Late inning heroics by the Gators gave the SF State softball team a split in the March 15 doubleheader against conference opponent CSU San Bernardino.

With the split, the purple and gold take three out of four from the Coyotes in the weekend series and improve their record to 16-12 overall and 6-8 in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

In game one, the Gators took the first lead of the game on an RBI double by designated hitter Kendra Wood. The next batter Kendra’s twin sister, Kelsey, extended the lead to 2-0 on a sacrifice fly to left field.

Gator errors in the fifth inning allowed the Coyotes to get back three runs, all unearned, to take the lead 3-2. In the bottom of the inning with the bases loaded Kelsey Wood grounded into a fielder’s choice scoring Monica Amburgey to tie the game at 3-3.

In the sixth CSU San Bernardino took the lead for good after two more unearned runs came in on a 2-run RBI single from Jordan Duhl.

Freshman Ashley Jackson (7-5) picked up the loss despite not allowing an earned run. She pitched seven innings, giving up six hits and five runs, all unearned, with five strikeouts and one walk.

In the second game, more Gators miscues allowed CSU San Bernardino to get out to an early lead, 3-0, with all the runs unearned.

“We put ourselves in a hole and now I think they realize how important it is not to beat ourselves,” said coach Cristina Byrne.

Jordanna Freemer started the comeback in the fourth with a solo homerun, her fifth of the season.

The Coyotes responded with a solo homerun in the sixth to give CSU San Bernardino a 4-1 advantage.

In the bottom of the inning the Gators rallied back as the first two batters of the inning reached base. After a sacrifice bunt to move the runners up, Kelsey Wood singled to center to cut the lead to 4-2.

With two on, down by two, freshman Lea Cardenas hit a three-run home run to deep left field, capping off the four-run rally and giving the Gators a 5-4 lead.

“It was a bomb,” said Kendra Wood. “She picked up the entire team with that one.”

The Coyotes would get the tying runner to third and the winning run to first base in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Kendra Wood got the final batter to fly out to deep center for the win.

After the Gator defense allowed three unearned runs Kendra Wood (6-1) shut down the CSU Bernardino offense, which averages .330 on the season, allowing only five hits, one earned run while striking out five and walking four.

“They stayed persistent. We had trouble finding our rhythm offensively, but they stayed with it made plays we needed to make and got the win for us,” said Byrnes.

The SF State softball team looks to get their conference record back to .500 when they battle Chico state in a Monday afternoon doubleheader. The game begins at 1 p.m. at the SF State softball field.