end the threat.
Clark's line in game one, 7.0 innings pitched, five hits allowed, four runs, three earned with no walks and six strike outs. Her opposition, Gillham, was just a little bit better, going 7.0 complete, scattering six hits, two runs, non-earned, with a walk and three strike outs.
Aryn Guzman was a force offensively, at the top of the order for the Gators in game one. She went 3-for-4 and drove in a pair of runs.
Sara Higa,
Celeste Adriano, and
Gabby Reta all collected a hit.
In the nightcap, the offense came early and often. The Gators scored first in the bottom of the first inning. Rita's two out base hit up the middle scored
Alexis Mattos from third to give SF State their first run.
The second inning was the only inning in the game in which neither team scored a run. The Wildcats scored in two in the third, two in the fourth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh.
The Gators offense, which really came alive at the plate, scored in the first, two in the fourth, and three in the fifth. They had runners on in every inning. SF State pounded out a season-high 13 hits on the game and was 5-for-10 with runners in scoring position.
The difference on the afternoon was Chico State's ability to keep an inning alive. The Wildcats scored six of their nine runs after the second out of the inning was recorded.
Clark took the loss in the second game, throw 1.1 innings in relief, she allowed four hits, three runs, two earned with a walk. She took the ball for Cassidy in the top of the sixth after she went a strong 5.2 innings.
Samantha Mulock (7-2) earned the win for the Wildcats, she went 7.0 complete, allowing 13 hits, six runs, two earned.
Six Gators collected multiple hits in game two.
Delanie Chrisman was 2-for-3 with three RBI's. Adriano went 2-for-4 to extend her hitting streak to a team-leading 12 games. Reta went 2-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Also driving in runs was
Kasie Trezona, and
Madison Collins.
The Gators return to action this weekend when they travel to Turlock, Calif., for a four-game CCAA series against Stanislaus State. Game one of Friday's doubleheader is scheduled for a 1:00 p.m. start.
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