SEASIDE, Calif. – The San Francisco State softball team outlasted host Cal State Monterey Bay on Wednesday as the Gators defeated the Otters 7-6 in eight innings.
The contest resumed in the bottom of the seventh after it was halted due to darkness on March 4, with the score tied 6-6.
Alyssa Burt tripled down the left field line to cap off a three-run first inning for the Otters (23-26/16-19 CCAA). The hosts would add another in the second to push the lead to four, but the Gators (24-27/19-17 CCAA) were able to get it back in the third as
Mallory Cleveland singled home
Sara Higa, making things 4-1.
Michelle Castro doubled to center and moved to third after
Andrea Hildan reached on a fielder's choice. Hilden then stole second and drew an errant throw by the catcher that allowed Castro to score from third, making it 4-2.
Katie Rohrer reached on a fielder's choice two batters later that scored Hildan and cut it to one. The hosts pushed the lead back up to three on Courtney Henning's two-run double to center in the bottom half, making it 6-3.
Cleveland led off the fifth with a solo shot to right-center, and in the seventh the Gators continued to roll. Rohrer reached on an infield single and Cleveland walked.
Savannah Ozuna advanced both runners on a sacrifice bunt, and two batters later Castro knocked a double to right-center to plate Rohrer and Cleveland and knot the score at 6-6.
On Wednesday, the two teams picked back up to start the bottom of the seventh.
Karla Soto, who came into the game in the fourth, got two-quick outs to start the frame including a strikeout of Marissa Hukkanen.
Higa led off the top of the eighth with a single to first. Rohrer followed with a sharp single town the left-field line, allowing Higa to advance to second. The left fielder misplayed the basehit which allowed Higa to score from second for the winning run.
In the bottom half, Julia Garcia tripled with one down, putting the tying run just 60 feet away. Next batter Savanna Salyer Kovacs hit a liner up the middle and Soto deflected the potential single off her glove right to
Hayley Nunes at short, who caught the ball and immediately fired to third to double up Garcia for the game-ending double play.
Soto threw five innings in relief, allowing no runs while striking out three.
Kelsey Goodner got the start, going three innings. Cleveland went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs scored and a pair batted in. Castro, Hildan, and Rohrer each recorded a pair of hits. With two doubles in the game, Castro now has 17 on the year which breaks the single-season program record.
Up Next
The Gators wrap up regular season home play this Friday as they host No. 2 Chico State in a twin bill starting at 1 p.m. Live stats will be provided, and be sure to follow @sfstate_sb on Twitter for in-game updates.
