SAN FRANCISCO — Some late inning heroics gave the San Francisco baseball team a 12-11 walk-off win to open a Saturday doubleheader with Cal Poly Pomona at Maloney Field. The Gators erased a 10-run deficit and scored two runs down 11-10 in the bottom of the ninth to win game one. The magic did not continue into the second game as the Gators fell 11-1.

By the Numbers

 

• The Gators sit at 26-17 overall and 19-16 in CCAA action while the Broncos sit at 25-19 and 17-17 in the conference. The Gators sit in third in the conference with five games to go.
• The walk-off in game one was the first of the season.
• Michael Cunningham and Christian Smith each went yard. Smith hit his first career home run.
• The Gators drew 11 walks in game one, the most in a single game all season. During game two on the day, the Gators failed to draw a walk against the Bronco pitching staff.

Game One

How It Happened

 


The Gators were in a hole early on after allowing six runs in the first inning. Down 11-1 heading to the bottom of the seventh, they started to chip away at the lead. With Nick Upstill on third, Andrew Silva hit a pinch hit RBI single to plate Upstill. Gavin Haimovitz took the first ball he saw and crushed it to left center for an RBI double. The Gators comeback moment came in the eighth when they scored seven runs to make it a one-run game. Cole Thompson hit an RBI single to score the first run. A sac fly allowed Thompson to score. With bases loaded, Haimovitz hit a two-run RBI single to make it a 11-7 game. The momentum swung the Gators way with the next at bat when Michael Cunningham blasted a three-run homer to make it a 11-10 game.

Down by only a run in the ninth, Thompson singled, stole second and scored on an Upstill single down the right line. Pomona chose to intentionally walk Smith to load the bases for Andrew Silva with one out. Silva smashed the ball down the left field line, allowing Daniel Santos to score the winning run.

WALK. IT. OFF. Andrew Silva completes the comeback in game three vs. Cal Poly Pomona! pic.twitter.com/I1frOqZKYS

— SF State Baseball (@SFStateBaseball) April 29, 2023

 

On the Mound

 

• Brody Eglite had his worst outing of the season, giving up eight runs in two innings while tossing a pair of k's.
• Theo Dopkins made his first appearance of the season and threw two scoreless frames while also tossing two strikes.
• Jace Paderez and Justice Naraghi also gave the Gators work in relief. Paderez had a career high three punch-outs in 2.2 innings but gave up three runs.
• Mitch Hofer made his season debut in the ninth and retired all three batters faced. He earned the win in relief.
• Eric Romo (4-2) drew the loss for the Broncos.

Game Two

How It Happened

 


The Gators struggled to get much going with six of their seven hits in game two going for singles. An eight-run in the top of the sixth where Pomona scored eight runs off six hits and an error proved to be too much for the Gators to come back from. Smith hit a home run in the bottom of the sixth to end the shut-out but that proved to be all the offense the Gators could muster in the second game.
 

On the Mound

 

• Gary Grosjean (3-4) made it through 2.2 innings before being pulled. He gave up seven hits, three runs, two walks and tossed three strikeouts.
• Mickey Radanovich, Gabrial Lopez and Ethan Remmers all saw time in relief.
• Noel Soto (3-3) pitched a complete game for the Broncos.

 

Up Next

The Gators will play their final home game tomorrow at noon with their Senior Day Ceremony scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. Live coverage will be available through sfstategators.com/livestats_bsb and on the CCAA Network. Updates will be available on Twitter at @sfstatebaseball.