SAN FRANCISCO — The No. 20 San Francisco State softball team spotted visiting Hawai'i Pacific leads in both games of Wednesday's non-conference doubleheaders but came up big when it counted for a doubleheader sweep. The Gators rallied in the seventh to walk off game one, 4-1, before putting up a seven-run fifth inning in game two en route to a 9-4 victory.

By the Numbers

 

• SF State, which is ranked No. 20 in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, moves to 23-7. The Sharks slip to 13-23.
• Rylee McDaniel had quite the day. After launching three home runs in last week's series over Cal State Monterey Bay, the Gators second baseman launched a walkoff homer to win game one. On the day, McDaniel went 3-for-6 with two runs and six RBI.
• Lexi Holihan also went 3-for-6 to go with a walk, a run, and an RBI.
• The Gators had three stolen bases in game two, bringing the team's season total to 66. 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. Marley Gonzales' steal gives her 23 steals on the season, which surpasses last season's total of 22. Her 63 career steals move her past teammate Kai DeLeon for fourth on the career leader list.
• DeLeon recorded her 186th career hit, which ties her for eighth all-time in program history with Monica Rubina (1994-97).
• The Gators turned their 17th double play of the season.
• After striking out seven times in game one, the Gators did not strike out in game two. The Gators have four games this season in which they have not struck out, though they are 2-2 in such games.
• Wednesday's umpiring crew was all-female, as were the head coaches of both teams.

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Game 1

How They Scored

• In the top of the fifth, with two on and no outs, the number nine batter, Taimane Panganoran, delivered a two-out RBI single to center field that plated pinch runner Lalia Pulachet.
• The Gators threatened in the bottom of the fifth with a runner on second and one out but pinch runner Shannon Tierney was caught stealing third base.
• Gators starter Nia Trinidad got into trouble in the seventh. Her 100th pitch of the game was wild, which allowed Neva Poulin to move up to third base after Poulin's double down the right field line. However, Trinidad got a pop fly to keep it a one-run game.
• Shaunessy Cardwell started a one-out rally in the bottom of the seventh with a single to left field. Marissa Jordan walked but Nilson went down swinging for the second out. Holihan delievered a game-tying single up the throw, then McDaniel walked it off with her homer off of the left field foul pole.
   

In The Circle

• Trinidad (3-0) allowed just one run on six hits. She walked one and struck out five.
• Taylor Thompson (8-8) pitched six and two thirds innings. She allowed four runs on five hits. She walked two and struck out seven.
   

Game 2

How They Scored

• Gators starter Kharime Caratachea struggled to find the strike zone and threw 52 pitches over the first inning and a third. After working out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, the Sharks worked the count and got to her for three runs. Elise Roy came on in relief and allowed an inherited runner to score on a Mikayla Pagampao sacrifice fly before shutting down the Sharks offense the next four innings.
• The Gators got a run back in the bottom of the second when McDaniel drew a pickoff attempt, which allowed Kira Nilson to steal home.
• In the bottom of the third, Holihan cut the Sharks' lead to two with a two-out single that scored Daniella Guerrera all the way from second.
• Seven Gators batters reached base in the bottom of the fifth before HPU recorded an out. Gonzales and Guerrera executed a double steal to move both into scoring position, then Gonzales scored on a Cardwell ground ball. The throw was dropped at first and that made it 4-3 with no outs. Holihan walked to load the bases, and an error at shortstop tied the game and chased HPU reliever Maggie O'Dowd. McDaniel unloaded a bases-clearing double down the left field line that gave the Gators a 7-4 lead. With one out, DeLeon walked to reload the bases and Gonzales capped off the rally with a two-run single that grew the lead to 9-4.

In The Circle

 

• Caratachea gave up two hits and walked five in an inning and a third. All four runs allowed were earned.
• Roy (9-3) picked up the win in relief with four and two thirds innings. She faced the minimum through and at one point retired 11 straight batters.
• Xochitl Atayde came on in the seventh and pitched a scoreless inning.
• HPU also used three pitchers. Starter Angelica Oseguera gave up two unearned runs on three hits in two and two thirds innings of work.
• O'Dowd pitched an inning and a third and was unable to escape trouble in the fifth inning. She was charged with five runs, three earned, on three hits.
• In two innings of work, Layla Molina gave up a pair of unearned runs on four hits.

Up Next

The Gators host Chico State in a pair of CCAA doubleheaders on Friday, March 21 and Saturday, March 22. The series will be broadcast on flocollege.com and live stats will be available at sfstategators.com, with tickets available at sfstategators.com/tickets.