Closer Cory Davis has been able to get the Gators out of many jams this season; even ones he creates himself.
After he allowed two runs in the ninth to shrink the Gators’ lead to one, Davis sizzled fireballs passed the final batter to get the last out and beat No. 18 UC San Diego, 7-6 at home in the teams’ series opener, April 17.
“It was a little shaky in the very beginning, ” Davis said about the ninth inning. “The offense gave me a little bit of a cushion. I just had to go out there and let those guys get themselves out.”
Through six innings, the game was knotted at 4-4 until SF State gained momentum and scored three runs in the seventh. From there, the Gators were able to hold off the Tritons long enough for Davis to go to work.
“A real key part of our team right now is our offense,” Davis said. “Our offense is giving our pitchers opportunities to win the game. As long as our offense keeps going out and putting numbers on the board, our pitchers will keep us in the game.”
In his only inning of work, Davis gave up two runs on three hits to go along with his lone strikeout that sealed the win. It was his 10th save of the season.
“We made it interesting, that’s for sure,” head coach Mike Cummins said. “(Davis) has been great all year. Sure he has been a little shaky but he struck out the guy to end the game. It was a good team win.”
Catcher Mark Lindsay led the Gators’ offense as he finished 3-5 with three RBIs.
“It’s good for us that we know we can play with these type of teams,” Lindsay said. “We just have to be able to put it together every game.”
The victory also extends SF State’s winning streak to five after it swept Cal State L.A. last weekend in its season series. The Gators are now 18-21 for the season and 13-16 in the conference.
Both teams will square off again tomorrow, April 18 in a doubleheader at Maloney Field.