The SF State baseball team secured their fourth straight victory Tuesday, defeating the Sonoma State Seawolves 6-1. The victory improved the Gators’ record to 6-4 on the season.
The score suggests Tuesday’s game was a blowout, but the game was tight for much of its duration. The Seawolves struck first, scoring in the first inning, but would struggle to execute for the rest of the game.
The Gators managed to tie the game in the fourth inning when right fielder Myles Franklin tagged up and scored on a deep fly ball hit by designated hitter Joe Chedid. The Gators scored the go ahead run in the fifth inning when a bases loaded walk scored first basemen Chad Thurston. With a strong performance from the bullpen and defense, this was all it took for the Gators to secure the victory.
“It feels really good,” said head coach Tony Schifano on the current streak. “After that tough series against Fresno Pacific, I knew we were playing good baseball. I knew if we continued to pitch and play good defense we had a chance to win some games.”
Through their first six games, the Gators gave up an average of 4.33 runs per game. In the four-game streak, that number has been cut to just 2.25 runs per game.
Pitcher Nathan Pisciotta came in to pitch in relief in the fourth inning and dominated the Seawolves. The true freshman didn’t give up a single hit, run or walk in three innings work, and also recorded four strikeouts.
The reason for his success on the mound was the success of the offense and the defense’s ability to play mistake-free baseball, according to Pisciotta.
“It was a big team win,” Pisciotta said. “Everybody did their job. From the starters all the way to the pinch hitters and the back end of the bullpen.
Left fielder Jake Faulkner said the streak may be fueled by the losing season a year ago and the guys are getting tired of losing.
“We’re gonna start turning it around,” Faulkner said. “Just keep battling every game, fighting and clawing, trying to find a way to win every game.”
The Gators will host the 25th-ranked Cal Poly Pomona Broncos for a double header Saturday, Feb. 27 at 11 a.m. at Maloney field.
