With the victories, Sacramento State has now won four straight while improving its record to 8-9 this season. The Hornets snapped a three-game losing streak to Virginia dating back to the 2002 season. Virginia dropped to 9-7 with the losses.

In the first game, Deatherage (3-3) allowed just four hits while striking out seven and walking one to pick up her second shutout of the season. The team co-captain faced just four batters over the minimum and retired 13 batters in a row at one point during the contest. She has now gone 14-straight innings without allowing a run.

Sacramento State scored both of its runs in the fourth inning on a two-out, two-run double by junior Amy Hillel that was misplayed by Virginia center fielder Jessica Taylor. The inning should have been over earlier, but Taylor dropped a fly ball off the bat of Amy Jo McKenzie to prolong the inning. Five different Hornets had at least one hit in the game, led by senior Amber Dragomir’s two singles.

Joanna Barstad (3-1) picked up the loss, allowing two unearned runs and six hits in 4.1 innings.

In the nightcap, Sacramento State erased a 3-1 deficit in the fifth inning with four runs. The Hornets scored three of those runs with two outs as bases-loaded walks to Hillel, freshman Ashley Dawson and Dragomir highlighted the inning. The Hornets began the inning with a single from Erin Coyne, a walk to Deatherage and a Virginia error to load the bases with one out. Virginia starter Coty Tolar was then pulled in favor of Erin Horn, who walked Hillel to make the score, 3-2, in favor of Virginia.

Joanna O’Neill was retired for the second out of the inning before Horn walked Dawson and Dragomir to give the Hornets their first lead of the game at 4-3. Virginia reliever Barstad was then inserted into the game and she hit Amy Walter with a pitch to force in another run. During the inning, Sacramento State scored four runs despite tallying just one hit.

Junior Brianne Ferguson (3-5) went the distance for the win, allowing three runs (two earned) and six hits in seven innings. Tolar (2-3) got the loss for Virginia, allowing four runs (one earned) and five hits in 4.1 innings. Horn went just one-third of an inning, allowing one run and three walks.

Coyne finished with three hits in the second game and combined to go 4-for-7 in the doubleheader. Hillel hit safely in both games and combined for three RBIs.

The Hornets return to action next weekend as the team takes part in the National Invitational Softball Tournament in Sunnyvale, Calif. Sacramento State will play Arizona State and Minnesota on Friday, March 12, before entering bracket play on both Saturday and Sunday.