SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State softball team returned home on Friday but didn't end up with the result they were looking for. An error opened the door for a crooked inning in game one as the Gators fell 5-1. With the Toros down to their final strike in game two, the Gators gave up a go-ahead homer to drop the nightcap 4-3.
- With the two games, SF State slides to 16-23 overall and 7-15 in CCAA play while Cal State Dominguez Hills improves to 28-14 and 16-10 in conference action. The Gators remain in seventh place behind Cal State East Bay, who also lost a pair on Friday.
- The DeLeon sisters each had a steal, bringing the team's season total to 103 for the season.
- Lehua DeLeon went 4-for-7 with a run for the day. She is third on the team in batting and one of four Gators batting .300 or better.
- Kai DeLeon went 4-for-6 with a run and an RBI.
- The Gators were outhit 18-15 on the day.
- SF State stranded a dozen base runners, including nine in game one.
GAME ONE
- A fielding error led to an unearned Toros run in the third. With two outs and runners at second and third thanks to a couple of stolen bases, Kianna Abellera drew a throw from catcher Sydney Jenkins and stayed in a rundown long enough for Chenoa Au to score from third.
- Another Gators error proved costly in the fifth inning. Lehua DeLeon tagged the runner and went to throw to first for a potential double play but the umpire ruled that she bobbled the ball before making the transfer and both runners were safe. Abellera lined out for the second out and DeLeon flipped the ball to her sister covering the bag at second for another potential double play but the runner there was called safe. Then, Raquel Jaime singled home a pair and Katelyn Sturm singled home another run. Sturm was later caught in a rundown but not before Claudia Valencia scored from third to make it 5-0.
- The Gators got a run back in the seventh on Lehua DeLeon's RBI single to center field that plated Marley Gonzales, who led off the seventh with a single.
- Kaitlyn Maddux (6-14) went the distance for her team-leading eighth complete game for the Gators but was saddled with the loss despite giving up an earned run.
- Alyssa Olague (13-9) went four and two-thirds innings en route to the win in game one. She struck out five and allowed just three hits.
- Ashley Wies gave up a run on five hits in two and a third innings of relief for the Toros.
GAME TWO
- A leadoff error opened the door for the Toros in the top of the second. The Gators kept a run off the board thanks to Kai DeLeon's throw home that got Valencia at the plate but Kaylee Hull and Alex Davis each doubled home a run for an early 2-0 Toros advantage.
- SF State got a run back in the third. Kai DeLeon singled and stole second, and moved up to third on her sister's single to center. The Gators manufactured a run themselves when the elder DeLeon sister sacrificed her in a rundown that allowed Kai DeLeon to score from third.
- With one out in the fifth, Marley Gonzales dropped a bunt single, then scored on Kai DeLeon triple down the left field line that tied the game at 2-2.
- The Gators took advantage of a Toros error in the bottom of the sixth. Lehua DeLeon reached on a fielding error at short and moved over on Kira Nilson's sac bunt. With one out, DeLeon stole third and scored on the catcher's errant throw that landed in the dirt and skipped away into foul territory.
- Madeline Eshbach got two quick outs in the seventh but issued a free pass to Jaime. That proved costly as Valencia homered on the next pitch to left field to put the Toros up 4-3.
- SF State got runners on first and second but a double play ended the game.
- Taylor Kelly gave up a pair of runs, one earned, over two and a third innings.
- Eshbach (2-3) surrendered three runs, two earned, in two and a third innings of relief. She come on in the third with one out and didn't allow a runner past second until the fateful home run.
- Olague (14-9) went the distance in game two for her second win of the day. She allowed seven hits and sturck out a pair.
The Gators and Toros meet again on Saturday for games three and four of the series beginning at 11 a.m. Fans who are attending the games are encouraged to arrive early as Saturday is also the campus' Admitted Student Day. Saturday's doubleheader will be broadcast on the CCAA Network with live stats available at sfstategators.com.
