SOFTBALL OPENS PCSC PLAY WITH DOUBLEHEADER SPLIT AT SAINT MARY’S

4/5/2008

MORAGA, Calif. -- Sacramento State pitchers Kayla Meeks and Brittani Clifford combined to allow Saint Mary’s no runs and three hits to lead the Hornets a 2-0 victory in the first game of a Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Cottrell Field. Saint Mary’s came back from a two-run, sixth-inning deficit to win the nightcap in eight innings, 4-3.

The doubleheader marked the conference opener for both teams. With the split, Sacramento State moved its record to 19-14 overall and 1-1 in the PCSC. Saint Mary’s is now 14-16 overall and 1-1 in the conference. These same two teams will return to Cottrell Field tomorrow afternoon for another doubleheader to complete the weekend’s four-game series.

In the first game, Meeks went the first 2.1 innings, and Clifford went the final 4.2 innings while allowing Saint Mary’s just three singles the entire game. Clifford was inserted into the game with one out in the third inning, and went the rest of the way, giving up just two hits while striking out seven. Clifford picked up the win, allowing just one runner past second base, and retiring eight batters in a row at one point.

Sacramento State got its runs with the help of two Saint Mary’s errors. In the first inning, a Gael miscue allowed Amy Tompkins to score, and in the fourth inning, an error allowed Hilary Johnson to score. Sacramento State pounded out seven hits off Saint Mary’s pitcher Megan Galloway, including two from Johnson. Galloway went the distance in the loss, allowing seven hits and two unearned runs in 7.0 innings of work.

In the nightcap, the Hornets dropped a heartbreaker as a two-run homer from Jenna Smith tied the game at 3-3 in the sixth inning, and a throwing error from Clifford allowed the winning run (Molly Bergeson) to score all the way from first base in the eighth inning.

Sacramento State had plenty of opportunities to score more than three runs, as the team had 10 hits, including at least one hit in each of the first seven innings. The Hornets stranded 10 runners on base, and finished the game just 2-for-12 (.167) with runners in scoring position.

Sacramento State opened the game’s scoring on an RBI-fielders choice off the bat of Melissa Cross which scored Rachel Miles. The Hornets tacked on one more in the fifth inning after Izmena Cabrera’s RBI-double scored pinch runner Jacquelyn Serrano. After Saint Mary’s closed to within, 2-1, in the bottom of the fifth, Sacramento State took a 3-1 lead in the top of the sixth on an RBI-single from Tompkins which scored Cross.

However, in the bottom of the sixth, after a Hornet error allowed Bergeson to reach base, Smith followed with a two-run shot to tie the score at 3-3. That eventually set up the bottom of the eighth inning where Bergeson was on first base with one out. Chelsea Loftis then laid down a bunt, but Clifford fielded the ball and threw wildly to first, allowing Bergeson to score all the way from first base and give the Gaels a 4-3 win.

Clifford (7-5), who had won each of her last four decisions, got the loss, allowing three hits and three runs (one earned) in 2.2 innings of relief work. Hornet starter Megan Schaefer went the first 4.2 innings, allowing just one run and four hits with four strikeouts. Galloway (7-8) picked up the win in relief, allowing no hits in 1.2 innings.

Tompkins, Cabrera, Miles and Cross each had multiple-hit games for the Hornets. Both Tompkins and Miles finished the doubleheader 3-for-8 (.375 batting average) while Cross went 2-for-4 with a run, double and an RBI in the second game.

Both teams return to action tomorrow for a doubleheader beginning at noon.