ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The difference between game one and two on Sunday was the pitching. In game one,
Megan Clark (10-13) was brilliant, in the nightcap the Gator's pitching could not hold a lead as SF State settled for a series split with Sonoma State, taking game one 3-1 before falling in game two 10-6.
Clark was masterful in the opener, needing just 91 pitches to go the distance. She scattered six hits on the day, allowing one earned run with a walk and one strike out. The start was her fourth win in a row, tying her stretch from Mar. 4-14 earlier in the season. Clark's 10
th win gives her 36 for her career which moves her into solo position for fifth all-time at SF State.
Like they did in game one yesterday, the Gators quickly got on the board in the top of the first inning.
Celeste Adriano got the rally going with a two-out double to right center, she moved to third on the single to center by
Sara Higa.
Gabby Reta knocked Adriano in to give the Gators a 1-0 advantage.
A pair of hits and two Sonoma State errors helped the Gators score their second run in the top of the second.
Kasie Trezona, who ended the bottom of the first throwing a runner out at home, led off the second with a single, she eventually scored on a single up the middle by Guzman.
With Clark dealing, the two sides trade zeros for five innings. SF State tacked on a third run in the top of the seventh when Adriano singled to center field that scored
Kayli Shaw from second.
Sonoma State finally broke through in the bottom of the seventh. Three straight singles had a run in and two in scoring position before Clark shut the door, getting a routine fly ball to centerfield to end game one.
In the nightcap, it was SF State who once again got it done in the top of the first. Guzman led off the game with a triple, she scored on the double by Mattos. Mattos came around to score on the sacrifice bunt by Reta to give the Gators a 2-0 advantage.
Guzman was a big wild in the bottom half of the inning. She walked the bags full, but escaped trouble getting a pair of strike outs to leave the bases loaded without surrendering a run.
In the home half of the second, Guzman once again found herself in trouble. This time the Seawolves got on the board, scoring two runs on two hits, the big hit, a two-out double to left field that scored the tying run.
Clark entered the game for the Gators in the bottom of the fourth and got SF State out of further trouble. In the top half of the fifth SF State regained the lead. The big hit coming off the bat of Trezona who scored a pair on a two-out single to left center.
Guzman lasted just 2.1 innings, allowing three hits, four earned runs, with five walks and two strike outs.
The Seawolves put the game away in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs on seven hits, the bit hit a two-run double down the right field line that put Sonoma State out front for good, 7-6. Clark took the loss, throwing 3.2 innings, allowing eight hits, six earned runs, with a walk.
The Gators return home next Friday when they host Cal State Monterey Bay for a four-game series. Game one of the series begins at 1:00 p.m.
