In the opener, Cal scored four unearned runs in the third inning and held on for the two-run victory. With runners at first and second and one out, a Hornet error loaded the bases. Hornet starter Nicole Deatherage got the following hitter (Haley Woods) to pop out, which would have been the third out of the inning. Spencer followed with a two-run single and Jessica Pamanian wrapped up Cal’s scoring in the inning with a two-run double. Deatherage allowed just one hit over the final three innings, retiring 10 of the final 11 batters she faced.

The Hornets scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings on an RBI-groundout by Amy Walter and an error scoring Lindy Winkler, respectively. Sacramento State had the opportunity to score more in the fifth inning, but Amber Dragomir was throw out at the plate by Cal right fielder Alex Sutton after a single from Amanda Moreland.

Sacramento State threatened again in the sixth inning, putting runners at first and third with one out, but Cal starter Kelly Anderson got Lesley Mayhorn to line out and Amy Hillel was caught stealing at second base to end the inning. Anderson (1-0) got the win, allowing five hits and two runs (both unearned) in seven innings of work. Deatherage (0-1) picked up the loss for the Hornets despite allowing no earned runs and six hits in six innings.

In the second game, the Golden Bears scored four runs in the first inning, one in the fifth and three more in the sixth to enforce the eight-run mercy rule. Sacramento State tallied just three hits (one each from Winkler, Erin Coyne and Deatherage) off Cal starter Kristina Thorson in six innings. Thorson (1-0) allowed just one walk while striking out eight as the Hornets got just one runner past second base during the entire game.

Sutton’s two-out, two-run single in the first highlighted Cal’s four-run inning as Sacramento State starter Brianne Ferguson (0-1) lasted just four innings, allowing 10 hits and four runs (two earned). Freshman pitcher Jennifer Fryou entered the game for the Hornets in the fifth inning and was greeted by a home run from Spencer.

Fryou lasted 1.1 innings, allowing four hits and four runs (three earned) while striking out one. A passed ball in the sixth inning scoring Spencer gave Cal its eighth run of the inning and ended the contest.

The Hornets’ Coyne finished the doubleheader with three hits and one walk in five plate appearances while Winkler (2-for-7) was the only other Sacramento State player with more than one hit. Freshman Amy Jo McKenzie picked up her first career hit with a sixth-inning double in the first game.

Sacramento State returns to action next weekend as it takes part in the Mustang Roundup in San Luis Obispo, Calif. The Hornets will face Colorado State (9 a.m.) and Nevada (11:30 a.m.) on Friday, Feb. 6, Nevada (2 p.m.) and San Diego (4:30 p.m.) on Saturday, Feb. 7, and host Cal Poly (2 p.m.) on Sunday, Feb. 8.