SEASIDE, Calif. — David Eichhorn was fantastic on the mound for the San Francisco State baseball team as the Gators won 3-2 over #17 Cal State Monterey Bay to put themselves in the driver's seat at West Regionals.
- The Gators improve to 34-24 and are a win away from advancing to Super Regionals. The Otters fall to 36-19.
- The defense backed Eichhorn up with two double plays turned and a couple of key fly-outs from Nicholas Allred in centerfield.
- Armando Murillo was responsible for two of the three RBIs for the Gators.
- AJ Schrader was the only player with a multi-hit game for the Gators, going 2-for-4 with a run.
- The Gators drew six walks compared to Monterey Bay's two. They also only struck out twice.
Cole Thompson drew a lead-off walk to start the bottom of the third. After advancing to second off a wild pitch, Thompson was able to come home off a single up the middle by
Jacob French.
The Gators faced adversity in the top of the fourth with bases loaded and no outs. They got the force out at third for the first out, allowing the runner to come home and tie the game. The next batter popped up to shortstop and
Nicholas Allred caught the ball in center for the final out of the inning. With the bases juiced in the bottom of the sixth, Murillo took a four ball walk to break the tie. Looking for insurance runs in the eighth, Murillo hit a two-out RBI single to right field to make it a 3-1 lead game.
Eichhorn came out in the ninth, looking to go the distance. A sac bunt got the first out of the game but the runner at second came around to score on an RBI single. A line-out to short with a runner at second got the second out but Eichhorn's day was done after that.
Nathan Shinn took the mound and induced the save for the win.
- Eichhorn (5-4) was an out shy of a complete game. The Aptos native pitched a gem in front of family and friends, giving up only two runs to one of the best offenses in the conference.
- Nathan Shinn (S4) took the mound to get the final out and picked up his second save in a row. Chase Lindemann put up a fight at the plate and put the ball in play with the eighth pitch but the ball was grounded out to second.
The Gators play Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday, May 18 at noon. A win in game one advances the Gators to Super Regionals. A loss forces a winner takes all game shortly after game one.
