With the victories, Sacramento State has now won five of its last seven games while improving to 23-19 overall and 6-4 in the PCSC. After dropping four of their first five PCSC games, Sacramento State has now won five-straight contests against conference competition with each of those victories coming by at least two runs. In addition, the Hornets continued their dominance of Saint Mary''s as they now lead the all-time series, 37-2. With the losses, Saint Mary''s dropped to 7-35 and 0-10 in the conference.

In the opener, Ferguson struck out 10 batters, one shy of her career high set earlier this year. The right-hander had to work out of trouble early, stranding six runners on base during the first three innings of the game. That included getting out of a bases loaded, one-out situation in the first. Ferguson settled down after the third inning, allowing just three batters to reach base safely during the final four innings.

Sacramento State scored a run in the first and fourth innings for the only tallies of the game. In the first, the Hornets'' Hilary Johnson scored on a Gael throwing error after leading off the inning with a single. In the fourth, Gloria Toledo led off the inning with a triple, and later scored on Danielle Ackland''s two-out, RBI-single.

Johnson led the Hornet offense with a career-high three hits in four at-bats, including a stolen base. Ferguson, who improved her record to 12-9, helped her own cause offensively with two hits. Sacramento State tallied eight hits and left nine runners on base, including the bases loaded in both the fourth and sixth innings. Saint Mary''s Lauren Gardner (1-13) took the loss, allowing two runs (one earned) and eight hits in six innings.

In the nightcap, Sacramento State trailed, 3-0, after the third inning before scoring one in the fourth and four more in the sixth inning to earn the victory. An RBI-double from Marcia-Marie Euker in the second inning and a two-run triple from Claudia Williams in the third inning gave the Gaels an early 3-0 lead. Sacramento State got a run back in the fourth after Amy Hillel’s two-out double scored pinch runner Katie Rhoe.

Sacramento State began the sixth inning with five-consecutive hits by Lindy Winkler (single), Erin Coyne (double), Toledo (single), Teri Ann Caoagan (single) and Hillel (single). Toledo’s single drove in Winkler, but pinch runner Ashley Dawson was thrown out at the plate trying to score from second base. After Saint Mary’s reliever Chelsea Loftis was inserted into the game for Gael starter Kate Albaugh, Toledo scored all the way from second base on a wild pitch and subsequent throwing error by catcher Eleni Papailias as she tried to throw Toledo out at third. Eventually, Hillel singled home Caoagan to give the Hornets the lead. Johnson came through later in the inning with a two-out single scoring pinch runner Kayla Williams to give Sacramento State an insurance run.

Hornet starter Nikki Cinque (11-7) went the distance for the win, allowing three runs and eight hits over seven innings. The right-hander struck out a season-high nine batters while walking just one. Loftis (1-2) got the loss, allowing two runs and three hits (including two wild pitches) in 0.2 innings.

Winkler (2-for-3 with a run), Coyne (2-for-3 with two doubles) and Hillel (2-for-3 with a double and two RBIs) each had multiple-hit games as all but two Sacramento State starters had at least one hit in the contest.

Between the first and second games of today''s doubleheader, former Sacramento State standout pitcher Susie Bugliarello had her number (No. 17) retired for her contributions to the program. The only three-time All-American during the Sacramento State Div. I era for any sport, Bugliarello played for the Hornets from 1994 to 1997. She remains the Sacramento State career leader in innings, wins, games started, complete games, shutouts and strikeouts.

Sacramento State and Saint Mary''s conclude their four-game series tomorrow (Sunday, April 17) as the two teams play a doubleheader beginning at noon at Shea Stadium. The Hornets close out their season-long 12-game homestand on Wednesday, April 20, against ninth-ranked Stanford.