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Rylee Nishimoto delivered the game-winning double in the bottom of the eighth inning to keep Sonoma State's hopes alive for a third straight CCAA Tournament title with a 6-5 win over the No. 2 seed Cal State San Bernardino.
The Seawolves fell behind 4-0 after the top of the third and had to fight back to earn their 35th win of the season.
Cassidy Romano got the momentum started for Sonoma State with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third to cut the deficit in half.
The teams then traded runs in the fourth as
Tereise Tosi had an RBI single for the Yotes, and
Skylar Linnane launched a solo home run for the Seawolves.
Cassidy Romano came through again with another big swing of the bat in the fifth. On the first pitch, she homered again to left field, this time tying the game at 5-5 and giving the senior shortstop two home runs on two pitches.
The game went to extra innings, and the Seawolves took advantage of a free base to start the inning.
Sierra Moffett drew a four-pitch walk, and SSU then bunted her pinch runner,
Maddy Martinez, to second, putting a runner in scoring position with one out for
Anna Zoia-Buescher. She flew out to left, bringing Nishimoto to the plate with two out.
The outfielder, more known as a slap hitter, drove the ball into the right-center field gap to score Martinez from second with the game-winning run.
Romano finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Nishimoto was one of five Seawolves with a pair of hits.
Tosi went 3-for-3 for the Yotes.
Nichole Sarra improved to 10-2 with five strong innings in relief. She came into the game in the fourth, allowing just two hits and one run.
Sonoma State will continue to play in the CCAA Tournament on Friday, May 5 at 2:30 p.m. SSU will face the loser of the Cal State Dominguez Hills and Chico State game.