Friday’s doubleheader against the California State University, East Bay Pioneers was never going to be easy for the San Francisco State University women’s softball team.
The Pioneers came into the four-game series ranked 10th in the 2026 NFCA/GoRout Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, and they feature the reigning FloCollege/CCAA Softball Pitcher of the Week, Marissa Quintero.
The Gators entered Friday on a four-game losing streak after being swept by California State University, Dominguez Hills last week at SFSU Softball Field. They needed to get back into the win column to maintain themselves in contention for a possible playoff spot. It was also the Gators’ first road game since visiting Chico State University on April 3.
G1: Gators 1 Pioneers 2
Alexis Perez got the start for the Gators, her 19th of the season. Perez was looking to bounce back following a forgettable two-game stretch against CSUDH last week, where she allowed 11 runs. The Pioneers countered with Quintero, who ranked third nationally with a 1.11 earned run average and leads the CCAA in strikeouts (112) and wins (23).
SFSU was able to scratch across one run in the second inning thanks to an RBI single from freshman catcher Anyssa Luttig. But the Gators weren’t able to capitalize any further, squandering a bases-loaded opportunity with only one out. That lone opportunity would prove to be the Gators’ best chance to tack on runs with Quintero in the circle.
“I really had to fight through it, given that [the umpire’s] strike zone was pretty tight on both sides,” Quintero said on getting out of the second inning. “So I just really tried my best to rely on my team and trust that they have my back and to understand that I can’t do it on my own.”
Perez looked sharp through the first three innings, allowing just two baserunners but not letting them get past first base.
After a single from senior left fielder Cynthia Carrillo and an error from Gators first baseman Shaunessy Cardwell to start the fourth inning, East Bay was in position to get on the scoreboard, with two runners on and only one out. Sophomore Ava Benevides stepped up to the plate and would tie the game after ripping an RBI double into left field.
But on the play, the Gators were able to keep the game tied at one, thanks to a perfect relay and tag of Isabel Mercado at home plate by Luttig.
That momentum looked to carry on into the fifth inning for the Gators. With a runner already on first base, a bunt attempt by freshman left fielder Olivia Mares was fielded, but the throw was not in time and Mares was able to reach first base. However, following a meeting between all three umpires, it was determined that Mares’ bunt attempt wasn’t legal and she had to continue her at-bat.
Mares was able to lay down another sacrifice bunt, but it resulted in her being out at first. With the game hanging in the balance, that call proved to be a pivotal turn of events that ultimately saw the Gators unable to bring that runner home from second.
The Pioneers were able to swing the momentum back into their favor in the bottom of the fifth. A pinch-hit single from junior Mariah Hopkins sparked the Pioneers, and with two outs, they were able to grab their first lead of the game due to an RBI double from junior second baseman Rylee Gomez.
With three outs left, Gator shortstop Kate Nelson was able to start the seventh inning off with a walk. But the Gators still struggled to get quality at-bats and went down quietly to end the game, leading Quintero to pick up her 18th complete game of the season and improving to a 24-4 record.
Despite their chance to win the game, SFSU finished with just two hits, but Gators head coach Alicia Reid also stressed that in a close game, the margins are definitely tighter.
“In a one-run game like that, you gotta execute and play perfect,” Reid said. “We’re the team that had an error and were one hit away from busting open a lead.”
G2: Gators 6 Pioneers 8
The Gators flipped a switch early in game two. They jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a pair of two-run doubles, one from Cardwell and the other from freshman infielder Taylor Wilson. It led to the Pioneers switching pitchers in the inning, going from one senior to another in Ally Fuentes to Jaidyn Gamble.
“I was really focusing on being on top, being on time, that’s something you hear from coach Nia [Trinidad] all the time,” Cardwell said on her approach before her double.
The Gators would add on a fifth run due to more small-ball play. An infield single followed by some indecision from the Pioneers’ defense saw the Gators have two runners in scoring position with Cardwell at the plate. Even with an extra base hit in the previous inning, Cardwell managed to lay down a sacrifice bunt to the right side of the diamond, scoring Mares from third.
On the pitching side, freshman Tori Hernandez started game two in the circle for SFSU, marking her 21st appearance this season.
After a scoreless first inning, Hernandez found herself in trouble. East Bay was able to have their first three hitters reach base, and it was Hopkins who got an RBI double in the process, giving the Pioneers their first run. But they weren’t finished as East Bay sophomore Reagan Hallet came through with a pinch-hit RBI single, making it 5-2 with the Gators ahead and ending Hernandez’s day.
Sophomore Kharime Caratachea would substitute in for Hernandez and was able to get out of the second inning without allowing any further runs.
The Gators were still in a good spot in the third inning, but the Pioneers continued to claw their way back into the game. With two outs and bases loaded, Caratachea was close to ending the inning unscathed, but she still had to get past Pioneers sophomore third baseman Jennavee Campos. On a two-strike pitch, Campos ripped a two-run double into left field, cutting the Gator lead to just one run.
It was the Gators’ time to respond in the next inning with an RBI double coming from senior Marissa Jordan. Yet the Gators still couldn’t pull further away from the Pioneers as they spoiled an opportunity with runners at second and third with only one out.
That two-run lead would only last another half inning with East Bay scratching across one run. But with Perez entering the game out of the bullpen for the Gators, she would collect three outs, keeping the bases loaded and SFSU in front 6-5.
It would stay that way until the sixth inning, when a leadoff home run from junior first baseman Jasmyn Morales tied the game at six.
Perez, still pitching for the Gators, was able to get the next two Pioneers out, but the third out was again difficult to get for SFSU pitching.
Freshman catcher Macie Mead extended the inning with a double and gave Hopkins the chance to be the Pioneers’ hero in game two. On a 2-2 pitch, Hopkins drove a ball into left field, and Mares continued back towards the outfield wall and eventually ran out of room.
It was a two-run homer by Hopkins to hand the Pioneers their first lead of the game, 8-6.
“I was looking for that inside pitch, that’s usually my money,” Hopkins said. “Knowing that it’s been a close game the whole time, I just wanted to make sure I got barrel on [the ball].”
The Pioneers’ comeback was almost complete and they turned to Quintero to get the final three outs. The Gators wouldn’t go down quietly in the seventh inning, as they were able to get two runners in scoring position with just one out.
Reid turned to freshman Anaissa Del Rio to pinch-hit for Mares, but she hit a slow roller to the pitcher, who would get the second out of the inning at third base. The play was a momentum killer for the Gators, who looked to have the bases loaded in that moment. Instead, with runners at second and first, senior Ashley Rocha had the chance to extend the game, but her line drive was caught by Carrillo, ending the game.
SFSU falls to 9-15 in conference play with a 20-25 overall record, and they will look to break their six-game losing streak on Saturday against Easy Bay, again in a doubleheader at Pioneer Softball Field.
As for SFSU’s two games that were canceled this past Monday against California State University, Stanislaus, Reid told Golden Gate Xpress that if those games were to be rescheduled, they would be classified as non-conference games in the standings. This decision, along with the losing streak, puts the Gators’ postseason hopes in jeopardy.
