HAYWARD, Calif. – The San Francisco State softball team opened up the series with host Cal State East Bay on Thursday with a 3-1 win in game one before falling 3-2 in game two. In the effort, Michelle Castro became the single-season steals leader in program history with 34 thefts.
 
Lindsey Cassidy got the start in game one, sitting down the Pioneers (16-25/10-20 CCAA) in order in the bottom of the first. The hosts took a 1-0 lead in the second as Maddie Ramirez drew a bases-loaded walk for the first run of the game.
 
Castro led off the fourth with a double to left, and promptly stole third. She later scored on an error by the catcher to knot the score 1-1. SF State (16-24/11-14 CCAA) turned a 5-4-3 double play to null a leadoff Pioneer single in the fourth, one of their two double plays turned in the contest.
 
In the fifth, Angelica Terrel knocked a single up the middle and was replaced by pinch runner Marielena Torres. Castro plated her on a single up the middle to give the Gators their first lead of the day, and then stole second and third. Andrea Hildan then plated Castro on a single to center field to make it 3-1.
 
Cassidy and the Gator defense did the rest as the Pioneers were retired in order in the sixth and seventh innings.
 
In game two, East Bay got on the board in the first as Sarah Fukushima singled through the right side that scored Jennifer Palmares. The Pioneers quickly added another following Rachel Tadlock's base hit to center field that plated Courtney Leyba, making it 2-0.
 
Karla Soto struck out Baldon looking to begin the second, and proceeded to retire the Pioneers in order in the second, third, and fourth innings. The Gators loaded the bases in the top of the fourth on singles by Sara Higa and Mallory Cleveland, however SF State couldn't bring any runners around to narrow the deficit.
 
Leyba tripled home another run to extend the host lead to 3-0 in the sixth. SF State finally broke through in the seventh, with Madison Collins knocking a one-out single to short. She advanced to second on Terrel's infield single, and scored on Savannah Ozuna's base hit to right. The rally continued as Castro reached on a fielder's choice to the shortstop that allowed pinch runner Kylee Brown to score and cut it to 3-2.
 
The three stolen bases in game one for Castro tie a season-high. The Gators currently have 96 swipes this season, and are one away from tying the program record that was set in 2005.
 
Up Next
The two squads wrap up the series on Saturday in a doubleheader that starts at noon. Live stats will be provided, and be sure to follow @sfstate_sb on Twitter for in-game updates.