SEASIDE, Calif. — The No. 21 San Francisco State softball team secured a series win over host Cal State Monterey Bay on Saturday afternoon with a doubleheader split. The Gators fell 3-2 before picking up the 2-0 win in the series finale.
- SF State, which is ranked No. 21 in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, moves to 21-7 on the season and 10-4 in CCAA action. The Otters move to 14-13 overall and 6-10 in CCAA play.
- Kai DeLeon had two hits on the day, giving her 185 career hits. That leaves her alone in ninth all-time in program history, passing Jennifer Lewis' (2013-16) 183. DeLeon also had two steals to bring her career total to 62, tying her with teammate Marley Gonzales for fourth on the career leader list.
- As a team, the Gators had three steals, bringing the team total to 63 on the season. The Gators lead the CCAA and are currently in ninth place all-time in team single season history and are chasing last year's squad with 72.
- Rylee McDaniel launched her third home run of the series in game one.
- Mari Takeda Bajan pitched a four-hit shutout for the team's eighth shutout of the season.
- SF State's four hits in game two matched their fewest of the season. However, they've won four of those five games. The Otters also matched their fewest hits of the season with three but they have gone 1-3 in games where they've registered just three hits.
- Four of the Gators' seven losses have been one-run decisions.
Game 1
- The Gators got on the board in the top of the first. DeLeon led the game off with a double and later scored on a Nilson sacrifice fly. The Otters took the lead in the bottom of the first with a two-run double from Nevaeh Martinez. CSUMB threatened further and loaded the bases with one out but Elise Roy battled back with a fly ball and got Abreanna Alba swinging to get out of the jam.
- The Gators tied the game in the second on the McDaniel homer to right field.
- The game remained knotted until the bottom of the sixth when a pair of Gators miscues led to the go-ahead run. Nani Areola drew a leadoff walk and pinch runner Gracie Strycula moved up on a sac bunt. Strycula moved up on a Holihan error, then scored on the same play when Shaunessy Cardwell muffed a throw. The Otters loaded the bases but Roy got a foul out to limit the damage. However, the Gators were unable to answer in the top of the seventh.
- Roy (8-3) took the hard-luck loss despite pitching well. She allowed three runs, two earned, on five hits. She walked three and struck out three.
- Otters starter Summer Voth lasted just 14 pitches and was yanked after loading the bases with one out. She was charged with a run on a hit.
- Kadence Nulick (2-6) came on in relief and gave up an inherited runner as well as the McDaniel homer. However, she picked up the win with six and two thirds innings of work. She gave up four hits and struck out four in the win.
Game 2
- In the third inning, DeLeon scored all by herself. She walked, stole second and turned it into a run after a throwing error by catcher Karisa Hawkins.
- The Gators doubled their lead in the fifth. DeLeon reached on a sac bunt and Shannon Tierney, who pinch ran for Marissa Jordan after a leadoff walk, slid in safely at home.
- CSUMB threatened in the bottom of the seventh with two on and two out but Takeda Bajan got Hawkins looking to finish it off.
- Takeda Bajan (9-2) spun an amazing three-hit shutout. She threw 110 pitches with three walks and three strikeouts.
- The Otters used three pitchers. Starter Savannah Madrigal went four and a third innings. She allowed two runs on three hits. She walked a pair.
- Mikaya Griego went an inning and two thirds of scoreless relief with a walk and strikeout. Kaitlyn Le pitched a scoreless inning and gave up a hit and recorded a strikeout.
The Gators host Hawai'i Pacific in non-conference action on Wednesday, March 19 at Noon. The doubleheader will be broadcast on
flocollege.com and live stats will be available at
sfstategators.com, with tickets available at
sfstategators.com/tickets.
