CARSON, Calif. – After falling in the opener 7-6 with several chances to send that game into extra innings, the San Francisco State softball team needed extra time in the nightcap, winning 2-1 in eight innings to come away with a Thursday afternoon split with host Cal State Dominguez Hills.
SF State's (12-18/11-15 CCAA) pounded out eight runs and 22 hits on the day, but was held to 1-1 in the record book thanks in part to the Toros (3-28/2-24 CCAA) ability to keep the tying run from crossing the plate.
In game one, CSUDH scored seven runs in the first three innings, but was held in check the final four. SF State chipped away at that lead, cutting it to a one run deficit in the bottom of the fourth. In the fifth, sixth and seventh inning the Gators had the tying run in scoring position but came away empty.
Megan Clark (5-10) took the ball for the Gators in game one and struggled. She needed 35 pitches to get out of the first inning and was finished after two plus innings. Her line for the afternoon: 2.0 innings pitched, five hits, six runs, three earned, with three walks and a strike out.
Offensively, SF State received contributions from the entire lineup. Six players recorded at least one hit for the Gators in game one, with
Aryn Guzman and
Sara Higa collecting three each.
Celeste Adriano's 16-game hitting streak came to an end in game one. She was 0-for-2 coming up to bat in the top of the seventh inning, where she drew a walk.
Guzman was on fire at the plate. Of her three hits, two were doubles, giving her nine on the year. Higa,
Alexis Mattos and Clark also collected doubles in game one.
In the nightcap the Gators once again collected hits all over the place, but had trouble bringing in any runs. It wasn't until the bottom of the fifth inning when pinch runner
Alexis Konstantino scored on a sacrifice bunt by
Delanie Chrisman tied the game at 1-1.
Guzman (3-0) threw a gem for the Gators in the nightcap. After loading the bases in the first, and surrendering a run on two hits in the top of the second, she was lights out for the remainder of the game.
Guzman stymied the Toros to one run, on nine hits over 8.0 innings, she allowed four walks but struck out four.
In the bottom of the eighth inning the Gators finally scratched across the winning run. Adriano started the rally with a one out base hit. Her third hit of the game. Higa walked, moving Adriano into scoring position.
Gabby Reta hit into a fielder's choice that moved Adriano to third. With two outs, Clark singled to second base and beat out the throw allowing Adriano to score the winning run. For Clark, it was her third hit of the afternoon.
The Gators and Toros will resume the four-game series tomorrow down in Carson. First pitch for game one is at 12:00 p.m.
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