SAN FRANCISCO — Entering the day,
Brittany Balanesi has only had one hit in her first collegiate season. On Saturday, Balanesi's two-run homer helped the Warriors avoid a series sweep as Cal State Stanislaus split a doubleheader with San Francisco State.
The SF State Gators won game one on Saturday, 3-1, and took three of four in the weekend series to improve to 7-10 overall and 4-8 in California Collegiate Athletic Association play. The No. 14 ranked Cal State Stanislaus Warriors are now 9-5 and 4-4 in the CCAA.
Trailing 4-0 after three innings, the Warriors responded to avoid the early-season four-game sweep. Stanislaus would score four times in the top of the fourth to even the score. The rally was highlighted by a two-run, two-out double to center by
Britney Borba. Pinch-hitter
Alicia Reid singled in a run and
Nikky Rissetto drew a bases loaded walk to score Borba later in the frame.
With the score knotted a 4-4 with two outs in the sixth, leadoff hitter Rissetto drew a walk from Vanessa Truan ahead of Balanesi's at-bat. Balanesi then drove a 2-2 pitch to right center for the go-ahead home run. The freshman from Gilroy led the team in the game, going 2-for-4, scored twice and drove in two on her first collegiate home run.
Starter Jennie Arnold finished the sixth and
Jessica Gaumnitz gave up to harmless hits in the seventh to preserve the win. Arnold was tagged for four runs on nine hits but earned the win to improve to 4-2.
Meghan Franksen and
Alyssa Guzman both also doubled in the game. A total of nine doubles were hit in the game.
In the opener of the day, San Francisco State scored three runs in the fourth, including two unearned runs, for a 3-0 lead. Lea Cardenas doubled in the first run and two additional Gators scored on a error charged to the Warriors center fielder Guzman.
Erica McIntyre went 3-for-3 and drove in
Ashlee Genseal in the sixth inning. The Warriors out-hit SFSU 7-4 in game one. Gaumnitz was charged with the loss and dips her record to 5-3.
Cal State Stanislaus will host a four-game set next weekend versus Chico State with Friday's doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Warrior Softball Field.
Game 1
Game 2
