With the losses, Sacramento State has now dropped three in a row while falling to 1-3 at the tournament and 4-9 overall this season. Oregon improved to 8-4 and Iowa State is now 2-7. Of Sacramento State’s nine losses this season, six have come by two runs or less as the Hornets’ offense is currently hitting just .219 as a team.

Against Oregon, Ashley Richards’ two-out, three-run homer in the fifth inning were the only runs of the game as Ducks’ pitcher Anissa Meashintubby (3-1) pitched 5.1 innings of scoreless relief. Sacramento State had seven hits in the game and left eight runners on base. The Hornets chased Oregon starter Amy Harris in the second inning as the team had four hits in the inning, but could not score.

Sacramento State’s Amy Jo McKenzie led off the second inning with a single, but was thrown out trying to steal second after Amy Hillel had been retired for the first out. The Hornets then mounted a two-out rally, as consecutive singles by Amy Walter, Lesley Mayhorn and Lindy Winkler loaded the bases. Meashintubby was then inserted into the game and promptly struck out Amber Dragomir to end the Hornets’ threat.

Sacramento State left at least one runner on base in all but one inning, including two in the first and three in the second inning. Hornet starter Brianne Ferugson (1-5) picked up the loss, allowing three runs and nine hits over six innings. Mayhorn finished the game with two hits and threw out an Oregon runner try to score from second base on a single in the sixth inning.

Against Iowa State, the Cyclones got on the board first in the third inning on an Ashley Killeen RBI-single scoring Fallon Johnson. Iowa State starter Alyssa Ransom retired the first nine Hornets she faced until Winkler led off the fourth inning with a single. The Hornets eventually loaded the bases in the inning, but Nicole Deatherage was retired on a ground ball to end the threat.

The Hornets tied the game in the top of the seventh with the help of two errors. With one out, McKenzie singled to right field and was then replaced by pinch runner Stephanie Lockhart. Deatherage then grounded the ball to second, and with the help of two Cyclone errors on the same play, wound up at third base while Lockhart scored. However, the Hornets could not get Deatherage home as Mayhorn and Hillel were retired to end the inning.

Iowa State won the game in the bottom of the seventh on a two-out, RBI single from Julia Lindsey scoring pinch runner Jennifer Bigbee. Sacramento State’s Jennifer Fryou (2-1) picked up her first loss of the season, allowing two runs and six hits in 6.2 innings. Ransom (1-3) got the win, allowing just two hits and one unearned run in seven innings. She also struck out four batters while walking none.

The Hornets conclude the three-day, five-game tournament on Sunday, Feb. 22, with a game against Cal State Northridge (11:30 a.m.).