A solid pitching performance by Patrick Haugen helped the SF State baseball team win its home opener against Academy of Art University 6-1 on Feb. 3 at Maloney Field.
Haugen, a junior, recorded 10 strikeouts, one walk and one earned run in eight innings of work.

"It was good to a get in a rhythm," Haugen said after the game, adding that his teammates behind him helped by playing "good solid [defense]."

Baseball head coach Tony Dress was impressed with his starting pitchers first outing of the season.

"Pat settled down and focused," Dress said. "He realized that he could dominate the zone."

Gators' right fielder Jake Moore believed having "faith in the pitcher" was an important part of their victory.

Moore, an SF State senior, contributed a solo home run in the seventh inning.

"I was just thinking that I needed to keep my hands back," said Moore of his home run.
Moore finished the game with two hits, two runs and an RBI.

The Gators scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the second when left fielder Sean Proni was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, bringing first basemen Jeff McCall home from third.

Academy of Art answered back in the top of the fourth with a a sacrifice fly to center field, tying the game 1-1.

The game remained tied until the bottom of the fifth when the Urban Knights' pitching fell apart. SF State's designated hitter Greg Kline and Moore both scored on seperate wild pitches hurled by Urban Knights' pitcher Darnell Quinny, putting the Gators up 3-1.
The Urban Knights were unable to recover and didn't score for the remainder of the game.

Catcher Keith Garcia scored a run in the six inning and Proni scored a run in the eighth inning, which added to the Gators' victory.

SF State plays its next game on Friday, Feb. 6, at home against Oregon Tech.