SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State softball team got off on the right foot on Friday, beginning the final homestand of the season with a doubleheader sweep over Cal Poly Humboldt. The Gators won 7-5 and 6-4.
- With the two games, SF State improves to 19-28 overall and 10-20 in CCAA play while Cal Poly Humboldt drops to 13-34 overall and 6-24 in conference action.
- The Gators turned their 27th double play of the season, which is the most among NCAA Division II programs.
- Vallejos also added three stolen bases to her season total, bringing her tally to 32 and overtaking teammate Lehua DeLeon for the team lead. Entering play on Friday, DeLeon ranked 12th in the nation while Vallejos was 16th.
- Vallejos also entered play ranked 19th in the country in total hits. She went 4-for-5 at the plate with four runs, two RBI, and three walks. The four hits tie her for fifth on the career all-time list with Courtney Gravel (2012-15) at 196. Her four runs scored also moved her into third on the program's all-time runs list with 137, passing the 134 recorded by Lily Tong (1988-91).
- Six different Gators scored in game one while the heart of the order provided the offense in game two. SF State's first four batters scored all six runs and were a combined 5-for-13 with three RBI.
- Kira Nilson, who went 3-for-8 with two RBI and a run scored on the day, was responsible for the Gators' other two RBI in game two.
- Madeline Eshbach was strong out of the bullpen and earned the first two saves of her career.
GAME ONE
- After Kaitlyn Maddux worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, the Gators rewarded her with early run support. Vallejos singled and scored on Lehua DeLeon's double.
- DeLeon scored two batters later on Teya Vincent's opposite-field double to right center that gave the Gators a 2-0 lead.
- The Lumberjacks answered quickly and the tied the game at 2-2. JoAna Mullins' base-loaded single drove in a run and a fielding error in right field allowed the tying run to score.
- SF State regained the lead in the bottom half of the inning. Marley Gonzales drew a five-pitch walk and two batters later, a throwing error put a pair of Gators in scoring position. Both then scored when Vallejos drove them home with an opposite-field triple that landed between the left and center fielders.
- The Gators added two more runs in the bottom of the third. Vincent was hit by a pitch, Nilson singled, both moved up on Dani Guerrera's sac bunt, and the two scored easily on Gonzales' single to right center.
- SF State left the bases loaded in the fourth and the Lumberjacks made it a two-run game with two runs of their own in the fifth.
- Marley Gonzales' solo home run grew the lead back to three in the bottom of the fifth.
- Mullins singled home another Lumberjacks run in the sixth but the Gators slammed the door in the seventh.
- Kaitlyn Maddux (8-16) needed 93 pitches to get through four and a third innings but pitched strong enough to earn the win.
- Madeline Eshbach earned her first career save with two and two thirds innings of one-run ball.
- Humboldt starter Karen Di Dio lasted just a third of an inning but ended up with a no-decision.
- Megan Escobar (0-2) moved from designated player to the circle and pitched four innings and surrendered five runs, four earned.
- Megan Holt allowed one hit in the final inning and two thirds against the Gators.
GAME TWO
- Vallejos led off the Gators' half of the first with a walk. She then stole second, then stole third and scored on an errant throw.
- The Gators grew the lead to a commanding 4-0 in the third. Sydney Jenkins executed a squeeze that plated Vallejos, Vincent cranked another RBI double off the outfield wall, and Nilson connected for an RBI single to the void between first and second to make it 4-0.
- Cal Poly Humboldt scored on an infield single in the fourth and the Gators answered right back. Vallejos and Lehua DeLeon chased Lumberjacks starter Emily McAdams with back-to-back singles, and Jenkins greeted reliever Gaige Garcia with an RBI double. Garcia snagged a comebacker but Nilson reached safely as Lehua DeLeon beat the throw home.
- The Lumberjacks scored three runs on four hits in the fifth but Eshbach came out of the bullpen to keep the Lumberjacks off the board the rest of the way.
- Kelly (5-6) didn't allow a hit through the first three innings. She allowed a run in the fourth and was chased by a three-run fifth.
- Eshbach was stellar in another relief outing and did not allow a hit in two and two thirds innings of work en route to her second save of the day. She only allowed two base runners, both of who reached as the result of an error.
- McAdams (0-4) was charged with all six Gators runs. They came on six hits and four walks over three innings.
- Garcia allowed a pair of inherited runners but hurled three scoreless innings for the Lumberjacks.
The series continues on Saturday, April 23 with an 11 a.m. doubleheader. In between the two games, SF State will honor its five seniors – Lehua DeLeon, Sydney Jenkins, Halle Nugent, Samantha Renteria, and Brylynn Vallejos. The series will be broadcast on the CCAA Network with live stats available at sfstategators.com.
