TURLOCK, Calif. — The San Francisco State softball team won both games on Saturday in day two of the Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock. The Gators bested Western Washington 4-2 and took the nightcap versus Central Washington, 6-2.
- SF State has won six of its last seven and improves to 15-14 on the season. WWU falls to 16-15 while CWU drops to 16-15.
- Kai DeLeon went 3-for-5 with three walks, three runs, an RBI, and two stolen bases. Verus the Wildcats, DeLeon was a home run shy of the cycle and drew a four-pitch walk in her final plate appearance. Her average is back up to .400, which leads the Gators.
- Mia Misasi was the only Gator to record a hit in each game. She also scored a run and swiped a base.
- Phoebe Schultz went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run homer versus WWU.
- Kira Nilson went 2-for-4 with a run versus CWU.
- Kaitlyn Maddux threw her eighth complete game and lowered her ERA to 2.52. SF State pitchers have now thrown 16 complete games in 28 total games.
- Brooklyn Heffernan also lowered her ERA to 3.20.
- The Gators sweep the series meeting with CWU. The Gators also topped the Wildcats 3-1 back on February 3 in the Concordia Kickoff Classic.
Game 1
- The Gators got all the offense they'd need in the third inning. DeLeon led things off with a full-count walk. Marley Gonzales singled, and after DeLeon stole third, she scored on Teya Vincent's fielder's choice sac bunt. Daniella Guerrera also reached on a fielder's choice bunt, though Gonzales was tagged at home. Vincent scored on a Nilson groundout to make it 2-0, then Schultz launched a two-run homer, her second of the season, that make it 4-0.
- SF State didn't get a shutdown inning in the fourth but the Vikings only plated two runs. Bay led off with a single and later scored on Paulson's singled through the left side. The Gators conceded a second run when they turned an unconventional 6-4-5-2 double play.
- Kaitlyn Maddux (7-5) went the distance for her eighth complete game of the year. For the second game in a row, she threw 113 pitches. She allowed two runs on seven hits and struck out one with three walks.
- Joie Baker (2-1) threw six innings for the Vikings. She gave up four runs on three hits but walked five and struck out four.
Game 2
- The Gators struck in each of the first four innings. In the first, DeLeon doubled down the right field line and scored two batters later on another Vincent sacrifice bunt.
- Nilson led the second inning off with a triple to left and scored on an RBI single from Hailey Weddington.
- DeLeon tripled to lead off the third and Gonzales and Vincent were both hit by pitches. DeLeon and Gonzales both scored on Guerrera's RBI single to right field that made it 4-0.
- Liana Gonzalez opened up the fourth with a full-count walk and later scored on a DeLeon single back up the middle that made it 5-0.
- A Gators fielding error in the fifth allowed Laney Kaysner to reach base and she later scored on a two-out single from Myiah Seaton.
- Misasi led off the sixth with a single and Vincent reached on a fielder's choice. Misasi scored when the pair executed a two-out double steal, which allowed Misasi to steal home that made it 6-1.
- An errant throw allowed Kate Hopkins to reach to begin the sixth and she scored on another Gators fielding error. CWU threatened in the seventh but left the bases loaded.
- Brooklyn Heffernan (6-7) went five innings and did not allow an earned run. She struck out six and allowed four hits and issued three walks.
- Madeline Eshbach allowed a hit and an unearned run in two innings of relief. She worked out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh.
- Ashlee Laver (5-8) took the loss for the Wildcats. She lasted just two innings and gave up four earned runs. She struck out two.
- Isabel Womack allowed a pair of runs on three hits over the final five innings. Womack struck out eight and walked three.
The Tournament of Champions presented by the City of Turlock wraps up on Sunday, April 2. The Gators take on Saint Martin's at 12:30 p.m. on Field 5. Live stats will be available.
