RIVERSIDE, Calif. – Jenell Jackson and Monique Baeza each tossed four-hit shutouts to lead UC Riverside to a Big West Conference softball doubleheader sweep over Sacramento State Saturday afternoon at UCR Softball Field. The Highlanders won both games by the score of 2-0.With the losses, Sacramento State has now dropped 11 of its last 12 games while falling to 16-31 overall and 5-15 in the Big West. UC Riverside improved its record to 13-42 overall and 3-17 in the conference.
In game one, Jackson (6-14) allowed just four hits while walking one on the way to her second shutout of the season. The Hornets stranded five runners on base, including a three-hit third inning where the team failed to score. In the inning, Sacramento State loaded the bases with one out before Cathy Coupar's ground ball forced Lori Meixner out at the plate, and Jillian Bivert fouled out to end the inning.
UC Riverside got on the board early as Karli Burneleit's first-inning, RBI-single scored Suzanne Dallas. The Highlanders added another run in the fifth after Dallas singled in Kiara Burneleit. UC Riverside scored both of its runs with two outs in the inning.
Sacramento State threatened again in the fifth inning, but Jackson got Coupar to fly out with runners at first and second to end the inning. Bivert (5-14) picked up the loss, allowing two runs and seven hits in six innings.
In the night cap, Baeza (5-21) tossed her second shutout of the season, allowing four hits and striking out four in seven innings of work. Baeza, who also walked three batters, worked out of trouble in the first, fourth and seventh innings. The Hornets stranded a runner at third base in both the first and fourth innings, and left runners at first and second in the seventh.
UC Riverside scored both of its runs in the third inning on a sacrifice fly from Dallas and an RBI-single from Karli Burneleit.
Sophomore Nicole Deatherage (9-8) took the loss, allowing two runs and seven hits in six innings.
Freshman Erin Coyne finished with two hits while Mary Villalpando and Amber Dragomir also recorded a hit to round out the Hornets' offensive output.
Coupar did not play in the second game, marking the first time this season the senior did not start in center field.
In today's doubleheader, Sacramento State combined to go 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and is now hitting .241 in that category this season.
The Hornets and Highlanders close out their three-game series tomorrow (Sunday, May 5) at noon.
