SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The San Francisco State softball team dropped its first CCAA series of the season on Saturday. After splitting the first two games of the series on Friday, the Gators dropped both games of Saturday's doubleheader at Cal State San Bernardino, 15-14 and 8-4.
- SF State moves to 4-8 overall and opens CCAA action at 1-4. CSUSB moves to 6-3 overall and to 3-1 in CCAA play.
- Phoebe Schultz went 3-for-5 on the day with two home runs, four RBI, four runs, and a walk.
- Makenzie Stenson went 4-for-7 on the day, including the freshman's first career home run, and currently leads the team with a .444 batting average.
- Kira Nilson and Marley Gonzales both had three-hit days, and Shaunessy Cardwell and Kai DeLeon both had two-hit days.
- DeLeon scored in each game and has now scored a run in eight consecutive games. She recorded a hit in each game and has now reached safely in all 12 games. Having finished the season on a 19-game streak, she has now reached base safely in 31 consecutive games dating back to April 7, 2023.
- The Gators had four home runs in game one but were outscored 23-18 on the day. The 15 runs allowed and 14 scored were the most since the Gators lost 15-11 last March 18 at Cal Poly Humboldt.
- Both teams racked up 14 hits in game one and CSUSB outhit the Gators 12-9 in the series finale.
- Seven errors gave the game to CSUSB in game one. The tally was the most in a single game dating back to March 25, 2023 when the Gators had seven in a 7-6 to Cal State San Marcos.
Game One
- Schultz's two-run shot in the first inning gave the Gators an early 2-0 lead but an error in the bottom half of the inning allowed CSUSB to take the lead, 3-2. The Coyotes added on with an unearned run in the second and another run in the third to grow their lead to 5-2.
- Nilson and Stenson had RBI singles in the top of the fourth that cut the lead to 5-4.
- SF State unleashed for a seven-run fifth inning. With the bases loaded, Nilson shot a ball inside of third base that gave SF State the lead back, 6-4. Cardwell had a pinch hit home run to make it 9-5.
- Lexi Holihan was hit by a pitch and Stenson left no doubt with her first career homer, a two-run shot to left center that made it 11-5.
- However, CSUSB took advantage of a four-error bottom of the fifth by the Gators. Coupled with five hits, the Coyotes retook the lead, 13-11.
- SF State stormed right back with three runs in the top of the sixth. Gonzales led off with a single to center and two batters later, Schultz launched her second homer of the day to tie the game at 13-13. Stenson capped off the inning with a two-out single up the middle to put SF State back in front, 14-13.
- The Gators couldn't get the shutdown inning they desperately needed and another error allowed the Coyotes to tie the game at 14-14. With two outs and two strikes, Lindsey Marschall was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring in the go-ahead run.
- Kaitlyn Maddux gave up nine runs, six earned, in four and a third innings but ended up with a no-decision.
- Mari Takeda Bajan faced four batters and Nia Trinidad (0-2) took the loss after giving up two runs, neither earned, in an inning and two thirds.
- The Coyotes used four pitchers. Starter Brooke Blackmon (2-2) departed in the fourth but eventually reentered in the sixth and earned the win.
Game Two
- SF State took a 3-0 lead in the first inning of game two but was unable to hold on.
- CSUSB got two runs back in the bottom half of the first with a two-out rally.
- The Gators added a run in the third when Cardwell reached on an error that would have ended the inning, allowing Guerrera to score from third.
- A shutdown inning proved elusive again in the bottom of the third. Brooke Brazil led off with a double and scored on a Tereise Tosi single back up the middle. Mia Escujuri's single up the middle tied the game at 4-4.
- The Coyotes took the lead for good with a thre-run fifth inning and tacked on one more with an Emilie Lapena two-out single in the sixth.
- Samantha Vargas (4-1) went the distance in game two. She scattered four runs, three earned, on nine hits.
- Trinidad started game two and gave up four runs over two innings.
- Elise Roy pitched two scoreless innings.
- Maddux (1-1) came on in relief in game two and was charged with the loss after giving up four runs.
The Gators host Cal State Monterey Bay in a four-game series, February 23 and 24 at SFSU Softball Field. The games will be broadcast on the
CCAA Network and live stats will be available at
sfstategators.com. Tickets are available at
sfstategators.com/tickets.
