With the split, Sacramento State moves its record to 26-17 overall and 5-5 in the PCSC. San Diego (19-17) is now 7-3 in the conference and remains in second in the PCSC standings. Portland State is currently in first place in the PCSC with a 6-1 record while Sacramento State and Santa Clara are tied for third with 5-5 marks. The Hornets have 10 conference games remaining on the schedule.

For the first time during conference play, Sacramento State won the first game of a doubleheader. However, the Hornets lost a conference nightcap for the first time all season as well. Sacramento State split a pair of doubleheaders against both Loyola Marymount and Santa Clara entering this weekend’s series against San Diego. The Hornets and Toreros will close out the four-game series tomorrow (Sunday, April 23) when the two teams play a doubleheader beginning at noon.

In the first game of today’s double dip, Cinque (11-10) pitched seven innings, allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) while striking out three. She also helped her own cause offensively by going 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and an RBI. In fact, five different Hornets had RBIs, comprised of Cinque, Jamie Schloredt, Gloria Toledo, Rachel Miles and Teri Ann Caoagan. Schloredt’s RBI came on her team-leading sixth home run of the season with one out in the seventh. Cinque, Miles and Toledo each finished with two hits.

Sacramento State never trailed during the game, scoring a run in the second and fourth innings, three more in the fifth and one in the seventh. The three-run fifth broke things open as the inning was highlighted by an RBI-double from Cinque, an RBI-single from Toledo and an RBI-double from Miles.

That was more than enough run support for Cinque as she picked up her 11th win of the season. San Diego’s Erin Harmonson (9-9) got the loss, allowing eight hits and six runs (four earned) in seven innings.

In the nightcap, San Diego’s Christina Haake (6-6) allowed two runs in seven innings, and San Diego broke open a 1-1 tie with three runs in the fifth inning.

Sacramento State freshman pitcher Cassie Cervantes started the game and pitched a harmless first and second inning before wildness got the best of her in the third. After walking four batters (including one with the bases loaded) in the third, Cervantes was pulled in favor of junior Jennifer Fryou. Cervantes had struck out six batters in 2.2 innings, but had also allowed seven walks during that time, including walking the bases loaded in the first.

The run in the third for San Diego tied the game at 1-1 as Sacramento State took an early 1-0 lead in the first on an RBI-double from Cinque.

The Toreros broke things open in the fifth as the team tallied three runs and four hits off Fryou, including an RBI-single from Gina McFarland and a two-run double from Virginia Fritsch. The Hornets closed to within 4-2 in the seventh on another RBI-double from Cinque, but Miles grounded out to end the game while representing the tying run.

Fryou (2-2) picked up the loss, allowing three runs and six hits in 3.1 innings of relief. She had entered the game allowing just two earned runs in 25.2 innings all season.

Cinque finished the doubleheader with a combined four hits (three doubles), two runs and three RBIs. Schloredt went 3-for-6 with a double, home run, two walks and an RBI.