Sophomore Nicole Deatherage |
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Nicole Deatherage allowed just four hits over 10.0 innings while picking up both victories as Sacramento State swept a Big West Conference doubleheader from Utah State Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Hornets won the first game, 2-1, in 11 innings, before taking the nightcap, 6-0.Deatherage got the win in relief in the first game, allowing just one hit over five innings. The sophomore then started game two and allowed just three hits over five innings. Deatherage improved her record to 8-3 as the Hornets are now 9-4 in games she starts this season.
With the sweep, Sacramento State improved its record to 15-20 overall and 4-6 in the Big West. Utah State dropped to 4-37 and 0-11 in the conference.
In the opener, two Utah State errors in the 11th inning allowed the Hornets to record a 2-1 victory. A two-base error allowed Cathy Coupar to reach second base to begin the inning. A walk to Lori Meixner and an infield single by Amy Hillel loaded the bases with no outs. After Meghan Cunningham lined into a double play setting up runners at the corners with two outs, Amber Dragomir''s chopper was booted by Aggies'' shortstop Heather Curtis allowing Coupar to score the game-winning run.
Utah State opened the scoring in the fourth inning as a sacrifice fly by Casey Smith gave the Aggies a 1-0 lead. The Hornets tied it in the bottom of the fifth as an error by Curtis allowed Hillel to score with two outs. Utah State committed five errors in the game, including three by Curtis.
Sacramento State had 11 hits, but left 13 runners on base. Hillel went 4-for-4 with a walk, becoming the second Hornet to record four hits in a game this season (Dragomir). Freshman Erin Coyne and Dragomir each finished with two hits. Sacramento State starter Jillian Bivert went the first six innings (allowing one run and five hits) before being relieved by Deatherage. Lindsay Janssen picked up the loss in relief for Utah State, allowing one unearned run and six hits in 4.1 innings.
In the second game, the Hornets pounded out six runs and eight hits during the first two innings. Sacramento State scored five times in the first inning, highlighted by a three-run triple from Coupar. An RBI-double from Coyne and an RBI-single from Alison Norman accounted for the other runs in the inning. In the second, Norman added another RBI-single scoring Bivert to give the Hornets a commanding 6-0 lead.
That was more than enough for Deatherage who allowed just three hits over five innings. Kirsten Wise pitched the final two innings as the junior allowed no hits while striking out the side in the seventh inning. Janssen (1-18) picked up her second loss of the day, allowing six runs and eight hits in 1.2 innings.
The Hornets and Aggies close out the three-game series tomorrow (Sunday, April 14) at noon.
