In the final game against the No. 10 ranked California State University, East Bay Pioneers, San Francisco State University softball team called up freshman pitcher Tori Hernandez to take the mound. The day before, Hernandez pitched 1.1 innings and allowed two runs and five hits. 

On Saturday she turned the page, finding her rhythm in the series closer. Going six full innings without a Pioneer run, SFSU’s defense turned the tides in their favor in Hayward.

“I felt confident going into this game, hitting my spots, I knew my defense had my back behind me, so just a confident game,” Hernandez said. “I never have any doubt and it feels really good.” 

The Gators split the final two games versus their cross-bay opponents to reach a 10-16 conference record and seventh in their competitive conference. The hosting Pioneers stay in second at 19-9, five games behind California State University, San Marcos Cougars. The Gators felt confident that they would be in a better position playing the Pioneers in Hayward on Saturday.

“Yesterday, both games were close, hard-fought games between both teams,” said Gators head coach Alicia Reid. “East Bay’s a tough competitor and so we felt, if we made a few adjustments today going into it, we would be in a good position at the end of the day, and come in, taking one of the two today. Each win matters, so it’s important for us to get those when we can.” 

G3: Gators 3, Pioneers 8

The Gators opened the third game with a bang at Pioneer Softball Field, collecting early runs by Ashley Rocha, Marissa Jordan and Kate Nelson in the first inning. Single hits from Jordan, Nelson and Deziree Gomez allowed the runners to score at home plate. 

Entering the bottom of the first inning, the Pioneers had answers for SFSU’s early spark with their own three runs, two coming from their two leading runners, senior Jeslyn Cuellar and junior Jasmyn Morales. The following inning, the visitors began their effort to regain the lead and collect hits off of East Bay’s Marissa Quintero, who entered the game with a 24-4 record and an ERA of 1.41, but the Pioneers’ junior star and their defense kept the Gators at bay. 

The Pioneers’ offense continued to roll and they doubled their runs with Cuellar’s second run, as well as additional runs home by senior outfielder Sarissa Block and junior infielder Rylee Gomez. To slow the game down, Perez left the mound and sophomore Kharime Caratachea came in early for relief. 

The Pioneers scored two more runs, but Caratachea didn’t allow any more from the home squad to relieve the Gators and prevent a run rule. 

“Coming in from that inning, we were like ‘Okay, we got to hold ‘em, we got to go fight’ and our pitchers did a great job of leading that charge,” Rocha said. 

Prior on Saturday, the ball would roll out from their gloves and a missed catch created opportunities for East Bay. From here on out, their play fit like a glove and kept the Pioneers’ score at eight runs. 

G4: Gators 3, Pioneers 1

Pioneers called up senior pitcher Jaidyn Gamble to pitch in the series finale, while the Gators countered with Hernandez. No runs were scored in the early innings for the first time this series and both defenses proved themselves resilient throughout. 

The Gators’ defense made crucial, momentum-swinging catches to cancel any opportunity for East Bay’s offense, including a deep center field catch by Rocha and outs at first base caught by senior baseman Shaunessy Cardwell. 

“Great plays like that are always a big momentum shifter,” Rocha said. “I was really happy that I could do that and get us started on the right foot. I was really happy that I was able to get to that ball and get the play done.” 

SFSU drew first blood in the fourth inning with Nelson’s second run of the afternoon and her fourth of the series. Nelson also stepped up on defense for her team with a key low catch near second base and a throw to Cardwell to collect a Pioneer out late in the game. 

“I was just taking it one inning at a time, not thinking too much ahead and just keeping it simple at the plate and just keeping my focus pitch by pitch for the defense-wise, making sure I’m locked in each pitch,” Nelson said. 

The Gators kept the ball rolling as the fifth inning saw Cardwell hit a double to center field and allow freshman outfielder Malia

Morreira to run home and extend the visitors’ lead to 2-0. With that RBI, Cardwell tied with Jordan for the most on the team with 31 this season. 

“I had to take it all the way back to the bare basics and just say like, ‘See ball, hit ball,” Cardwell said. “I just wanted to make sure I was getting my pitch that I wanted, and not kind of getting outside of my approach and just know that I hit the ball. I’m always happy to just get RBIs and put together a good team at bat.” 

The Gators were aggressive in pursuing bases. Freshman Anaissa Del Rio would add one more run on the board in the sixth, silencing the Pioneers and putting a Gators victory within reach. 

“We’ve been looking to give our all and going out on all those plates, so I definitely think that carried over,” Rocha said. “We’ve been hitting the ball all weekend, so we were just looking for that last plate and that was it.”

The Pioneers would deliver their response to the Gators’ three runs, but it was too little, too late. After junior Mariah Hopkins’ run home in the bottom of the seventh, the Gators recollected themselves, throwing freshman Macie Mead out at third base and closing the game 3-1. 

“To finish the game there, Taylor [Wilson] with the backhand on a shot, Kate diving up the middle and making a grab and getting the outs at first base. We turned some double plays this weekend as well,” Reid said. “Defense gave us an opportunity to play clean to then do our job on the offensive end.” 

The Gators return home next weekend,hosting the fifth place California State University, Monterey Bay Otters on Friday, May 1. Senior day takes place in the same series on May 2 at SFSU Softball Field.