SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State baseball team got another solid pitching effort from Matthew Hernandez but visiting Stanislaus State got an even better start from Joe Ryan as the Gators dropped series-opener 2-0.

Hernandez, who was named NCBWA West Region and CCAA Pitcher of the Week after he struck out a dozen in a start last week, fanned nine in seven innings of work on Friday. The senior allowed a leadoff double, then struck out back-to-back batters and induced a fly out. In the second and third, he stranded runners at third. Hernandez got some help from his defense in the fourth thanks to left fielder Connor Fidone, whose perfect throw home gunned down Cody Kruip, who tried to score from second. The Warriors finally got a run off Hernandez in the fifth thanks to an errant throw to first that would have otherwise ended the inning but instead allowed Andrew Wheat to score from third. Hernandez stranded another runner on second int he sixth and allowed his only earned run in the seventh on a Jack Large groundout.

Ryan struck out 10 and allowed just two hits. In the sixth inning, Jason Hare broke up Ryan's perfect game bid with a walk and, two batters later, Fidone singled up the middle to break up the no-hitter. The Gators' other hit was a Hare single in the bottom of the eighth.

Grant Vogenthaler worked a scoreless eighth and Joshua Romero pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Gators.

Up Next
The two teams meet again on Saturday, Feb. 24 for a doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. followed by the series finale on Sunday, Feb. 25 at noon. Live stats for all three games will be available along with in-game updates via Twitter at @sfstatebaseball.