SAN FRANCISCO – The No. 22 San Francisco State softball team split Friday's doubleheader with Cal State San Bernardino. The Gators took game one 7-1 but dropped game two 8-3.
- SF State, which is ranked No. 22 in the NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll and No. 2 in the West Region, moves to 33-17 overall and 20-14 in CCAA play. CSUSB remains at .500 at 25-25 and 17-17, keeping their hopes alive for the final berth to the CCAA Tournament. With one day left in the regular season, the Gators remain in third place, a game behind No. 25 Cal State San Marcos, though the Gators hold the head-to-head tiebreaker should both teams finish at 22-14. The top two teams in the CCAA receive a bye in the CCAA Tournament.
- The Gators belted four home runs, two from Rylee McDaniel and one apiece from Shaunessy Cardwell and Marissa Jordan. McDaniel has a team-leading nine home runs this season and 11 in her career, which is tenth all-time in program history.
- SF State also turned two double plays, giving the Gators 30 for the year.
- Eight different Gators had a hit in game one, including senior Nia Trinidad, who had a pinch-hit single. Trinidad's pitching came to an end after suffering a knee injury in her last appearance. Kira Nilson had a pair of hits.
- Marley Gonzales had a pair of hits in game two.
- Emilie Lapeña and Jonessa Hebreo both had three-hit games for the Coyotes in game one.
- Kai DeLeon recorded her 68th carer stolen base, which ties Gonzales for fourth all-time in program history. Four of the top five players on that list have played under Head Coach Alicia Reid, including career leader Brylynn Vallejos (2019-20, 22), who was in attendance on Friday.
Game 1
- Bri Goris gave the Coyotes the early lead in the first inning with a two-out RBI double.
- SF State tied the game in the bottom of the third. Nilson singled, moved up on a sac bunt, and scored on Ashley Rocha's single to left center.
- The Gators opened things up with a five-run fourth inning. A fielding error started the inning and allowed Guerrera to reach safely. With one out, McDaniel launched an opposite field home run over the right field fence for a two-run Gators lead. Jordan followed with a four-pitch walk and Nilson doubled to chase Coyotes starter Brooke Blackmon. Lexi Holihan greeted Samantha Vargas with a two-run single up the middle, and DeLeon capped off the rally with a two-out RBI single through the left side.
- SF State added one more run in the fifth on Cardwell's one-out homer to dead center.
- Mari Takeda Bajan improved to 15-6 with another complete-game effort. She scattered nine hits and just one run on 91 pitches. She struck out three and did not issue a walk.
- The two Coyotes pitchers each threw 59 pitches.
- Blackmon (7-12) went three and a third innings and allowed five runs, four earned, on four hits. She walked one and struck out a pair.
- Vargas allowed two runs, one earned, on five hits in two and two thirds innings of relief. She walked one and struck out three.
Game 2
- The teams traded home runs in the second inning. Bri Goris started the scoring with a homer just out of the reach of Nilson in left field to make it 1-0. Jordan tied it in the bottom half of the inning when she sent a 3-1 pitch over the wall in left center.
- SF State nearly escaped unscathed in the third but an error proved costly. With one out and the bases loaded, Goris hit a ball to short. DeLeon fired home for the force play but Gonzales tried to turn the double play but her throw to first sailed, which allowed Tereise Tosi, who was intentionally walked, to score unearned.
- The Gators loaded the bases but left them loaded in the bottom of the fifth, and stranded a pair in the sixth.
- CSUSB broke the game open with a six-run seventh. With no outs, Isabella Venegas drew a bases-loaded walk, then Goris chased Elise Roy with an RBI single through the left side. Sarah Moite added another run with a sacrifice fly. An errant pickoff throw by Gonzales resulted in two runners scoring.
- McDaniel got two runs back in the seventh with a two-out, two-run shot to straightaway center.
- Elise Roy (11-8) went six innings and allowed seven runs, four earned, on eight hits. She walked six.
- Kharime Caratachea allowed an unearned run in a hitless inning of relief.
- Blackmon (8-12) got the win in game two with a complete-game effort. She allowed three runs on five hits. She walked six and struck out a pair.
The two teams meet again on Saturday, April 26 for the regular series finale. Saturday is also Senior Day with ceremonies honoring the Gators' eight seniors beginning at 10:30 a.m. prior to 11 a.m. first pitch. The doubleheader will be broadcast on
FloCollege and live stats will be available at
sfstategators.com. Tickets are available at
sfstategators.com/tickets.
