The stands at Maloney Field were filled with emotion Sunday, as the SF State baseball team honored five seniors for senior day. Strong pitching from senior Peter Reyes helped the Gators avoid a season-ending four-game sweep, as they outlasted the Sonoma State Seawolves, 5-2.

In his final start as a Gator, Reyes earned his third win of the season. He also received a standing ovation from the crowd after going six and two-thirds innings, allowing just three hits, two runs and striking out five.

“It was pretty sad,” Reyes said about coming off the mound for the final time. “Just knowing I’m never going to be playing on this field again. I’ve been playing here for five years.”

Two more seniors, first basemen Ryan Burke and second basemen Joe Chedid, got things going for the Gators in the bottom of the second.

Burke led off with a single through the left side of the infield. Catcher Dalton Pizzuti moved Burke to third with a double down the right field line.

After the bases were loaded, Chedid singled down the left field line and the Gators took an early 2-0 lead.

“The team competed today,” head coach Tony Schifano said. “All five seniors contributed today and had a strong effort for the win.”

The Gators took a 5-0 lead in the third — again with the help of the seniors. Senior Connor Fraser led off with a walk and was drove in by Burke when he singled through the right side. Chedid notched his third RBI of the game when he drove in Burke with a sac fly to center field.

The day ended with five Gators having a multi-hit game. Chedid went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and Burke went 2-for-4, with one RBI and two runs scored.

Senior Shane Martin came in to relieve Reyes in the seventh. Martin went only one inning, but retired each of the three batters he faced and received a standing ovation as well. He said it was great to have spent the past two years at SF State, especially being around the people.

“It was a joy to come out here everyday,” Martin said. “Just be around these guys, compete with them and be play for the coaches we had this year.”

Schifano remembered when he was pulled out of his final game at UC Davis, and how great it is to have that memory.

“It was really important to me that Peter (Reyes) and Shane (Martin) got to experience that too,” Schifano said.