Freshman Kaitlyn Taylor went 3-for-4 with two walks, one double, a home run and three RBIs today
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Freshman Kaitlyn Taylor crushed a two-run homer to highlight Sacramento State’s 5-4 victory over CSU Bakersfield in the first game of a Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Hornets dropped the nightcap by a 5-3 score.
With the split, Sacramento State moved its record to 23-17 overall and 6-7 in the PCSC while Bakersfield is now 11-35 overall and 4-10 in the conference. The Roadrunners snapped a nine-game losing streak with the victory in game two. The two teams will wrap up the four-game series with another doubleheader at Shea Stadium tomorrow at noon.
The Hornets’ second game loss also means that head coach Kathy Strahan (797 wins) will not be able to win her 800th career game this weekend at home. Sacramento State wraps up its regular season with a four-game set at San Diego. The Hornets have seven games remaining on the schedule, including a makeup contest at Saint Mary’s if necessary.
After today’s outcomes, San Diego remains in first place in the league standings with a 10-4 record, followed by Saint Mary’s (9-4), Loyola Marymount (9-5) and Sacramento State (6-7) to round out the top four spots in the six-team Coastal Division.
GAME 1
The Hornets never trailed in the opener, but Bakersfield tied the score at 2-2 in the third inning and 4-4 in the top of the sixth. However, in the bottom of the sixth inning, Devin Caldwell laid down a successful bunt single to score Shannon Kaufman from third base with what proved to be the game-winning run. Kaufman reached first base with one our on a fielders choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch, and to third on a stolen base prior to Caldwell’s bunt.
Sacramento State opened the scoring with a two-run homer from Taylor in the second inning, the second homer of the true freshman’s collegiate career. After Bakersfield got a two-run single from Amy Ricciardi to tie the score at 2-2 in the third inning, the Hornets bounced back with a two-run double from Emily McCormick to reclaim the lead at 4-2 in the bottom of the fifth.
The Roadrunners used a Hornet error in the top of the sixth to score two unearned runs and tie the score at 4-4. That set up Caldwell’s heroics, as the bunt single was her second hit of the game. Bakersfield picked up a two-out single in the top of the seventh, but that was all as Hornet starter Taylor Stroud won her 11th game of the season.
Stroud (11-7) allowed six hits, four runs (two earned), three walks and six strikeouts in the victory. Roadrunner starter Taylor DeSilva (3-6) allowed five runs (four earned) and seven hits over six innings. Caldwell (2-for-4 with a run and an RBI) and Kelli Frye (2-for-4) both had multi-hit games for the Hornets.
GAME 2
The Roadrunners recorded five runs and 12 hits, and overcame a 3-2 deficit with two runs in the sixth inning and one more in the seventh. Sacramento State hit the ball hard all game long (including six line-drive outs), but the ball kept finding Bakersfield gloves. Roadrunner starter Marissa Hiller (3-10) was the beneficiary, earning the win after allowing seven hits and three runs over seven innings.
After CSUB took a 2-0 lead in the third inning, the Hornets bounced back with a three-run fourth inning, that included RBI-doubles from Alyssa Nakken and Taylor, and an RBI-single from Jessica Abelia. The Hornets recorded four of their seven hits in the fourth inning.
The Roadrunners scored a pair in the sixth inning on a Hornet throwing error and a sacrifice fly from Bree Sandoval that proved to be the game-winning run. Bakersfield added an insurance run in the seventh inning on an RBI-single from Karlee Rodgers. Sacramento State got the tying runners at second and third base with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Hiller got Frye to fly out and end the game.
Sacramento State starter Shelby Voelz (6-5) got the loss, allowing 12 hits and five runs (four earned) over seven innings. Taylor (2-for-3 with an RBI) was the only Hornet to record a multi-hit game.
NOTES -- Sacramento State, which entered the game ranked third in the nation in fielding percentage, committed a season-high three errors in the nightcap today…Hornet seniors Abelia, Nakken, Voelz and Marissa Navarro, as well as junior Kelly Shepard will be honored prior to tomorrow’s doubleheader for their contributions to the program.
