CABRERA AND SCHAEFER RECEIVE CONFERENCE PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARDS

4/28/2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Sacramento State senior left fielder Izmena Cabrera and sophomore right-hander Megan Schaefer were named the Pacific Coast Softball Conference’s Player and Pitcher of the Week, respectively, after leading Hornets to a 3-1 record last weekend against Loyola Marymount.

For Schaefer, the award marks the conference-high fourth time she has received the weekly pitching honor this season (Feb. 16, Mar. 10, Mar. 31). Cabrera earned player of the week honors for the second time (Mar. 17) this season and third of her career. Sacramento State positional players and pitchers have now combined to win eight conference player/pitcher of the week awards this season.

In four games last week, Cabrera hit .615 and was retired just five times all weekend long. She hit safely in all four games, including multiple-hit games three times. Cabrera combined to go 8-for-13 with four runs, a walk, two doubles, a home run, two RBIs, 13 total bases, a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .643 on-base percentage. She also handled seven balls in the outfield flawlessly.

Cabrera reached base safely at least twice in all four games, including game three where she went 3-for-4 with two runs, a double, home run and an RBI. Her home run to lead off the sixth inning gave the Hornets a 3-2 lead and proved to be the game-winning hit. She also went 1-for-2 with a run and a walk in game one, 2-for-3 with a run in the second game, and 2-for-4 with an RBI in the fourth game.

Schaefer combined to go 2-1 with a 1.50 ERA in three appearances (two starts) last week. She allowed a potent Loyola Marymount offensive attack two runs or less in all three outings, including a pair of complete games. In 18.2 innings, Schaefer allowed 14 hits, four runs, three walks and nine strikeouts while limiting LMU to a .200 batting average.

Maybe her most impressive effort of the weekend came in relief during the fourth game of the series. In that game, she allowed just two hits and no runs in 4.2 innings. With LMU already leading, 4-3, with one out and the bases loaded in the third, Schaefer was inserted into the game and got out of the jam without allowing another run in a game the Hornets would eventually win, 5-4. She also picked up the win in the third game of the series, allowing just two runs and six hits in seven innings. In the first game of the series, which the Hornets lost 2-1, Schaefer was the losing pitcher despite allowing only two runs and six hits over seven innings.

Entering its last week of the regular season, Sacramento State (23-23, 9-6) still has an opportunity to win its second consecutive PCSC championship. The Hornets will play a home makeup game tomorrow against Saint Mary’s and wrap up the week with a four-game series at Santa Clara this weekend. The Hornets are currently in sole possession of second place in the league standings, 2.5 games behind first-place Portland State (12-4).

Sacramento State would win the conference title if either of the following two scenarios occur:
- Hornets win their last five games, and Portland State either loses three of four or gets swept at Loyola Marymount this weekend.
- Hornets win four of their last five games, and Portland State is swept in four games at Loyola Marymount.