MEEKS PITCHES AND HITS SOFTBALL TO SECOND VICTORY OVER SANTA CLARA

2/9/2007

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Sophomore pitcher Kayla Meeks tossed a three-hit shutout, and went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI to lead Sacramento State to a 3-0 victory over Santa Clara in the second round of the Cal Poly Softball Invitational Friday afternoon at Janssen Field.

Coupled with the team’s 9-3 victory over Santa Clara earlier today, Sacramento State is now 2-0 at the tournament, with games tomorrow against host Cal Poly (3 p.m., 5:30 p.m.), and one game Sunday against 11th-ranked Washington (9:30 a.m.).

The tournament opens the 2007 season for Sacramento State as the team is 2-0 for the first time since 1995. The 1995 season also marked the last time the Hornets advanced to the NCAA Regionals. Santa Clara dropped to 0-2 with the loss.

Meeks (1-0), who transferred to the Hornets from Loyola Marymount, did not allow a Santa Clara runner past second base, and retired each of the final 11 batters she faced. The Hanford, Calif., native allowed two singles and a double, and faced just three batters over the minimum as she walked none and struck out three.

The Hornets opened the scoring in the sixth inning after Rachel Miles’ RBI-single scored pinch runner Katie Rhoe. Sacramento State tacked on two insurance runs in the seventh when Sherry Clark doubled home Hilary Johnson and pinch runner Alex Thornton. Clark’s ball nearly cleared the fence for a home run, as the transfer from Solano Junior College now leads the team with five RBIs through two games.

Miles finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI, and catcher Jamie Schloredt posted her second straight multi-hit game (2-for-4). Schloredt is now 4-for-8 this season with two home runs and three RBIs.