TUCSON, Ariz. — The San Francisco State softball team fell 4-2 in a rematch with Minnesota State Moorhead and exploded for a 9-3 victory over Adams State in day two of the Cactus Classic at Lincoln Park.
- With the split, SF State moves to 3-5 on the season. Minnesota State Moorhead improved to 5-2 while Adams State, who is picked to finish tied for last in the 12-team RMAC, drops to 2-5.
- Marley Gonzales and Lexi Holihan both had two-hit games versus MSU Moorhead. Kira Nilson, Schultz, and Makenzie Stenson all had two-hit games versus Adams State. Schultz went 2-for-2 with a walk and is now batting a team-best .462.
- The Gators swiped seven bases versus the Grizzlies, led by four from Kai DeLeon. She also went 1-for-2 with three walks in that game and is hitting .458. SF State now has 18 stolen bases on the season.
- SF State turned a pair of inning-ending double plays versus the Dragons, bringing the Gators' season total to five so far.
vs. Minnesota State Moorhead
- A fielding error opened the game for MSU Moorhead. Azalya Lopez singled to put runners on the corners, then Evey Evans doubled to right field for an early 1-0 Dragons lead. Mack Gallagher followed with single back up the middle that scored Lopez, and Evans scored when the second-base umpire ran in front of the cutoff throw and was beaned in the back.
- The Gators got a run back in the bottom half of the first. DeLeon and Gonzales both singled and DeLeon later came around to score on a groundout.
- The Dragons tallied three hits in the second but Takeda Bajan worked out of a bases-loaded jam unscathed.
- They scored in the fourth on a fielder's choice but the Gators turned a 5-2-3 double play to get out of another bases-loaded jam.
- The Gators threatened in the bottom of the sixth but stranded a pair. SF State got the tying run to the plate in the seventh after Gonzales roped a two-out double to right center.
- Nia Trinidad (0-1) was charged with three runs, two earned, on three hits and did not record an out.
- Mari Takeda Bajan scattered a run on six hits over seven innings of relief, with three strikeouts.
- Teagan Clemmons went two innings for the Dragons and gave up a run on two hits. She walked one and struck out one.
- Steffen (1-0) moved from center field to the circle to begin the third inning. She gave up a run on two hits, walked one, and struck out one in two and two thirds innings of work.
- Evey Evans entered the circle in the bottom of the fifth mid at-bat and worked an inning and a third of two-hit ball.
- Lopez, who started at shortstop, finished in the circle and picked up the save.
vs. Adams State
- The Gators scored without the benefit of a hit in the first inning. DeLeon walked, stole second and third, then scored on Kira Nilson's squeeze bunt. SF State wreaked havoc on the basepaths in the second. Mia Misasi and Rylee McDaniel were hit by pitches in back-to-back plate appearances, then Makenzie Stenson hit a flare into right field to load the bases. Trinidad grounded into a double play but that scored Misasi to make it 2-0. DeLeon walked to put runners on the corners, then DeLeon drew a threw home and stayed in a rundown long enough to let McDaniel steal home. DeLeon eventually stole second and third but was caught at home when the Gators tried to repeat the first-and-third play with Gonzales at first.
- In the fourth inning, Trinidad unloaded on a pitch to center field for a two-run home run that extended the Gators' lead to 5-0.
- SF State added two more in the sixth. Gonzales and Olivia Clavero both walked. Shaunnessy Cardwell's ball to second base went through the wickets, allowing Gonzales to score. Jordan picked up another RBI with a pinch-hit groundout to make it 7-0.
- Nilson drove a pair of runs home in the seventh to make it 9-0. The Grizzlies got three runs in the seventh but Taylor Kelly got a groundout to end things.
- Elise Roy (1-3) earned her first collegiate win. She was efficient with 50 pitches, scattered one hit, one walk, and struck out one in five innings of work.
- Kelly pitched two innings, including a perfect sixth inning.
- Adams States used three different pitchers. Danielle Hood (0-3) took the loss and gave up five runs. Ellie Heiser and Aubree Davis both gave up two runs apiece.
The Cactus Classic continues on Saturday, February 10, though rain looms in the forecast. Currently, SF State is scheduled to face Nebraska Kearney at Noon and Western New Mexico at 2:30 p.m. Weather permitting, both games will be broadcast on the
CCAA Network and live stats will be available at
sfstategators.com.
