SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco State softball team earned a doubleheader split on Saturday and took the series versus No. 14 Cal State San Marcos at SFSU Softball Field. The Gators dropped game three of the series, 7-6, but rallied to secure the finale, 7-2.
 

By the Numbers

 

• SF State, who is receiving votes in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, moves to 15-5 on the season and 4-2 in CCAA action. The Cougars move to 15-4 overall and 5-3 in CCAA play.
• Kai DeLeon had a five-hit day with two in game one and three in the nightcap. Marley Gonzales had two hits in each game. Daniella Guerrera and Marissa Jordan both had two-hit games in game one and Kira Nilson went 2-for-2 in game two.
• DeLeon stole her 54th stolen base in the second inning of game one. Moments later, Gonzales swiped third for her 54th. That tied them both with Vanessa Rodrigue (2004-07) for sixth all-time on the program's career leader list. Gonzales stole a base in game two, and while at bat in the third inning, DeLeon stole third base for her 55th. DeLeon stole second base in the sixth inning of game two for her 56th career steal, moving DeLeon into a tie for fifth place with Jordanna Freemer (2005-08).
• As a team, the Gators have 47 stolen bases thus far,
• Marissa Jordan hit the Gators' first homer of the season, a three-run shot in game two.
• The Gators hit into two double plays in game one, and hit into two more in game two. The Gators turned three double plays themselves, all in game two. SF State got out of a jam in the third inning, the first time all season CSUSM has grounded into a double play. In the fifth inning, pinch runner Macy Fuller was doubled off on a fly ball to right field. In the sixth, DeLeon ranged to her right and speared a ball, then threw across the diamond to get the runner off the bag.

Game 1

How They Scored

• CSUSM grabbed the lead in the first inning thanks to Jillian Albayati's two-run homer to left center.
• The Gators got a run back in the bottom of the first. DeLeon led off with a full-count walk and eventually scored on Shaunessy Cardwell's two-out infield single.
• SF State grabbed the lead in the bottom of the second. Marissa Jordan poked the first pitch she saw through the left side, then Rylee McDaniel was hit in the knee by a pitch. Shannon Tierney, who pinch ran for Jordan, and McDaniel moved up on Ashley Rocha's sac bunt and scored on DeLeon's single to center field. DeLeon stole third and added an insurance run on a Gonzales' RBI single to right field.
• Cal State San Marcos pulled to within a run, 4-3, on Makenzie Guiliano's flare down the left field line that landed between Nilson and DeLeon.
• The Cougars added four hits and grabbed the lead back in the fifth. Aneesa Arredondo ripped a two-out, two-run double to left center to make it 5-4.
• CSUSM chased Roy in the top of the seventh and added a pair of insurance runs in the process.
• The Gators threatened in the bottom of the seventh. DeLeon, Gonzales, Guerrera, and Cardwell all singled to pull the Gators to within a run but Guerrera was caught out at third on a cutoff from the outfield, then Holihan grounded to third to end the game.

In The Circle

• Roy (5-1) threw 120 pitches in six innings of work. She departed in the seventh after two runners reached base. She was charged with seven runs, which match a career high, on 11 hits with three walks and two strikeouts.
• Nia Trinidad relieved Roy in the seventh with two on, and allowed both inherited runners to score. She gave up a pair of hits and struck out one.
• Dahlia Fink, who pitched in both games on Friday, got the start for the Cougars and lasted just two innings. She gave up four runs, three earned, on five hits.
• Savannah Coyle (5-1) came on in relief and earned the win. She gave up a pair of runs in four and two thirds innings. She walked one and recorded a strikeout.

Game 2

How They Scored

• Gators starter Mari Takeda Bajan worked out of a bases-loaded jam with no outs in the third. With one out, Albayati hit a ball to right field but Guerrera came up throwing and connected with an outstretched Gonzales at home plate for the forceout. Then, Takeda Bajan fielded a comebacker, went home to Gonzales for the forceout and Gonzales fired to first for the 1-2-3 double play.
• SF State capitalized on the momentum in the bottom of the third. DeLeon hit a ball over left fielder Madison Waymire, who was playing shallow, for an RBI double that brought home McDaniel from second.
• The Gators blew the game open with a six-run fifth inning. Rocha walked, DeLeon singled, Gonzales laid down a bunt single and the ball was thrown away, which allowed Rocha to score. Guerrera was hit by a pitch but the Cougars got outs on the next two plays. With two outs, Nilson fouled off three balls and worked the count to 2-2 before ripping a shot inside the third base bag for a two-run single that made it 4-0. Jordan put the cherry on top of the inning when she uncorked on a 3-2 pitch for a three-run homer to left field that grew the lead to 7-0.
• The Cougars scored twice in the sixth but left the bases loaded.

In The Circle

 

• Takeda Bajan (5-2) went five and two thirds innings and didn't give up a hit until the fifth inning, when she allowed two but got out of things unscathed. She allowed one more hit in the sixth and was charged with two earned runs. Takeda Bajan also walked nine batters and struck out one.
• Kharime Caratachea allowed a pair of inherited runners to score before getting out of the bases-loaded jam in the sixth. She walked one, struck out one, and gave up four hits in an inning and a third of relief.
• Jayline Sloss (5-2) threw 103 pitches in four and two thirds innings for the Cougars. She gave up seven runs, one earned. She walked three and struck out three.
• Savannah Coyle moved from DP to pitch in relief in the fifth. She pitched the remaining inning and a third. She struck out one and gave up two hits.

Up Next

San Francisco State hosts Sonoma State (13-10/3-5 CCAA) on Friday, March 7 and Saturday, March 8 in the two teams' final regular-season meeting. In January, Sonoma State announced the discontinuation of its entire athletics program at the end of the 2024-25 season. The four-game series will be broadcast on flocollege.com and live stats will be available at sfstategators.com, with tickets available at sfstategators.com/tickets.