The Hornets defeated Nevada, 5-2, in the first game before coming back in the nightcap to beat North Dakota State, 4-1.

With the victories, Sacramento State improved its winning streak to four games and has outscored its opposition during the four-game stretch, 28-7. The Hornets improved their record to 8-9 this season and 2-0 at the tournament. Sacramento State will conclude play at the NIST tomorrow (Sunday, March 12) against St. Francis (11 a.m.) and Colorado State (1 p.m.).

In the first game, Cervantes struck out 15 of the 21 batters she faced while allowing just one hit and two unearned runs. Cervantes struggled with her control early on, walking eight batters through the first four innings. However, she walked just one batter during the final three innings while striking out the side in order in the fifth inning and retiring nine of the final 11 batters she faced.

Cervantes (1-3) picked up the first win of her collegiate career as the Mercy Catholic High School product now has 30 strikeouts in 15.2 innings pitched this season. Opponents are batting just .180 off her this season.

Nevada held a 2-1 lead after five innings before Sacramento State scored twice in both the sixth and seventh innings. A two-out, RBI-triple from Ashley Dawson and an RBI-single from Lindy Winkler plated both Hornet runs in the sixth. Freshman Jamie Schloredt hit her third home run of the season (a solo shot) and Amy Jo McKenzie scored on a Nevada error to account for both runs in the seventh inning.

McKenzie (3-for-4), Schloredt (2-for-4) and Gloria Toledo (2-for-4 with two runs and a double) each had multi-hit games for the Hornets. Nevada’s Candice Rainwater (2-5) got the loss for the Wolf Pack, allowing five runs (three earned) and 11 hits in seven innings of work.

In the Hornets’ second game, Cinque faced just five batters over the minimum while allowing just one unearned run and three hits over seven innings. The right-hander walked one batter and struck out seven to improve her record to 4-5 this season with a team-best 1.58 ERA.

Sacramento State never trailed in the game, scoring twice in the third inning and two more times in the sixth. The Hornets’ two runs in the third came via bases-loaded walk to Schloredt and a run-scoring grounder from Toledo which scored Winkler.

After North Dakota State cut the deficit to one run in top of the sixth inning, the Hornets tacked on two insurance runs in the bottom half of the inning on a solo home run from Toledo (her first of the season) and a sacrifice fly from sophomore Amy Tompkins.

Cinque not only pitched well, but she was the only player in the contest to record a multiple-hit game, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate. Toledo finished the doubleheader a combined 3-for-7 with three runs, a double, home run and two RBIs.

After the Hornets combined for just one home run through the first 13 games of the season, Sacramento State’s offense has now tallied at least one homer in four-consecutive games.

Winkler improved her hitting streak to eight games and McKenzie improved her streak to seven games.