LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. - The San Francisco State softball team demonstrated some grit and won a pair of games in extra innings. Down 10-6 in the bottom of the ninth against Lubbock Christian, the Gators scored four runs to tie the game and walked it off with a sac fly from Taylor Rapp in a 11-10 win. Malia Morreira hit a walk-off three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth against Simon Fraser for a 13-12 victory.
 

By the Numbers

 
 

• The Gators improve to 5-2 on the young season.
• Shaunessy Cardwell hit the first home run of the season in game one against LCU. She also added four runs between the two games.
• Morreira finished the day 4-for-9 at the plate with a double, home run and six RBIs, five of which came against Simon Fraser.
• Olivia Mares had three stolen bases on the day to give her 12 on the season.
• Ashley Rocha and Taylor Wilson each hit a double on the day.

How It Happened - LCU

Lubbock Christian loaded the bases with one out to open the game. A fielder's choice brought one runner in and a RBI single brought a second runner in but the Gators were able to limit the damage to two runs. Olivia Mares drew a lead-off walk, stole second and came home off a RBI double from Malia Morreira down the left field line. An error allowed Mia Pamplona to reach safely at first to open the bottom of the second. She advanced to second on a sac bunt and Rocha brought her home with a double to left center. Cardwell's moonshot over the left field fencer in the third gave the Gators their first lead at 3-2. Lubbock flipped the script with a three-run shot from Coryn Burris in the fifth. With runners on the corners in the bottom of the sixth, Ari Mallari beat the double play to bring a run home. In the bottom of the seventh, Cardwell was drilled by a pitch and the pinch runner advanced on three straight wild pitches to tie the game and send it to extra innings.

Lubbock scored on a sac fly in the eighth but the Gators responded in the bottom of the inning when Olivia Moscardi came in to pinch hit and hit an RBI single up the middle to tie the game up at 6-6. The Gators had a pair of runners in scoring position with two outs but could not bring either home. Burris struck again with a three-run blast and Lubbock added another run to lead 10-6 heading into the bottom of the ninth. The Gators had a pair of runners in scoring position with no outs. Cardwell and Wilson hit back-to-back singles to cut the lead down to two. The bases loaded for Pamplona but Lubbock only got the force out at third, allowing a run to score. A wild pitch moved everyone up and Kate Nelson delivered a game tying RBI single. Rapp fouled three straight ball before sending the ball in play to right field for the walk-off sac fly. 

In the Circle

 

• Kharime Caratachea (2-1) had her longest outing of her career and went nine innings against the Lady Chaps. She gave up 13 hits and 10 runs but only seven were earned.
• Lubbock Christian deployed four pitchers with Kenzie Kauk taking (0-1) the loss

How It Happened - SFU

Simon Fraser opened the game with four runs in the first including a two-run blast. The Gators got a run back in first when a throwing error from the catcher allowed Mares to come and Cardwell to advance to second. A single advanced Cardwell to third and an RBI ground out cut the lead in half. A sac fly in the second gave Simon Fraser a 5-2 lead. The Gator offense went off in the fourth inning and scored seven runs off six hits to take a 9-5 lead. A fielder's choice RBI in the top of the seventh cut the Gators' lead to 9-6 and gave the Gators their second out. An RBI double cut the lead to 9-7 and Cassidy Affeldt hit her second home run of the game to tie it up. Simon Fraser plated three runners in the top of the eighth to lead 12-9. With a pair of runners in scoring position in the bottom of the inning, Rocha laid down a bunt, arrived safely at first and brought in a run. Morreira provided the big swing to close out the game and give the Gators their third straight walk-off.

In the Circle

 

• After going eight innings in her last start, Alexis Perez (3-1) went eight innings again in the victory. She gave up 12 hits and 10 earned runs while tossing three strikeouts.
• Simon Fraser split pitching duties between two players with Avery Rust (0-2) taking the loss.

 

Up Next

 The Gators close out the D2 West Coast Challenge with games against Northwest Nazarene at 9 a.m. and Western Washington at 11:30 a.m. Live stats will be available at sfstategators.com.