LAS VEGAS - The San Francisco State softball team began the 2019 season with a bang on Friday, defeating Azusa Pacific 10-5 before downing MSU Billings in six innings 10-1 on day one of the Desert Stinger tournament.

The Gators combined for 30 hits and 20 runs on the day, which is the most runs scored in two games on the same day since 2012 when they plated 23 against Humboldt State. It is the first time since 2016 that the Gators begin the season with back-to-back wins.

GAME ONE

By the Numbers

• The Gators scored seven runs and hit .538 with two outs, and also batted .625 with runners in scoring position. 
• Gator freshmen went a combined 8-for-13 (.615), and were led by Brylynn Vallejos, who went 4-for-4 with three runs scored. Nina Revoir added two hits and knocked in three runs. 
• Katie Rohrer had a pair of hits and knocked in two, and Michelle Castro extended her hitting streak to a career-high nine straight dating back to last season with a one-out single up the middle in the third and went 3-for-5 for her fourth career three-hit game.
• The ten runs and eight RBI are the most since April 7, 2018 against Cal State East Bay (12 contests).
• The win is the first time SF State has defeated the Cougars in the last 17 seasons (three contests).
• Tianna Jacques' four walks are the most by a Gator in the last six seasons.

How They Scored

• Vallejos knocked a two-out double to left center, her second hit of the game, in the third and stole third shortly after with Tianna Jacques up at the plate. Jacques worked a full-count walk and stole second, prompting a throw which allowed Vallejos to score and put the Gators up 1-0.
• Azusa Pacific tied it in the bottom half as Emily Moran doubled down the left field line and scored two batters later on a fielder's choice to second. 
• The Cougars got a 3-1 lead in the fourth as Daniella Toschi hit a two-run home run to right center, plating Olivia Smith.
• SF State got one back in the fifth as Samantha Alvarez opened up with a single to the left side, and was replaced by pinch runner Triniti Scruggs. Scruggs went to second on a throwing error, and scored on Castro's double to right that made it 3-2. The rally continued as with two down, Vallejos singled up the middle, Jacques walked, and Rohrer doubled to left that scored Vallejos and advanced Jacques to third. This brought up Revoir, who singled to right and plated both runners to put the Gators back up, 5-3.
• Azusa Pacific tied things up in the bottom half, with Racqual Espinoza doubling home Melanie Abzun, who reached on a triple. Ashley Kincaid, who pinch ran for Espinoza, scored the tying run on a passed ball.
• The Gators got the lead right back with Alvarez reaching on a hit-by-pitch, advancing to second on Castro's two-out base hit to left, and scoring on Vallejos' single to center, her fourth hit of the game, for the 6-5 advantage.
• Two more came across on back-to-back bases loaded walks worked by Rohrer and Revoir, forcing pitcher Jahzell Estrada out of the game. Andrea Hildan followed with a walk of her own against new pitcher Kat Ung that scored Jacques for a 9-5 advantage.
• An insurance run was added in the seventh as Alvarez came around following a Hayley Nunes single and stolen bases attempt, putting them up by five.

In The Circle

• Natalie Minteer allowed just one baserunner through two and didn't allow a hit till the third inning while tossing 4.1 innings in the win. The southpaw got her first collegiate strikeout as she got Espinoza swinging with the bases loaded in the third and forced Amanda Woods to pop out to short to get out of the jam.
• Karla Soto shut the door, going 2.2 innings  with one strikeout and just two hits and no earned.

By The Numbers

• Castro's stolen base in the fourth is her fourth-straight game with a steal and 46th as a Gator after setting the single season record last year. She also added two hits and two batted in, one of which came on her first home run as a Gator. Revoir went 1-for-3 in game two and a combined 5-for-7 on the day.
• Katelyn Sturm went 3-for-4 in the start in right field.
• The Gators continued their strong two-out performance at the plate, hitting .545 in game two and .538 with runners in scoring position.
• The victory is the third win in the last four contests against the Yellowjackets (1-1)
• The 16 hits by SF State are the most since February 16 of last season against San Bernardino (45 contests)

How They Scored

• Castro hit a one-out home run to left center in the third. Roher doubled home Jacques and Revoir plated pinch runner Latrice Thompson for the 3-0 lead.
• The Yellowjackets got on the board in the bottom half as Madison Kelly game around on Jolene House's fielder's choice to third.
• In the fourth, Hildan and Sydney Jenkins singled and pulled the double steal to advance to third and second, respectively. This brought up Nunes, who plated Hildan on a bunt to go back up by three. Castro plated Jenkins on a single to first, advancing Nunes to third, and the duo successfully pulled the double steal to add one more run, widening the lead to 6-1.
• One more came across in the fifth when Revoir doubled down the left field line, and Sturm doubled pinch runner Marielena Torres home.
• The Gators reached double digits in the sixth, which started with Alvarez's single to short, and Lehua DeLeon followed with a base hit up the middle and the duo advanced to second and third on the throw. Vallejos plated the fellow freshman with another single up the middle, and scored on the throw and two errors. The contest was called after six innings due to run rule.

In The Circle

• Emily Mitchell got the start, going four innings with no earned and two strikeouts. The junior pitched out of a bases loaded one-out jam in the third, striking out Payton Reynolds for her first strikeout as a Gator and getting Hailee Gregerson to fly out. Samantha Gutierrez pitched two innings solid innings with two strikeouts and no runs or hits.

Quotable

"It was nice to see our team weather the storm of the ups and downs in game one," said Head Coach Alicia Reid. "We were able to work through some opening day jitters. We had made some key mental mistakes that allowed Azusa to put some runs on the board, but I liked what I saw from our team and how we responded to adversity. We have been talking all Fall that it's a long season, we know mistakes will happen but what's important is how we respond. I even made the mistake of being over aggressive sending Michelle to third base on her hit when we were down one run and our offense wasn't phased. Brylynn came up to bat, got a single to start a rally to get another run."

"In game two, I don't think you could write up more of a complete team win than what we displayed," boasted Reid. "Everyone contributed and played their role perfectly. This team just has incredible depth and versatility that allows us to play people in multiple positions. I think our offense was geared up to finally face pitchers other than our own. We made good adjustments and attacked our pitches and it lead to good results."

Up Next

SF State continues Desert Stinger tomorrow against Minot at 4:30 p.m. and Central Washington at 7 p.m. Live stats will be provided.