SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State softball team split an important CCAA doubleheader on Friday afternoon at SFSU Softball Field. The Gators took game one 5-0 but saw their four-game winning streak snapped with a 4-1 loss in the nightcap.
- SF State moves to 19-22 and to 15-15 in CCAA play. SF State remains tied for fifth place with Cal Poly Humboldt, and the Gators hold the head-to-head tiebreaker with the Lumberjacks. The Wildcats keep their playoff hopes alive and move to 12-24 overall and 11-19 in CCAA play.
- Gators pitcher Mari Takeda Bajan shutout her former team in game one. Freshan Elise Roy, who was named CCAA Pitcher of the Week after winning both of her games last week, took the loss in game two. The pair rank No. 6 (2.32 ERA)) and 7 (2.38 ERA), respectively, in ERA among eligible CCAA pitchers.
- Takeda Bajan got back in the win column in a big way. The Gators' game one starter hurled a four-hit shutout to lower her ERA to 2.41, which is seventh best in the CCAA.
- Kai DeLeon led Gators batters with a three-hit day. She also had two walks, two runs, and an RBI.
- Marley Gonzales went 2-for-5 on the day with a walk, a run, and RBI, and a stolen base.
- Lexi Holihan also had two hits, a run, and an RBI.
- Samy Vargas turned an unassisted double play, bringing the team's total to 22, which is second most among CCAA teams.
Game One
- The Gators set the tone for game one with back-to-back two-run innings to start the game. DeLeon drew a full-count walk and Gonzales followed with a single, then the pair moved up on Daniella Guerrera's sac bunt. Phoebe Schultz laid down a squeeze and was safe on the play. DeLeon beat the throw home, then catcher Brianna Swihart threw the ball away trying to get Schultz at first, which allowed Gonzales to score to make it 2-0.
- Holihan led off the second inning with a single up the middle, then the Wildcats got two quick outs. However, the Gators put together a two-out rally. DeLeon doubled off the right field wall to make it 3-0 and Gonzales singled her home to make it 4-0.
- Rylee McDaniel hit her second home run of the season, a solo shot to left field, with two outs in the fourth inning.
- Takeda Bajan (7-10) limited the Wildcats to four hits over six innings of work. She walked one and struck out three.
- Kaitlyn Maddux struck out a pair in a perfect seventh inning of work.
- Wildcats starter Amelie Valdez (6-14) lasted just three and two thirds innings. She was charged with all five runs, four earned, on five hits. She walked one and struck out three.
- Chloey Swenson scattered three hits over a scoreless two and a third innings of relief for Chico State.
Game Two
- The Gators took the lead in the fourth but couldn't add on. An two-out infield single from Holihan allowed pinch hitter Emily Madrigal to score from second. However, the Gators left two on, then left runners in the fifth and sixth as well.
- The Gators didn't get the shutdown inning in the fourth and the Wildcats had a three-hit inning that tied the game when Lilly Cante singled to right field.
- Chico State broke things open with a three-run top of the seventh.
- Roy gave up a leadoff single, then hit a batter. Takeda Bajan came back to pitch but walked the bases loaded. A bases-loaded single by Tayler Berens put the Wildcats up 2-1. The Gators got an out at home on a fielder's choice but another run came in on a wild pitch, and the rally was capped off by an Ali Lewis sac fly.
- Roy (11-7) lasted six innings and was charged with three runs on five hits. She struck out four and walked two.
- Takeda Bajan gave up a run, a hit, and two walks in an inning of relief.
- Katelyn Oldwin (5-9) earned the win with a complete-game effort. She allowed one run on three hits. She struck out four and walked three.
The Gators host Chico State in the Gators' final doubleheader of the season on Saturday, April 20 at Noon. The Gators will honor their five seniors:
Madeline Eshbach,
Taylor Kelly, Maddux,
Mia Misasi, and Schultz. The series will be streamed on the
CCAA Network and live stats will be available at
sfstategators.com/livestats_sb.
