ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – A 60-minute rain delay in game one could not stop
Megan Clark (9-12) as she won her third game in a row and clubbed the game winning hit in the opener. The Gators and the Seawolves split the rain soaked twin billing, with SF State taking the opener 4-3 before falling in the nightcap 6-1.
SF State (18-22/12-18 CCAA) clubbed 13 hits on the day, three of them triples. None bigger than Clark's three bagger in the top of the fifth inning that gave the Gators the lead for good.
Celeste Adriano also clubbed a triple, the first of her career, and saw her average climb to .400 on the season.
The Gators struck first in the top of the first inning in the opener.
Aryn Guzman singled down the right field line and moved over to third by way of a sacrifice bunt and a Sonoma State error.
Sara Higa got the Gators on the board with another sacrifice bunt that scored Guzman from third.
In the bottom of the second the Seawolves answered. A leadoff single and a one out triple off the bat of the catcher Sarah Langley tied the game 1-1. The Seawolves took a 2-1 lead following a sacrifice fly that scored Langley from third.
In the top of the fifth inning the SF State loaded the bases with no outs and top-RBI producer
Sara Higa coming to bat, when rain interrupted the inning. After a lengthy delay, the Gators tied the game at 2-2 on a fielder's choice to third that scored Guzman. Clark helped her own cause with a two-run triple that scored Higa and
Celeste Adriano, putting SF State out front 4-2.
In the bottom half of the inning, a single and a double with two outs brought the Seawolves within one, 4-3. With two outs and the tying run at second, Guzman ended the inning throwing out the would be trying run at home.
Clark shut the door in the bottom of the seventh and earned her ninth win of the season, and fourth game in her last five starts. Her line for the evening: seven innings pitched, eight hits allowed, three runs, with a walk and three strike outs.
The win is the 35
th win in Clark's career, which ties her fir fifth all-time at SF State with Audrey Nauer who pitched for the Gators from 1990-94.
In the nightcap it was the Seawolves turn to light up the scoreboard first. A leadoff walk and a two-run home run by Sonoma State's second baseman Jenny Collazo, put the Seawolves out front 2-0, they would score a third run in the inning on Guzman.
In the top of the fourth the Gators took advantage of a Sonoma State error. Mattos reached on an error by the first baseman, she scored the next play when Adriano tripled. A strong throw by the Seawolve's center fielder threw out Adriano attempting to score on a fly ball by Higa.
In the bottom of the fifth inning, Sonoma State put the game away with back-to-back homeruns, going up 6-1.
Aryn Guzman (5-1) took her first loss of the season, going six complete, allowing eight hits, six runs, six walks and four strike outs.
The Gators and Seawolves will resume their four game series tomorrow. Game one of Sunday's doubleheader will start at 1:00 p.m. with game two slated for a 3:00 p.m. start.
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