Santa Clara entered the weekend with a one-game lead over Loyola Marymount in the conference standings, and improved to 28-23 overall and 14-4 in the conference. Depending on what Loyola Marymount does today against Portland State, Santa Clara could clinch with a win tomorrow. With the losses, Sacramento State (32-26, 10-8 PCSC) was mathematically eliminated from having a chance at the conference title. The Hornets, who were atop the PCSC standings just two weeks ago with a 10-2 conference record, lost their season-high sixth-straight game.

During the six-game losing streak, the Hornets are hitting .226 with just nine RBIs while Sacramento State’s pitching staff has a combined ERA of 3.67. Prior to the losing streak, the Hornets’ pitching staff was among the nation’s leaders with a 1.24 ERA. This year’s final two weeks of the season have a very similar ring to the final month of the 2003 season. Last year, Sacramento State was 25-15 on April 6, before losing 11 of its final 16 games.

In today’s first contest, Forman-Lau faced just two batters over the minimum while limiting Sacramento State to three hits. Last season’s PCSC Pitcher of the Year, Forman-Lau (23-16) was perfect through four innings before allowing an Erin Coyne single to lead off the fifth. Sacramento State had just one hit through the first six innings before back-to-back singles by Amy Walter and Amber Dragomir put runners at first and second with one out in the seventh. Forman-Lau, however, induced Coyne to fly out and struck out Lesley Mayhorn to end the contest. The Hornets never advanced a runner past second base during the entire contest.

Santa Clara got its only run of the game in third inning when Jenny Brown singled home Forman-Lau with one out. The Broncos had at least one hit in every inning off Hornet starter Nicole Deatherage, but could produce just one run while tallying 10 hits and leaving 10 runners on base. Jessica Clee led the Broncos with three hits and a walk. Deatherage (13-11) lost her fifth-straight decision, allowing one run and 10 hits over seven innings.

In the nightcap, Santa Clara scored one run in the first and two more in the third as Courter (5.1 innings) and Forman-Lau (1.2 innings) combined to limit Sacramento State to just one run and six hits. The Broncos’ scoring was highlighted by an RBI-single from Rachel Sherman in the first and an RBI-triple from Clee in the third.

Sacramento State had a runner at third base with one out in both the second and fourth innings, but failed to plate a run. The Hornets finally scored their first run in the sixth inning on a one-out, RBI-single from Coyne, but did not threaten to score the rest of the way. Courter (5-7) picked up the win, allowing one run and five hits, while Forman-Lau notched her second save of the season.

Sacramento State freshman Jennifer Fryou (3-4) got the loss, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits in seven innings. Junior right-hander Brianne Ferguson, who will lead the team in victories this season with 16, will miss the entire weekend series with a hand injury suffered in a non-softball related freak injury prior to last weekend’s Loyola Marymount series.

The Hornets will play their final games of the season tomorrow (Sunday, May 2) as they host a doubleheader with Santa Clara at noon. Sacramento State seniors Jenni Friedrichs, Stephanie Lockhart, Amanda Moreland, Walter, Dragomir and Deatherage will be honored prior to the doubleheader for their contributions to the program.