The Walk-Off Warriors Sweep Sonoma State
TURLOCK, Calif.--- Stan State swept this afternoon's conference doubleheader from the visiting Sonoma State Seawolves 10-9 (10) and 4-3 (7) in thanks to walk-offs. The Warriors took game one as Robert Valdivia scored the winning run in the tenth when Arthur Navarette Jr. reached on a Seawolf error. The hosts took the night cap in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out run scoring that brought in Valdivia with the game-winning run.
GAME ONE: For the second straight game, Sonoma State took the early lead this time a 3-0 lead after its first at bat. The Seawolves added another run in the fourth to increase their lead to 4-0. Stan State cut the deficit to 4-3 with a three-run fifth. Jacob Baker led off the inning reaching base when he was hit by a pitch. He went to second on a Danny Murphy single. Jackson Brooks had a bunt single to load the bases. Baker scored on a wild pitch. With one out, Robert Valdivia had a two-run single that brought in Murphy and Brooks.
The Warriors tied the game in the bottom of the sixth. Murphy had a one-out double and scored on a Brooks' single to tie the game at 4-4.
Sonoma State (10-28, 7-22 CCAA) retook the lead, 9-4, with a five-run seventh inning. Evan Merz's two-out two-run single was the big hit for the visitors.
Stan State didn't go away as the hosts had a four-run seventh to cut the deficit to 9-8. Luke Davies had a lead-off single. He went to second when Arthur Navarette Jr. reached on a one-out error by the guests. Alex Solis singled to load the bases. Davies scored when Baker was hit by a pitch for the second straight time. Navarette Jr. scored on a Murphy sacrifice fly. With two outs, Brooks had a two-run single to cut the Warrior deficit to 9-8.
The hosts tied the game at 9-9 with a run in the eighth. Davies had a one-out single. He went to third when Navarette and Solis each drew a two-out walk. The Warrior first baseman/designated hitter scored the tying run when Baker reached on a fielder's choice.
Each team were retired in order in their half of the ninth to send the game into extra-innings.
Stan State reliever Cameron Rosen (1-2) once against retired the Seawolves in order in their half of the tenth. Valdivia had a lead-off single and went to second on a one-out single by Flavio Perez. He scored the game-winning run when Navarette reached on a Sonoma State error to give Stan State the 10-9 victory.
ROSEN: Cameron Rosen pitched his first victory as a Warrior. He pitched 2.2 scoreless innings of relief, striking out three and giving up no hits.
BROOKS: Jackson Brooks had his first four-hit game as a Warrior. He drove in three runs and scored a run. He also stole two bases to give him five for the season.
14 HITS: Besides Jacob Baker, Stan State had three other hitters that had multiple-hit games in Robert Valdivia, Luke Davies, and Danny Murphy. Valdivia went three-for-five with two runs batted in and a run scored. Davies was three-for-six with two runs scored and a double. Murphy was two-for-four with a run batted in and two runs scored. The senior catcher had a double and a sacrifice fly.
GAME TWO: For the first time in the season, Stan State (14-21, 9-16 CCAA) took the early lead (1-0). Arthur Navarette Jr. had a two-out single, stole second, and scored on a Flavio Perez single. The Warriors increased their lead to 2-0 with a run in the third. Ryan Leonesio had a lead-off single. He went to second on a sacrifice bunt by Robert Valdivia. He scored on Jonluke Goldman's first collegiate triple. Luke Davies made it 3-0 Stan State, with a lead-off solo home run in the fourth.
Sonoma State cut the Warrior lead to 3-2 with a two-run sixth. The visitors tied the game in their half of the seventh, 3-3. With two outs, Eli Hancock had a single up the middle. He went to third on a single by Aryonis Harrison. Hancock scored the tying run on a single by Chris Ortiz.
With two outs in the Warrior half of the seventh, Valdivia singled down the right field line. He advanced to second on a single by Goldman. The senior shortstop scored the game-winning run on a walk-off single by Navarette as Stan State took the night cap 4-3 in seven innings.
FIFTH WALK-OFF: With Stan State's two walk-off victories today, Stan State has five for the season. Arthur Navarette Jr. drove in or was responsible for four of the five walk-off victories. The other walk-off victory was won by a Jonluke Goldman hit.
BALENTINE: Austin Balentine (4-3) picked up his second straight complete game victory this evening. He gave up eight hits, three runs (two earned), while striking out eight batters and walking one. The eight strikeouts tied a career high for the junior pitcher. He is now 14-7 in his career as a Warrior.
DAVIES: Luke Davies hit his team high fourth home run of the season, a solo shot in the fourth. For the game, he was two-for-three with a run batted in and a run scored.
ELEVEN HITS: Arthur Navarette Jr. went three-for-three with a run scored and drove in the game-winning run. He also had hits third stolen base of the season. Jonluke Goldman was two-for-three with a run scoring triple.
SERIES FINALE: Stan State will look to take its first conference series of the year tomorrow afternoon. The Warriors have split two CCAA series this season (Cal State San Bernardino, Feb. 21-23 and Cal State Los Angeles, March 7-9). They won two non-conference series earlier this season in Saint Martin's (Feb. 7-8) and Minnesota Crookston (Feb. 15-16). The series finale will take place tomorrow at noon on Stanislaus Latino Chamber of Commerce Day at Warrior Field. Prior to the game, the President/CEO of the Stanislaus Latino Chamber of Commerce, Johnny Garcia, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
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