Cervantes, who came to Sacramento State from Red Bluff’s Mercy Catholic High School, allowed just two hits while walking one and striking out 17 of the 21 outs she recorded. The 17 strikeouts were the most by a Hornet in a seven-inning game, as three-time All-American Susie Bugliarello struck out 18 batters in an 11-inning victory over Cal Poly on March 25, 1997.

After Iowa’s Stacy May singled to open the game, Cervantes set down 21 of the final 23 Hawkeyes she faced in impressive fashion. She struck out three batters in the first, second, third and fourth innings, and struck out eight batters in a row between the third and sixth innings. No Iowa player advanced past first base during the entire game, and seven of her 17 strikeouts caught Iowa batters looking.

What made the performance even more impressive is it came against an Iowa team that has reached the NCAA Tournament 13 times in the last 18 years, and is currently receiving votes in the ESPN.com/USA Softball top 25 poll. In 22.2 innings this year, the flame thrower has amassed 47 strikeouts, including 32 over her last two games. Cervantes picked up a win against Nevada last weekend, allowing one hit while striking out 15 batters over seven innings.

With the split, Sacramento State has now won seven of its last eight games and improved to 11-10. Iowa moved its record to 12-9, and six of those losses have come against ranked opposition. The second-game win for the Hornets marked their first victory over the Hawkeyes since the 2001 season and Sacramento State is now 4-10 against Iowa since joining the Div. I ranks in 1990.

Cervnates (2-3) got plenty of offensive support as the Hornets posted six runs and a season-high tying 12 hits off Iowa starter Ali Arnold. The Hornets scored in every inning but the third and fourth, as senior Lindy Winkler (2-for-3 with two runs), junior Amy Jo McKenzie (3-for-4 with a career-high tying three RBIs) and sophomores Hilary Johnson (2-for-3 with two runs) and Amy Tompkins (2-for-2 with a walk) each had multiple-hit games.

McKenzie struck the big blow with a two-out, two-run double in the first inning and the Hornets never looked back. McKenzie recorded her second three-hit game in the last week as she bumped her season batting average to .372.

In the first game, Iowa starter Brittany Weil allowed one run and seven hits while striking out nine Hornets over seven innings. Weil improved her record to 8-4 as Sacramento State stranded eight runners on base.

The Hawkeyes scored one run in the second, third and fourth innings, and three more in the fifth off Sacramento State starter Nikki Cinque. Emily Nichols and Kylie Murray both finished with a pair of hits, and Murray added a two-run single in the fifth.

Sacramento State received two hits apiece from junior Gloria Toledo (2-for-2 with a double) and Tompkins (2-for-3 with a run).

Cinque (5-6) had her three-game winning streak snapped as she picked up the loss, allowing six runs (five earned) and 10 hits over seven innings.

The Hornets return to action this weekend as they host the 14th-annual Capital Classic Tournament this Friday-Sunday, March 17-19, at the Sacramento Softball Complex. Sacramento State will take on Wisconsin (12:30 p.m.) and Southern Utah (3 p.m.) on Friday.