SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – The San Francisco State softball began the final road trip of the season on Friday, unfortunately, the day belonged to host Cal State San Bernardino, as the Gators lost 1-0 in game one before falling 6-5 in nine innings in the nightcap.
One run proved to be all CSUSB needed in the opener, as starter
Megan Clark (10-17) took the tough luck loss. Clark went the distance scattering four hits, one earned run, two walks with two strike outs. Clark was nasty in the series opener, she threw just 84 pitches, 56 of them strikes. The Coyotes' leadoff hitters were 0-for-6 against Clark, and they were just 1-for-6 against the senior lefty with two outs.
Cal State San Bernardino scored their lone run in the bottom of the second inning. A double, a walk and an infield single loaded the bases with no outs. A single through the left side by Jessica Angulo broke the scoreless tie. Clark wiggled out of the jam, getting a pair of pop ups in the infield.
Playing in 90-plus degree heat, the Gators offense was sluggish. SF State managed one hit in seven innings, a single to right center from
Aryn Guzman in the top of the fourth inning.
The second contest proved to be very different from the first. The offense for the Gators came early in a big way. SF State scored four runs on five hits in the top of the second inning. The big hits were a three-run double by
Mallory Cleveland and an RBI single by Guzman.
Unfortunately, the Gators could not hold onto that four run lead. Guzman allowed a run in the bottom of the third on a bases loaded walk with two outs. In the bottom of the fifth the Coyotes added two runs on a Gator error in left field. In the bottom of the sixth, another SF State error allowed the Coyotes to complete the comeback to tie the game at 4-4.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, the Gators briefly retook the lead.
Gabby Reta smashed a 2-2 offering to right center scoring
Megan Asher from second. Asher pinch ran for
Katie Rohrer who started the rally with a single through the right side, her first collegiate hit.
In the bottom half of the inning, Clark could not get the shut-down inning. CSUSB led off the frame with a solo home run by Kaylee Gemmell to tie the game at 5-5.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Coyotes loaded the bases again. This time, with one out Monica Maddox singled to center field to score the winning run.
Clark took the loss in game two, throwing 3.2 innings of relief. Guzman got the start and lasted five innings, scattering five hits, while walking six, she also struck out four.
Kayli Shaw and
Sara Higa collected multiple hits in the nightcap. The Gators look to salvage a series split, with game one of Saturday's doubleheader starting at 11:00 a.m. at Coyote Park.
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