SACRAMENTO, Calif. --- Senior Amy Walter went 3-for-3 and drove in a run in the first game to help Sacramento State to a 2-1 victory over No. 18 Pacific Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Tigers bounced back to win the nightcap, 7-2.The split moved the Hornets’ overall record to 18-16. Pacific is now 21-9.
In the first game, Sacramento State broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth with a double from Lesley Mayhorn which scored Lindy Winkler. The team then added to its lead in the fifth inning when Walter doubled down the left-field line to plate Ashley Dawson.
Pacific answered in the top half of the sixth inning when Michelle Annunciation doubled to right and later scored on an error. However, the Tigers could pull no closer as Sacramento State senior Nicole Deatherage improved to 9-6 on the year.
Deatherage did not allow an earned run during the game while scattering five hits. The Cameron Park, Calif., native, who is the reigning Pacific Coast Softball Conference Pitcher of the Week, lowered her ERA to 0.71. Just one start after recording a career-high 12 strikeouts against Tennessee State, Deatherage did not strike out a Pacific batter on Saturday.
In the second game, the Tigers jumped on freshman starter Jennifer Fryou for a run in the first inning. Gina Carbonatto, who was 3-for-5 in the game, opened with a single to left and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Carbonatto was then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt before scoring on another wild pitch.
Freshman Jennifer Curtier made the score, 2-0, in the third inning with a single to right. The Hornets responded in the bottom of the third when Jess Rojo doubled down the right-field line scoring Walter. Sacramento State tied the game in its next inning on a single from Amanda Moreland against reliever Natalie King.
Pacific pulled away in the fifth inning with four runs. Carbonatto opened the frame with her first career home run and the Tigers followed with three-straight singles. Kristen Allen then grounded out, Crystal Presson singled and Brandi Gordon reached on a error to score one run apiece.
King (10-2) was near perfect in relief for UOP. After allowing the single to Moreland in her first at-bat, King surrendered just one hit and struck out four in 3.2 innings of work. Curtier led all players, going 4-for-4. Annunciation, Ashlie D’Errico, Presson and Gordon each had two hits in the second game.
Fryou threw her fourth career complete game. The freshman gave up five earned runs and fanned four.
Sacramento State will next be in action at Nevada on March 30.
