SAN MARCOS, Calif. — The San Francisco State softball team split another doubleheader and split the series at No. 7 Cal State San Marcos. Phoebe Schultz's home run in the 11th inning, coupled with a complete-game effort from Mari Takeda Bajan, lifted SF State to a 1-0 win in game one and the Gators dropped the nightcap 9-5.
- SF State moves to 7-13 overall and is 4-7 in CCAA play thus far. The nationally-ranked Cougars are 12-7 overall but 6-6 in CCAA play.
- The Gators earned their second extra-innings win in as many days and are now 4-2 in one-run ballgames.
- Both teams had nine hits in game one, though the Cougars outhit the Gators 12-8 in game two.
- Schultz had two hits in game one, including the go-ahead home run. Despite her average dropping one point on the day, she now leads the team with a .341 batting average and 13 RBI.
- Kira Nilson had two hits in game one. Daniella Guerrera and Mia Misasi both had two hits apiece in game two.
- Madison Waymire powered the Cougars in game two. She went 3-of-3 with three runs and an RBI. Ellie Alvarez also went 3-for-3 in the nightcap with two runs and two RBI.
- The Cougars stranded 15 baserunners while the Gators left nine.
- Kai DeLeon recorded a hit in both games and now has a team-high 19. She has reached safely in 19 of the Gators' 20 games this season. She also scored in game two and has scored a run in 15 games this season.
Game One
- The Cougars stranded a pair of runners in the second, and again in the fourth. In the fifth inning, SF State stranded a pair in scoring position and the Cougars stranded two more.
- The Gators looked like they might go ahead in the seventh. Back-to-back singles from Nilson and Lexi Holihan chased starter Jayline Sloss. Both runners moved up on a wild pitch but Savannah Coyle got a line out and groundout to preserve the shutout.
- Takeda Bajan got into trouble in the eighth when she gave up back-to-back singles. Gators Head Coach Alicia Reid headed to the circle and the Gators intentionally walked Jillian Albayati to load the bases. The gamble worked. Takeda Bajan induced a ground ball to second base and the Gators got the force at home. Then, Takeda Bajan got out of the inning with back-to-back popups.
- Takeda Bajan wokred out of another bases-loaded jam in the ninth. She started the inning with a flyout, then gave up a single and a walk. She got another flyout but walked Coyle to load the bases. Then, she got Albayati to groundout to second to end the inning.
- SF State stranded a pair in scoring position in the top of the tenth and the Cougars left a runner on second.
- Then, in the 11th inning, Schultz broke the seal when she sent a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence.
- Takeda Bajan (3-3) threw the best game of her career, an 11-inning complete-game effort. Over 178 pitches, the righty allowed nine hits and struck out seven, including Coyle looking to end the game.
- Jayline Sloss, who picked up the Cougars' win on Friday, settled for a no-decision on Saturday. She scattered six hits with three strikeouts and one walk over six and a third innings.
- Savannah Coyle (4-5) came on in relief and went the remaining four and two third innings. She scattered three hits but was the victim of Schultz's home run.
Game Two
- CSUSM scored early and often in game two for a 6-0 lead by the fifth inning. The Cougars notched runs in the first and third, then put up a three-run fourth, and added another run in the fifth.
- Makenzie Stenson chipped away at the lead in the top of the sixth with her two-out, two-run double down the right field line, though the Gators stranded a pair.
- Cal State San Marcos cut the two runs right back with a pair of unearned runs in the bottom half of the sixth.
- SF State made it interesting in the seventh. Misasi brought home Holihan with an RBI single and Guerrera drove home a pair with a double down the right field line to make it 9-5.
- Gators starter Elise Roy (3-5) gave up five runs, four earned, and struck out one in three and a third innings.
- Nia Trinidad gave up one run in an inning and two thirds of relief.
- Kaitlyn Maddux was charged with three unearned runs in an inning of work.
- Dahlia Fink (1-1) picked up the win. She gave up two runs on four hits and struck out and walked one in five and two thirds innings.
- Sloss returned for an inning and a third of relief and gave up three runs on four hits with a strikeout.
The Gators return home to face Cal Poly Humboldt, March 15-16 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.
