SOFTBALL SPLITS FIRST TWO GAMES OF THE AGGIE INVITATIONAL
2/24/2007
DAVIS, Calif. -- The Sacramento State softball team completed its first two games of the Aggie In vita ion al, beating UC Riverside in a game that was continued from yesterday, 12-10, before falling to Kentucky, 9-1, Saturday morning at LaRue Field.
With the split, Sacramento State is now 4-8 on the young season, and concludes the tournament tomorrow with games against host UC Davis (1 p.m.) and Saint Mary’s (3 p.m.). UC Riverside moved to 5-5 with the loss, and Kentucky improved to 6-2.
In a game that was stopped yesterday because of darkness and resumed this morning, Sacramento State defeated UC Riverside, 12-10. The Hornets, who pounded out 12 runs and 13 hits, scored once in the first, six times in the third, four in the fourth and once more in the fifth.
All but two Sacramento State starters had at least one hit, including multiple-hit games from Jamie Schloredt (3x3, bb, 2r, 2rbi), Keri Elias (2x4, 2r), Kayla Meeks (2x3, 2 r, rbi), Rachel Miles (2x3, 2r, rbi) and Jenice Bartee, 2x3, r, hr, 4rbi).
The big blows in the game came off the bat of Bartee and Melissa Cross. During the Hornets’ six-run third inning, Cross had a two-run double, and Bartee later followed with a three-run homer that easily cleared the left field fence. Cross finished the game with three RBIs and Bartee had four RBIs to lead five Sacramento State players with at least one RBI in the contest.
UC Riverside posted 10 runs and 11 hits off three Sacramento State pitchers. Hornet freshman Brittani Clifford (1-2) picked up the win, pitching four innings after taking over for starter Cassie Cervantes to begin the second inning. Kayla Meeks threw the final two innings to close out the Hornet win.
The 12 runs and 13 hits were both season highs for Sacramento State.
Against Kentucky, the Wildcats pounded out nine runs and 11 hits against a Hornet pitching staff that continues to struggle. Natalie Smith went 4-for-4 with three runs, Molly Johnson finished with three hits and four RBIs, and Katie Campbell finished with two hits and three RBIs to lead Kentucky’s offensive attack. The big blows came on a two-run homer from Johnson in the third, and a three-run blast from Campbell in the fifth.
Sacramento State had just one run and four hits, as the game was stopped in the sixth inning because of the eight-run mercy rule. Schloredt had her career-high tying six-game hitting streak come to a close as the catcher finished 0-for-3. Elias, Miles, Bartee and Ashley Dawson each had hits.
Meeks (1-4) got the loss for Sacramento State, allowing seven runs and nine hits in four innings. Jennifer Young (4-2) picked up the victory, allowing just one unearned run and four hits over six innings. The Hornets got their only run in the sixth after Miles singled home Amy Tompkins.
Sacramento State’s pitching staff has now allowed at least nine runs each of the last three games, and four of the last five.
Since joining the Div. I ranks in 1990, Sacramento State is a combined 56-7-3 against tomorrow’s opponents - UC Davis and Saint Mary’s.
DAVIS, Calif. -- The Sacramento State softball team completed its first two games of the Aggie In vita ion al, beating UC Riverside in a game that was continued from yesterday, 12-10, before falling to Kentucky, 9-1, Saturday morning at LaRue Field.
