The victories for Sacramento State gave the team a crucial four-game series sweep of Saint Mary’s as the Hornets climbed into second place in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference standings. Sacramento State won the first game, 11-1, in five innings, and returned to win the second game, 4-0, behind senior Nikki Cinque’s three-hit shutout.

However, conference-leading Portland State swept its four-game series with San Diego over the weekend and remains atop the league standings with a 12-1 PCSC record. The Hornets (10-6) are 3.5 games behind the Vikings, and the two teams will play a four-game series next weekend in Sacramento.

To have a chance at winning the conference championship, the Hornets will need to win at least three of those games next weekend, and get help from Loyola Marymount. After next weekend’s series, Portland State still needs to play three makeup games against third-place Loyola Marymount (7-6) because of rain that forced the cancellation of games earlier this season. Sacramento State’s regular season is over after the Portland State series.

So, if the Hornets win all four games against PSU, they would still need Loyola Marymount to win one of the three games the following week against PSU. Should Sacramento State win three games next weekend, it would need LMU to win all three games against PSU. With two losses to Portland State, the Hornets would be eliminated from title contention.

With today’s victories, Sacramento State improved to a season-high 11 games above .500 (31-20 overall and 10-6 in the PCSC). Saint Mary’s dropped to 5-45 and 1-15 in the conference. The Hornets improved their record to 43-2 against Saint Mary’s since joining the Div. I ranks in 1990.

In the first game of today’s doubleheader, Sacramento State scored two times in the first inning, four in the second, two in the third and three more in the fourth to win via eight-run mercy rule for the second day in a row.

Winkler was the Hornets’ catalyst on offense finishing 3-for-3 with three runs scored, a triple, a home run and a career-high four RBIs. Three of those RBIs came on a three-run bomb in the second inning, her career-high fifth home run of the season.

Johnson went 3-for-3 with two runs scored an RBI to raise her season batting average to .333. Junior Amy Jo McKenzie homered for the second-consecutive day and fourth time this season, a two-run pinch-hit shot in the fourth inning. Cinque and sophomore Teri Ann Caoagan each finished with two hits and an RBI to round out the Hornets with at least one RBI in the game. Sacramento State finished the contest with 11 runs and 14 hits.

Junior Michele Bochenski (4-2) picked up the win in relief, pitching the final 1.1 innings, allowing just one hit. Freshman Cassie Cervantes pitched the first 3.2 innings, allowing just one hit with nine strikeouts. She did not pitch the necessary four innings for a starter to earn a victory.

In the nightcap, Cinque (13-10) won her fourth-straight decision, allowing just three hits while striking out five in seven innings of work.

Sacramento State scored all four of its runs in the sixth inning with the help of two Saint Mary’s errors. A Britany Crine RBI-single and an RBI-double from Gloria Toledo highlighted the inning. Three of the four runs scored during the inning were unearned against Gaels’ starting pitcher Marlena Green.

Toledo finished the game 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI. All but three Hornet starters had at least one hit in the contest.

During the four-game set, Sacramento State’s offense combined for 33 runs and 42 hits while outscoring Saint Mary’s, 33-3. Four Hornets now have at least 24 RBIs this season, the first time that has happened in the Div. I era. Those four players are comprised of Jamie Schloredt (Div. I record 38 RBIs), Winkler (career-high 28 RBIs), Cinque (career-high 28 RBIs) and Toledo (career-high 24 RBIs).

Both doubleheaders next weekend (May 6-7) against Portland State will begin at noon.