LA JOLLA, Calif. – The San Francisco State softball team took game one of Saturday's doubleheader against host UC San Diego, earning a split. SF State scored a season-high eight runs on a season-high 11 hits in the opener, winning 8-5. In the nightcap, it was the Triton's turn for a big offensive game, as they took the series finale 10-4.
The Gators (4-12/3-9 CCAA) collected 12 runs and 19 hits on the day. Of the 19 hits, seven went for extra bases. SF State clubbed four doubles, a triple and two home runs on the afternoon.
Kasie Trezona and
Sara Higa were responsible for the round-trippers.
In game one, the Gators offense came up huge all game. The eight runs scored is a season-high for the Gators, as was the 11 hits. All afternoon long they came up big in crucial situations. The Gators were 7-for-18 with runners on base and 6-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
The Tritons scored two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Both runs coming after the Gators recorded the first two outs.
In the top of the second, the Gators got on the board and evened things up. Higa led off the inning getting hit by a pitch, Trezona and
Delanie Chrisman walked and with two outs, the bases were loaded for
Madison Collins who singled to deep short to score Higa.
Alexis Mattos singled through the right side to score Trezona and tie the game at 2-2.
In the bottom of the third, the Tritons scored two more, both runs coming after a two-out error extended the inning. SF State didn't wait long to respond.
Delanie Chrisman walked to lead off the fourth, Collins doubled to left field, scoring
Alexis Konstantino from first who pinch ran for Chrisman.
Aryn Guzman doubled to left field scoring Collins to tie the game.
Megan Clark (2-5) helped her own cause, singling up the middle to score Guzman to give the Gators a 5-4 lead.
Trezona gave the Gators the winning run, clubbing her second home run of the season in the top of the fifth. The Gators added two more insurance runs in the seventh. Clark held the lead for her second win of the season.
Clark's line, 7.0 innings pitched, nine hits allowed, five runs, three earned with four strike outs. She retired nine of the final 12 batters she faced. She now has 28 wins in her career, three shy of a two way tie for eight all-time.
In the series finale, Lindsay Cassidy (2-6) had a rough one. The Gator's stellar starter was roughed up for 10 earned runs in three innings of work. The big inning, a seven run bottom of the fourth, was the end of the line for Cassidy. She threw 3.0 plus innings, allowing six hits, 10 earned runs with nine walks.
In the top of the fifth Higa provided a jolt of life to the Gator's bench. The junior launched a 3-run blast over the left field fence, her first home run of the year.
Also collecting extra base hits in the contest was Guzman who doubled for the second time on the day, and
Gabby Reta who scored a triple to right center.
The Gators return home next Friday when they begin a four-game CCAA series against Cal State San Marcos. Friday's double header begins at noon at the SF State Softball Field.
