After losing its first four games of the tournament, Sacramento State got in the win column for the first time this season (1-4). The Hornets could have just as easily finished the tournament with a 3-2 record, but lost heartbreakers to UC Santa Barbara (3-2 in eight innings) and UMass (3-2). Cal Poly dropped to 1-4 with the loss.

Cinque, who has started four of the Hornets’ first five games this season, improved to 1-2 with the victory. She allowed just five hits while waking one and striking out three. The right-hander allowed at least one base runner in every inning except for the sixth, but Cal Poly never advanced a runner past second base. She allowed one hit during her final three innings of work and faced seven batters over the minimum.

Sacramento State scored single runs in both the first and third innings. A two-out, RBI-single from freshman Jamie Schloredt scored Johnson from second base with the first run of the game. The Hornets added their other run on a two-out, RBI-double from senior Lindy Winkler scoring Johnson. Schloredt, Winkler, Johnson and Cinque each had hits for the Hornets as Cal Poly starter Robyn Kontra (1-2) allowed just four hits and two runs (one earned) in seven innings.

Winkler has now hit safely in each of the last four games, and Cinque raised her season batting average to an even .300 (3-for-10). Schloredt is now tied for the team lead this season with three RBIs.

Despite her 1-2 record, Cinque has been impressive, compiling a 1.17 ERA while allowing just 19 hits and three earned runs in 23.0 innings of work. Opponents are batting .213 off Cinque and she has walked just one batter all season.

Sacramento State returns to action next week as the team takes part in the three-day, five-game Stanford Invitational. The Hornets will face Birmingham-Southern (11:30 a.m.) and Drake (5:30 p.m.) on Friday, Feb. 17, before playing two more games on Saturday, and one on Sunday.