SOFTBALL DROPS HOME DOUBLEHEADER AGAINST SAN DIEGO
4/10/2011
SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- San Diego combined for 13 runs and 14 hits in two games on the way to a sweep of Sacramento State in a Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader Sunday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Toreros won the first game by a 5-2 score, before earning an 8-0 victory in a mercy-rule shortened five-inning nightcap.
With the sweep, San Diego (13-14, 3-1) took three of four games from Sacramento State as the two teams split a doubleheader yesterday. Prior to the weekend, the Hornets (9-19, 1-3) had never lost more than two games in any four-game series against San Diego since joining the PCSC in 2003. Sacramento State remains 25-11 all-time against the Toreros. This weekend’s four-game set marked the conference-opening series for both teams.
On a day the Hornets would like to forget, nothing went particularly well. Sacramento State’s defense combined for six errors while the offense batted just .205 and the pitching staff tallied a 7.45 ERA. San Diego took full advantage, striking big blows in both games, including a four-run first inning in the opener, and a five-run fourth inning in the second game. San Diego never trailed in either contest.
In the first game, San Diego’s four-run first was highlighted by a pair of two-run homers that cleared the center field wall from both Tay Hensley and Celeste Soto. The Hornets scored single runs in the sixth (San Diego error allowing Lauren Blair to score) and seventh inning (RBI-single from Yesenia Alcala), but never really threatened to get back into the game.
San Diego starter Kaitlin Healy (5-4) worked all seven innings to pick up the win, allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out four. The Toreros had just six hits against Sacramento State starter Taylor Stroud, but made them count with the two home runs. One day after throwing a no-hitter against San Diego, Stroud got the loss after allowing six hits and five runs (three earned) in 5.1 innings.
In the nightcap, the Toreros scored once in the third inning, five times in the fourth, and two more in the fifth to enforce the eight-run mercy rule. It marked the first time the Hornets have ever been mercy ruled at home by a PCSC team.
Hensley struck again in the fourth inning, this time connecting on a three-run homer that highlighted San Diego’s five-run fourth inning. A two-run double by Dana Prelsnik in the fifth inning gave the Toreros the necessary eight runs for the mercy rule.
Jenny Lahitte (4-5) allowed five hits while walking one and striking out five to pick up the victory. Stroud (5-8), who started both games for the Hornets today, got the loss after allowing one run and one hit over three innings. A pair of Hornet relievers (Jacquelyn Serrano and Shelby Voelz) also appeared in the game, but neither was effective as San Diego increased its lead.
Freshman Shannon Kaufman was the lone Hornet with a multiple-hit game, finishing 2-for-3. She was also the only Sacramento State player to hit safely in both games of today’s doubleheader.
Sacramento State returns to the field next weekend as the Hornets host a four-game PCSC series against Saint Mary’s. The Hornets and Gaels will play doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday at noon.
