SEASIDE, Calif. — When No. 23 Northwest Nazarene scored three runs in the eighth to tie the game, the Gators were resilient, knowing they had been in this position many times the previous week. The San Francisco State baseball team forced extra innings, scored two runs in the tenth and saw Nathan Shinn retire the first three batters faced to pick up the 8-6 victory.
- The Gators improve to 33-24 and are now 3-1 in extra innings this season. The Nighthawks drop to 36-13-1 and play Cal State Monterey Bay in an elimination game Thursday evening.
- Kyle Olimpia went 3-for-5 at the plate with the go-ahead RBI in the tenth inning.
- AJ Schrader hit his four home run of the season and 14th of his career.
- While the Gators had the advantage in hits 12-11, the Nighthawks hit six doubles, tying the most the Gators have given up all season.
AJ Schrader got the Gators on the board first with a solo home run in the second.
The Nighthawks responded with a two-out double to bring the runner at second home. Santos had a clutch two-out 2 RBI single to take the lead back at 3-1. The Nighthawks cut the lead to one with another two-out RBI double. With one out and bases loaded in the fourth, the Nighthawks went to the bullpen. A wild pitch allowed one run to cross, and Murillo brought the other two home with a stand-up double to lead 6-2.
The Nighthawks came back, using a three-run inning in the eighth to tie the game. Tied in the bottom of the ninth, the Nighthawks got the lead-off batter on and in scoring position but
Ethan Remmers delivered back-to-back strikeouts to end the ninth.
Justin Johnson hit a lead-off double in the tenth and was advanced to third on a fly-out. Schrader was intentionally walked in the next at bat for a chance for the Nighthawks to turn a double play. Olimpia hit a bloop single to third and with nowhere to throw on the play, Johnson scored to break the tie.
River Diaz De Leon added insurance with an RBI single to extend the lead to 8-6.
Nathan Shinn took the mound in the ninth, getting a quick fly-out and striking out the next two batters to give the Gators the win.
- Ryan Garza gave the Gators a strong start on the mound, going six innings and giving up five walks, four hits and two runs while adding six strikeouts.
- Andrew Silva gave up four runs through two innings pitched.
- Ethan Remmers (3-0) gave up a lead-off walk before retiring the next three batters.
- Nathan Shinn picked up his third save of the season, only needing ten pitches in the tenth.
- Wade Duncan (6-2) took his second loss of the season.
The Gators will play Cal State Monterey Bay tomorrow at 2 p.m. The results of their game with Northwest Nazarene will determine whether or not it will be an elimination game for them or not.
