CHICO, Calif. – Ashley Jackson has far and away been San Francisco State’s most consistent pitcher this season, and Friday at University Softball Field the Gators’ righthander broke Chico State’s hearts not once, but twice – Jackson tossing a two-hitter to beat the Wildcats 8-0 in the first game of a doubleheader, then coming on in relief to snuff out a ’Cats rally and preserve a 2-0 win in the nightcap.
Chico State, with only one home win going into Friday’s double dip, had trouble generating any type of offense against Jackson in the first game –the only notches in the “H” column for the ’Cats came on singles by Bec Johnson and Christina Wieck. Gwen Cox, closing in on Chico State’s all-time single season stolen base record, created some excitement in the Wildcats first inning by stealing second and third (giving her 24 on the year), but that was as close at the ’Cats came to plating a run against Jackson. The Gators took a 2-0 lead in the third on a run-scoring double by Danielle Chapman and an RBI single by Karolyn Gubbine, then used the long ball to put Chico State away – in the fourth inning, Arianna Welch crushed a grand slam over the center field fence off Jessica McDermott to make it a 6-0 game…then in the fifth Lea Cardenas connected for a two-run homer off Lauren Walker to extend the Gators lead to 8-0. Jackson retired the Wildcats in order in the fifth to record the complete game shutout and improve to 14-7 on the season; McDermott took the loss for Chico State, falling to 8-18 on the year.
Game two was a much closer contest, and the Wildcats had plenty of scoring opportunities, but ended up leaving 10 runners on base. San Francisco State scored what turned out to be the only runs of the ballgame in the top of the first inning as Alyssa Esquibel knocked in a pair with a two-out bloop single down the left field line. Chico State loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second, but Gators pitcher Vanessa Truan was able to wiggle out of the jam and keep the ’Cats off the scoreboard; in the third Jenna Wermes walked and Bec Johnson doubled to put the tying runs in scoring position with one away, but Truan struck out Wieck and Rachel Failla to end the threat. While Walker kept San Francisco State from widening it lead, the Wildcats made one last attempt to climb back into the contest, putting two aboard with nobody out in the bottom of the seventh. Jackson was then brought in to take over for Truan on the mound, and with the potential tying run on base, she fanned Cox and Kait Manning, then got Wermes to ground out to second to end it and give the Gators the 2-0 win and the doubleheader sweep. Truan (5-5) picked up the victory, with Jackson earning her first save of the season…Walker (8-16) went the distance but was the hard-luck loser for Chico State. Sam Quadt had two of the Wildcats’ four hits in the game.
Chico State, which has now dropped five in a row, falls to 17-34 on the season and 5-25 in the CCAA. San Francisco State improved to 26-19 with the doubleheader sweep and 8-14 in conference play.
The ’Cats and Gators meet up again Saturday for another doubleheader to wrap up the four-game set. Game one is scheduled to begin at noon. It is also Senior Day, with lone Wildcats senior Gwen Cox honored before the ballgame. Several former Chico State softball players will be on hand and will be recognized during special pre-game ceremonies.
BOX SCORE - Game One
BOX SCORE - Game Two