SOFTBALL FINISHES SECOND IN THE PCSC AFTER DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT AGAINST SAINT MARY’S

5/6/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Five different Hornets had at least one RBI, and sophomore Kayla Meeks allowed just one run and six hits to lead Sacramento State to a 9-1 victory over Saint Mary’s in the second game of a Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Shea Stadium.

Saint Mary’s pitcher Lauren Gardner tossed a four-hit shutout to lead the Gaels to a 5-0 victory in the second game.

With the split, Sacramento State concludes its season with a 20-33 overall record and an 11-8 mark in the PCSC. The Hornets finish second in the PCSC standings behind league champion Loyola Marymount (18-2). The Lions will represent the PCSC at the NCAA Regionals, which begin on May 18.

After a rough first couple months of the season that saw Sacramento State post an 11-30 record, the Hornets finished strong, winning nine of their last 12 games. That includes consecutive 3-1 series victories over Santa Clara, San Diego and Saint Mary’s, respectively.

With the split, Saint Mary’s concluded the season with a 24-36 overall record and a 9-11 PCSC record, good for third place in the conference. Portland State finished fourth in the league standings with a 8-11 mark.  

In the first game, Sacramento State collected nine runs and 11 hits, as Keri Elias, Meeks, Amy Jo McKenzie and Amy Tompkins each had a pair of hits. The Hornets used big innings in the second (4) and fifth (5) to enforce the eight-run mercy rule after five innings and win, 9-1.

Sacramento State scored all four of its runs in the second after two outs had been recorded. The Hornets had three stolen bases in the inning (from Sherry Clark, Elias and Hilary Johnson) and scored on an RBI-single from Johnson, a two-run single from Tompkins and an RBI-triple from Whitney Loomis.

The Hornets tacked on five more runs in the fifth, highlighted by RBI-singles from Clark and Elias, and a sacrifice fly from Loomis.

Meeks concluded the year with a 12-12 record, allowing the Gaels just one run and six hits over 5.0 innings. The right-hander also struck out two and threw 83 pitches. Albaugh (7-6) got the loss, allowing 10 hits and eight runs (six earned) over 4.1 innings.

In the second game, Gardner allowed just four hits over seven innings and faced five batters over the minimum. The left-hander improved her record to 7-5 and did not allow a Hornet runner past second base during the entire game.

The Gaels’ Michelle Mathis finished 1-for-3 with two RBIs, including a two-run single with two outs in the second inning. The 5-0 blanking of the Hornets marked the first time in 11 games that Sacramento State was shut out.

Hornet senior Jennifer Fryou (3-6) got the loss, allowing seven hits and four runs (three earned) over 4.0 innings. Senior Michele Bochenski threw the last 2.0 innings, allowing three hits and one run.

Johnson had another stolen base and finished the year 15-for-19 in stolen base attempts, with the 15 swipes being the most in Sacramento State’s Div. I (1990) single-season history. In addition, Johnson now has 32 career stolen bases, which ties her with Lindy Winkler for the most career swipes in Sacramento State’s Div. I history.

Sophomore Jamie Schloredt finished the year with a team-high seven home runs and her 13 career homers is tied for the most in Sacramento State’s Div. I history.

The Hornets’ Schloredt (.361), Tompkins (.328), Meeks (.298), Johnson (.298), McKenzie (.297) and Loomis (.293) all finished the season hitting better than .290. Meeks won 10 of her last 15 decisions to finish the season with a team-best 12 wins. Fryou’s 3.16 ERA was a team high.

Sacramento State seniors Bochenski, Fryou, McKenzie, Ashley Dawson and Katie Rhoe were honored prior to today’s games for their contributions to the program. The Hornets will return 17 players next year, including 10 of the team’s top 11 hitters. Sacramento State had its consecutive season streak of at least 30 victories snapped at four, but the team provided itself with good momentum heading into 2008.