ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – The Sonoma State softball team used an extra innings walk-off in the series opener against Cal State San Bernardino to earn a split on the opening day of the series. The Seawolves took the first game 6-5 in eight innings before falling 3-0 in the nightcap. SSU moved to 23-13 overall and 16-8 in CCAA play with the split.
The Seawolves scored first in the opener, plating a run in the bottom of the 2
nd to take an early 1-0 lead.
Jade Costa singled with
Carissa Marquez on second and an errant throw by the catcher allowed Marquez to cross the plate for the first run. The Coyotes answered back in the top of the 3
rd after an error extended the inning and Tereise Tosi capitalized with a 3-run blast.
Sonoma State got one back in the bottom half of the frame with a single by
Rylee Nishimoto, a walk by
Lauren Mirtoni and a single by
Jasmine Moreno loaded the bases.
Danyelle Castillo followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 3-2 game. Nishimoto then tied the game in the bottom of the 4
th with a single down the right field line.
Giana Hays added a sacrifice fly to score
Anna Zoia-Buescher and put the Seawolves ahead 4-3.
Starter
Bailee Reed cruised through the 5
th inning but CSUSB got to her in the 6
th. The Coyotes scored a pair of runs to retake the lead at 5-4 heading into the bottom of the 6
th. Zoia-Buescher quickly put SSU in scoring position with a one-out triple to centerfield. Nishimoto plated the tying run with a sacrifice fly to right and the game moved to the 7
th tied at 5-5.
Charlie Johnson came on in relief of Reed in the bottom of the 6
th and hurled a perfect 7
th and 8
th to give the Seawolves a chance to walk-off. Marquez opened the 8
th with a single and was moved to second on a bunt by
Jade Costa. Zoia-Buescher then drew a walk and Hays singled through the left side to load the bases. Mirtoni then hit a sharp groundball to third base that went off the glove of the defender, allowing Marquez to score the walk-off run.
Nishimoto and Hays finished with three hits apiece with Nishimoto also driving in a pair of runs. Johnson earned the win in relief with 2.1 innings of hitless relief to improve to 7-3 on the season.
The nightcap was a pitchers' duel from the start with
Nichole Sarra and Samantha Vargas putting zeros on the board through the first four innings. CSUSB then scored an unearned run in the 5
th after a two-out error allowed the first run of the game to score. The visitors then added two more in the top of the 6
th, one of which was also unearned to lead 3-0. Vargas did the rest, allowing just one hit the rest of the way, a lead off triple to Hays.
These two teams will square off again tomorrow for a doubleheader starting at 11:00 am. The games will be streamed on the CCAA Network and live stats available through the link on
www.sonomaseawolves.com.