SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State softball team battled back to earn a doubleheader sweep on Saturday to split a CCAA series with No. 14 Cal State Monterey Bay. The Gators took the third game of the series, 4-3 in eight innings, and rallied from down an early deficit to win the series finale 7-1.
- SF State improves to 10-8 overall and 5-3 in CCAA action while the nationally-ranked Otters drop to 13-5 overall and 5-4 in CCAA play.
- The Gators turned two more double plays. Their 10 double plays this season leads all of NCAA Division II.
- SF State had four more stolen bases, bringing their total to a region-best 67. The next closest team in the West Region has 36.
- Brylynn Vallejos was 3-for-6 on the day with two walks, a pair of runs scored, an RBI, and a stolen base.
- Sydney Jenkins was 3-for-7 with two runs scored, and a walk.
- Dani Guerrera was 3-for-8 with a pair of RBI and two stolen bases.
- Kaitlyn Maddux earned both wins, pitching in relief in both games. She tossed seven innings and allowed one earn run while striking out three.
GAME ONE
- The Gators scored first. Vallejos led off with a single, moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, moved over to third on Kai DeLeon's sacrifice bunt, and scored on Lehua DeLeon's infield groundout.
- CSUMB tied the game in the top of the fourth when pinch hitter Brittney Perez singled, which advanced Sofia Cervantes to third, and Cervantes scored on the bobble in left field.
- SF State regained the lead in the bottom of the fourth. Lexi Holihan led off the Gators' half of the inning with a triple down the right field line, then scored on a wild pitch.
- In the top of the fifth, Oli Perez tied the game at 2-2 with a leadoff home run to center, which also chased Gators starter Taylor Kelly.
- The Gators threatened in the sixth but didn't score, and the Otters took the lead in the top of the seventh. Alyssa Burt singled and Ally Alcayaga ripped a double to the left field gap to put runners at second and third. The Gators prevented a run from scoring with a 6-2-5-6-2-5 rundown but the next batter, Jessilyn Barrow, gave the Otters the lead with a two-out single to shallow center.
- Down to their final two outs, the Gators answered. Guerrera sent a one-out single up the middle and pinch runner Teya Vincent stole second. She moved up 60 feet on Sydney Jenkin's chop groundout, then scored on a fielding error at short with two outs that tied the game at 3-3 and gave the Gators new life.
- In the bottom of the eighth, another Otters error allowed everyone to reach second safely, with Marley Gonzales moving to second after she led off on a five-pitch walk. The Gators loaded the bases with Vallejos at the plate when she was awarded first on catcher's interference. Lehua DeLeon then walked it off with a line-drive opposite-field single to left field.
- Kelly allowed eights hits over four innings and gave up two runs, one earned, one of which was the home run to Oli Perez. Maddux came on in and relief and earned the victory with one run on six hits in four innings of work. She had a pair of strikeouts looking, both of which ended the inning.
- Jensen Main (7-1) suffered her first loss of the season. The Otters' ace pitched seven and a third innings and allowed four runs, two earned, on eight hits. She struck out six.
GAME TWO
- Jessica Cross led the game off with a triple to right center and Haley Clay singled her home for an early Otters lead.
- A two-out rally gave the Gators the lead in the fifth. Guerrera singled a flare down the right field line, Jenkins grazed pitcher Cassie Gasper with a single back up the middle, and Lexi Holihan's single through the right side tied the game.
- CSUMB second baseman Sofia Cervantes couldn't handle the hop at second base on Nilson's ground ball. That allowed Nilson to reach safely and the go-ahead run to score, and Cervantes was immediately replaced in the field. Marley Gonzales hit a ball on the screws but shortstop Mary Mets speared the liner to end the inning.
- In the bottom of the sixth, Teya Vincent sent a pinch-hit triple down the right field line and Kai DeLeon reached safely when the throw from short pulled the fielder at first base off the bag. Vallejos chopped a ball for to short that the fielder didn't make a throw on, allowing an insurance run to score on the fielder's choice. Then the flood gates opened. Guerrera ripped a single back up the middle that scored two and chased Gasper. A fielding error and a throwing error on back-to-back plays grew the Gators' lead to 7-1.
- Holihan allowed one run on seven hits over four innings of work.
- Maddux picked up her second win of the day with three shutout innings of relief. She faced just two over the minimum.
- Cassie Gasper (5-4) lasted five and a third innings and was charged with all seven runs, three earned, for the loss.
The Gators head to Stanislaus State (3-10/1-7 CCAA) for a four-game series next week, March 4 and 5 . The Games will be broadcast on the CCAA Network with live stats available at sfstategators.com.
