SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Seniors Amanda Moreland and Nicole Deatherage each had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Sacramento State softball team to a 6-1 victory over host Cal Poly in the final game of the Mustang Roundup Sunday afternoon at Bob Janssen Field.With the victory, Sacramento State won its second game in a row after opening the three-day, five-game tournament with losses to Colorado State, UC Santa Barbara and Nevada, respectively. The Hornets, who have combined for 14 runs and 20 hits over their last two games, improved to 2-5 this season. Cal Poly, which finished the tournament with a 3-2 record, dropped to 4-3 overall with the loss.
For the second-consecutive game, Sacramento State recorded a six-run inning as the Hornets exploded for six in the fourth. All six runs in the inning were unearned as the Hornets took advantage of two Cal Poly errors and a passed ball. Sacramento State scored all six of its runs with two outs as Deatherage and Moreland each had two-run singles to highlight the inning. An RBI-single from sophomore Lindy Winkler and a passed ball scoring junior Amy Hillel accounted for the team’s other two runs.
Moreland finished with two hits in the fourth as she opened the inning with a single. After Erin Coyne sacrificed pinch runner Stephanie Lockhart to second base, freshman Amy Jo McKenzie reached base safely on an error by Cal Poly shortstop Roni Sparrey. Lesley Mayhorn then grounded out for what would have been the third out of the inning. With runners at second and third and two outs, Deatherage followed with her two-run single. Sacramento State eventually sent 11 batters to the plate in the inning.
Deatherage (1-1) picked up her first win of the season, allowing one run and six hits over seven innings. Deatherage, who also struck out six without allowing a walk, had her shutout bid broken up in the seventh after allowing a one-out solo home run to Shannon Brooks. Cassie Vanderbeek (2-1) got the loss for Cal Poly, allowing four unearned runs and four hits in 3.2 innings of work.
After starting the season slowly on offense (.172 through the first five games), Sacramento State has improved its batting average to .233 with the help of the offensive explosion over the last two contests. Deatherage (.417), Coyne (.368), Hillel (.316) and Moreland (.300) are each hitting at least .300 for the Hornets.
The Hornets do not play again until their home opener against UC Davis on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at 1 p.m.
