IRVINE, Calif. — The San Francisco State softball team won both games on Opening Day with a 3-2 win over Hawai'i Pacific and a 3-1 win over Central Washington on Friday in the first day of the Concordia Kickoff Classic.
- With the win over HPU, Head Coach Alicia Reid notched her 100th career head coaching win. In doing so, she is the fastest head coach to 100 wins in SF State softball history. Her 100 games came in just 195 games for a .510 winning percentage, which is currently the best overall winning percentage by a coach in program history. Reid passes Diane Killiam (1979-99), who reached the mark in 216 games and holds the program record with 293 total wins. Only four total coaches have reached the 100-win mark. Cristina Byrne (2008-15) reached the mark in 218 games and Kristi Lansford (2001-07) did so in 256 games.
- Kai DeLeon, who was named to the CCAA Softball Preseason Watchlist, recorded a pair of hits and an RBI.
- Marley Gonzales, Daniella Guerrera, Marissa Jordan, and Kira Nilson all added one hit. Jordan and Teya Vincent each added an RBI.
vs. Hawai'i Pacific
- HPU made something out of nothing in the third. A dropped third strike allowed Alexis Oshiro to reach base safely. A Noel Saunders infield single followed by a pair of fielder's choices netted an out but loaded the bases. A Tiari Hernandez groundout brought in the first run of the game and HPU loaded the bases again but Kaitlyn Maddux got a strikeout to end the threat.
- SF State answered quickly in the top of the fourth. DeLeon recorded an infield single, moved up on a Mia Misasi sac bunt, and moved to third after Nilson walked and the pair executed a double steal. Vincent reached on a fielder's choice and DeLeon got in safely under the throw home. Vicent was caught between first and second but allowed enough time for Nilson to sprint home from third and give the Gators the lead.
- HPU tied the game in the fifth. Saunders led off with a single, stole second, moved to third on a passed ball, and eventually scored on Hailey Yoshida's sacrifice fly.
- In the seventh, Vincent was hit by a pitch to begin the inning, then stole second. She scored the eventual game-winning run on Jordan's first career hit, an RBI double to right center.
- Maddux (1-0) earned her first win of the season with a complete game. She struck out eight and scattered three hits.
- Gianna Kerschbaum struck out three and allowed a pair of runs in four innings of work for the Sharks. Taylor Thompson (0-2), who started HPU's first game of the season, came on in relief and allowed the go-ahead run in three innings of work.
vs. Central Washington
- CWU scored in the first. Kate Hopkins hit a one-out triple and scored on Alyssa Benthagen's double down the right field line, but Benthagen was thrown out trying to stretch her double into a triple.
- In the third, the Gators recorded two quick outs but a coaching visit to the circle may have backfired. Gonzales rocketed a triple to right center and scored easily on DeLeon's double to left center.
- SF State added on in the fourth. Nilson led off with a single, then Vincent laid down a sac bunt but was safe on the dropped ball. A nearly identical play followed as Jordan did the same, which also allowed Nilson to score the go-ahead run.
- A Guerrera fielder's choice resulted in an insurance run as Vincent scored from third.
- Brooklyn Heffernan (1-0) went the distance for her first win as a Gator. She struck out five and allowed five hits.
- Ashlee Laver (0-1) struck out a pair and allowed three hits in the loss.
On day two of the Concordia Kickoff Classic, the Gators take on Northwest Nazarene at 11:30 a.m. and face Colorado Christian in the nightcap at 7 p.m. Both games will be streamed on the
CCAA Network with live stats at
sfstategators.com. Tickets are available at
cuigoldeneagles.com/tickets.
