SOFTBALL DROPS TWO, INCLUDING EXTRA-INNING LOSS TO UC SANTA BARBARA
3/10/2007
STANFORD, Calif. -- Tiffany Wright went 4-for-4, including an RBI-double in the eighth inning to help propel UC Santa Barbara to a 3-2 victory in extra innings over Sacramento State in the fourth round of the Stanford Softball Classic Saturday afternoon at Smith Family Stadium. The Hornets also fell earlier today in the third round of the tournament to San Diego State, 8-5.
With the two losses, the Hornets conclude the tournament at 0-4. Sacramento State has now lost six in a row and 10 of its last 11 while falling to 4-13 overall this season. The team’s losing streak is the longest since the 2004 team dropped eight straight.
However, the Hornets, who have yet to play a home game this year, will play each of their next nine games in Sacramento. That includes the home opener this Wednesday, March 14, against Iowa State. Doubleheader action begins at 1 p.m.
With the victories, San Diego State improved to 13-10, and UC Santa Barbara improved to 15-6.
Against UC Santa Barbara, Hornet pitcher Kayla Meeks was impressive, limiting the Gauchos’ offense to just three runs (two earned) and 10 hits in eight innings of work. Both teams had just one run after seven innings, and the international tiebreaker rule went into effect to start the eighth where a runner is placed at second base to begin the inning.
The Gauchos were able to score a pair of runs in the top of the eighth on Wright’s double and a solo homer from Ericka Hansen. Sacramento State was able to get a run back in the bottom of the eighth after Meeks singled home pinch runner Hilary Johnson. The Hornets had runners at first and second base with two outs, but UC Santa Barbara Tami Weston induced Rachel Miles to ground into a force play which ended the game.
Weston (2-0) limited the Hornets to just two hits as Sacramento State scored its first run in the third inning after a Gaucho error allowed Andrea Sherrill to score. Weston also walked six, but struck out eight and both runs allowed were unearned. Meeks (1-5) picked up the loss, striking out three while walking a pair.
Sacramento State catcher Jamie Schloredt, who is batting a team-best .511, was walked three times after lining out sharply in the first inning. The Hornets left seven runners on base, while stranding runners in scoring position in the third, fifth, sixth and eighth innings.
In the first game, San Diego State scored two runs in the first, three more in the third and three in the fifth to take a commanding 8-1 lead. The Hornets cut into the lead with four runs in the sixth, but that was as close as the team would get.
Sacramento State’s defense did not help the cause as five of San Diego State’s eight runs were unearned. A throwing error in the first allowed two unearned runs to score, and a fielding error in the fifth allowed three unearned runs to score.
The Aztecs’ Dani Sidoti, Taryin Casillas and Lindsey Marquez each had two RBIs as San Diego State pounded out 13 hits in six innings against Sacramento State starter Michele Bochenski. San Diego State’s Christina Ross (8-4) picked up the win despite allowing five runs and eight hits over six innings. Melissa Owens notched her first save of the season, allowing just one hit with a pair of strikeouts in the seventh inning.
Sacramento State’s four-run sixth inning was highlighted by an RBI-single from Jenice Bartee, an RBI-double from Whitney Loomis, and a two-run single from Teri Ann Caoagan. All four of the team’s runs came after two outs were recorded. Schloredt’s single drove in Amy Tompkins in the first inning for the Hornets’ first run of the game. Schloredt finished the game 3-for-4 with an RBI and Loomis went 2-for-3 with a run and an RBI.
Bochenski (1-2) got the loss, allowing eight runs (three earned) and 13 hits over six innings.
Schloredt combined to hit .600 (3-for-5) with three walks and a .750 on-base percentage in both games today.
STANFORD, Calif. -- Tiffany Wright went 4-for-4, including an RBI-double in the eighth inning to help propel UC Santa Barbara to a 3-2 victory in extra innings over Sacramento State in the fourth round of the Stanford Softball Classic Saturday afternoon at Smith Family Stadium. The Hornets also fell earlier today in the third round of the tournament to San Diego State, 8-5.
