IRVINE, Calif. — The San Francisco State softball team split a pair of walk-offs on the team's 2025 Opening Day in the Concordia Kickoff Classic at Orange County Great Park. The Gators started the day with a 10-2 win in five innings over CSU Pueblo and dropped the nightcap, 3-2, to Chaminade.
- The Gators, who were picked to finish sixth in the CCAA Preseason Coaches Poll, starts the season at 1-1. CSU Pueblo was picked by RMAC coaches to finish fifth in the 12-team league and opens the season with a loss. Chaminade, picked by conference coaches to finish eighth ouf of 11 teams in the PacWest, also moves to 1-1.
- Versus CSU Pueblo, Kai DeLeon went 2-for-2 with three RBI, two runs, a walk, and four stolen bases. Kira Nilson also had two hits, and Daniella Guerrera had four RBI in that game.
- Guerrera finished the day 2-for-6 with five RBI and a run.
- Marley Gonzales went 2-for-3 with a run versus Chaminade.
- SF State had seven stolen bases on the day. In addtiion to DeLeon's four, Rylee McDaniel had a pair and Ashley Rocha had one.
Game One
- SF State relied on small ball in the first inning. DeLeon led off the season with a walk, moved up on a sac bunt, stole third, and scored on Guerrera's sacrifice bunt.
- Nilson led off the second inning with a single and scored on Ashley Rocha's RBI triple. DeLeon followed with an RBI single that plated Rocha.
- The Gators added on in the third inning. Rylee McDaniel was hit by a pitch, stole second base, and scored on Nilson's double to center.
- CSU Pueblo got on the board in the fourth inning on Caitlyn Cole's two-run homer. SF State got the pair right back in the bottom half of the inning thanks to Guerrera's two-out, two-run double to left center.
- McDaniel led off the fifth inning with a walk, then stole second, and scored on Marisa Jordan's single to left field to make it 7-2. DeLeon drove in pair with a single to right field and the Gators walked off in unusual fashion when Guerrera fouled out with the bases loaded. That allowed Ashley Rocha to tag up and score from third to walk things off.
- Mari Takeda Bajan (1-0) earned the complete game victory. She allowed two runs on three hits over five innings of work. She also struck out a pair.
- McKenna James (0-1) was shelled for six runs on six hits in three and two thirds innings of work.
- Marissa Robertson didn't fare any better in the circle for the Thunderwolves. She gave up two hits, issued four walks, and surrendered four earned runs in just an inning of work.
Game Two
- A leadoff walk and error resulted in an early Chaminade lead in the second inning. Summer Buck walked and an error moved her up to second, and Buck scored on Taneia Simanu's two-out single.
- The Gators finall got on the board in the sixth inning and took the lead with a two-out rally. Marley Gonzales tripled and Guerrera and Shaunessy Cardwell followed with back-to-back RBI doubles to center field to make it 2-1.
- Three straight Chaminade singles loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh. Pitcher Kharime Caratachea got a punchout looking but another single by Vanessa Pena tied the game at 2-2. The Silverswords then won on a walkoff walk to Taryn Fujikoka.
- Caratachea (0-1) went six and two thirds in her college debut. She gave up six hits and issued three walks. She struck out four in the loss.
- Silverswords starter Ava Walker came away with a no-decision. She gave up two runs on five hits over five and two thirds innings of no work.
- Malia Cordova (1-0) picked up the win for Chaminade. She faced five batters and allowed one hit.
The Concordia Kickoff Classic continues with two more games for the Gators on Saturday, February 1. SF State takes on No. 14 Colorado Christian at 8 a.m. and will take on host No. 15 Concordia at 1:30 p.m. Live stats for both games will be available and the game versus the Golden Eagles will be available on the
PacWest Network.
