SUNNYVALE, Calif. - Sacramento State scored seven times in the seventh inning on the way to its sixth victory over UC Davis this season Sunday morning at the National Invitational Softball Tournament. The Hornets, who won the game by the score of 7-2, moved their record to 6-0 against the Aggies this year.With the victory, Sacramento State closed the three-day, five-game tournament with a 2-3 record while improving its overall record to 13-11. The Hornets defeated both Northern Iowa and UC Davis at the tournament, while falling to Colorado State, second-ranked Cal and host San Jose State. In addition, Sacramento State head coach Kathy Strahan is now just one victory shy of career win number 600. In her 22nd season as a collegiate head coach, Strahan is 599-575-3 , including 352-330-2 in 12-plus seasons at Sacramento State.
The Hornets posted their biggest inning of the season (seven runs) to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the seventh inning. Sacramento State took advantage of three UC Davis errors in the inning while receiving an RBI-triple from Ashley Dawson, a three-run double from Teri Ann Caoagan, an RBI-triple from Britany Crine and an RBI-single from Brianne Ferguson.
All seven runs in the inning were unearned as UC Davis’ Linsday Tognetti started the inning by striking out Erin Coyne. Ferguson then reached on an error, and was tripled home by Dawson. Another Aggie error (which should have been the third out of the inning) allowed Amy Hillel to reach base safely. Tognetti was then replaced by Stacey Benzing, who promptly walked Lesley Mayhorn to load the bases. Dawson was then thrown out at the plate after UC Davis shortstop Kristin Herrera fielded Lindy Winkler’s ground ball and threw home.
With the Hornets still down, 2-1, and the bases loaded, an error by Benzing allowed Gloria Toledo to reach base safely while Hillel scored the game-tying run. As has been the custom all season long, Caoagan then stepped up and provided the game-breaking blow with a three-run double. Despite being a walk-on freshman, Caoagan now leads the team with 11 RBIs this season.
Crine and Ferguson followed with their run-scoring hits to put the game away as the Hornets scored six of the seven runs after two outs had been recorded. Ferguson (7-5) got the win, allowing two runs (one earned) and eight hits over seven innings. Tognetti got the loss, allowing three unearned runs and three hits in 6.1 innings.
Sacramento State returns to the field on Wednesday, March 16, as the team hosts Utah Valley State for a doubleheader which begins at 1 p.m. The Hornets then host the 13-team Capital Classic on Friday-Sunday, March 18-20, at the Sacramento Softball Complex.
