With the victories, Cal improved to 10-2 and has now won five-straight games. Today’s games marked the home opener for the Golden Bears. Sacramento State dropped to 4-9 with the losses as the team has played just two of its first 13 games at home.

In the first game, Thorson, who received All-American honors last season, limited Sacramento State to just three hits while walking three and striking out 10. Sacramento State starter Nikki Cinque, who allowed just one run and three hits during the first four innings, dropped to 2-5 with the loss. For the game, the senior allowed seven hits and four runs while dishing out just one walk.

Cal scored its first run in the fourth inning after Cal pinch runner Erika Racklin scored on a passed ball. The Bears scored three more times in the fifth as catcher Haley Woods began the scoring with a one-out, two-run single. Later in inning, with runners at first and third, Lindsay James scored from third at the same time Cal pinch runner Chloe Kloezeman was throw out at second attempting to steal.

Sacramento State did not record a hit until the sixth inning when senior Lindy Winkler and freshman Rachel Miles both singled. Those two hits and a single from junior Amy Jo McKenzie in the seventh marked Sacramento State’s only hits of the game.

In the nightcap, the Hornets tallied six runs and eight hits, but it was not enough as Cal scored nine times off Sacramento State pitchers Michele Bochenski and Jennifer Fryou. Bochenski (2-1) was tagged for eight hits and seven runs in 1.2 innings of work. Fryou pitched well in relief, allowing just two runs (one earned) and six hits in 4.1 innings. The appearance was the first of the season for Fryou.

Cal broke things open with five runs in the second inning, highlighted by an RBI-single from James, an RBI-double from Woods, an RBI-single from Katie Vickers and an RBI-double from Alex Sutton. The Golden Bears had a commanding 7-0 lead before Sacramento State began to work itself back in the game with three runs in the third and three more in the fourth inning.

The Hornets’ three-run third inning was highlighted by RBI-singles from Rachel Miles and Gloria Toledo. In the fourth, Teri Ann Caoagan and Winkler both scored on wild pitches and Jamie Schloredt’s sacrifice fly plated Hilary Johnson.

Sacramento State chased Cal starter Lauren Frankiewicz in the middle of the fourth inning. In fact, Frankiewicz was touched for seven hits and six runs in 3.1 innings of work. Thorson was then summoned into the game in relief, and shut the Hornets down the rest of the way. Thorson (7-2) picked up her second victory of the day and seventh of the season, allowing one hit with five strikeouts in 3.2 innings.

All but three Sacramento State starters recorded at least one hit in the game, including two hits each from Hilary Johnson and Miles. Winkler finished 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Miles extended her hitting streak to five games, and Winkler and McKenzie each extended their streaks to four games. Sacramento State started five underclassmen (sophomores Johnson, Amy Tompkins and Caoagan, and freshmen Miles and Schloredt) in both games.

Sacramento State returns to action tomorrow (Saturday, Feb. 25) as the team hosts UC Davis for a doubleheader beginning at noon. Last season, the Hornets posted a 6-0 record against the Aggies.