SOFTBALL FAILS TO PRODUCE IN THE CLUTCH IN LOSSES AT NEVADA
3/29/2007
RENO, Nev. -- Sam Bias, Brittany Puzey and Sarah Hunt each homered to lead Nevada to a pair of wins over Sacramento State in a non-conference softball doubleheader Thursday afternoon at the brand new Christina Hixson Softball Park. The Wolf Pack won the first game, 3-2, before taking the nightcap, 5-2.
With the doubleheader sweep, Nevada improved to 10-24 as the team was playing its first set of games in its new softball facility. The Hornets dropped to 8-23 overall. The team continued to struggle on the road falling to 0-8. Combined that with a 6-14 record at neutral sites, Sacramento State is now 6-22 away from home.
Sacramento State had numerous opportunities to score, but combined to go just 2-for-11 with runners in scoring position.
In the first game, Katie Holverson allowed two runs and seven hits over seven innings to lead Nevada to a 3-2 victory. The Wolf Pack scored all three of their runs in the first two innings off Sacramento State starter Kayla Meeks, highlighted by a two-run homer from Puzey in the first.
The Hornets squandered numerous scoring opportunities through the first five innings, leaving five runners in scoring position over that span. Sacramento State finally broke through in the sixth with solo home runs from sophomores Jamie Schloredt and Rachel Miles to trim the deficit to 3-2.
However, Holverson (4-11) set down the Hornets in order in the seventh to end the game. Meeks (4-9) picked up the loss, allowing three runs and nine hits with no walks and three strikeouts over six innings. Schloredt and Miles both finished the game with two hits.
In the nightcap, Bias hit a three-run homer and Hunt added a solo shot to lead the Wolf Pack offense. Sacramento State starter Michele Bochenski (2-7) lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing five runs and six hits with three walks. Hornet reliever Jennifer Fryou pitched 2.2 innings of one-hit, scoreless relief to keep the Hornets in the game, but it was not enough.
Sacramento State picked up single runs in the first (Schloredt RBI-single) and the fourth innings (Whitney Loomis RBI-single). The Hornets finished the game with nine hits, but left six runners on base.
The Wolf Pack’s Jordan McPherson (6-12) picked up the win, allowing two runs and eight hits in seven innings. Schloredt finished the game 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and combined to go 5-for-5 with a double, home run and two RBIs in the doubleheader. She raised her batting average to a team-best .443, and has now hit safely in 16 games this season.
Sacramento State will get this weekend off before opening Pacific Coast Softball Conference play at defending league champion Portland State on Friday-Saturday, April 6-7. The Hornets swept four games from the Vikings last year in Sacramento, but finished the season one game back of the first-place Vikings. Subsequently, Portland State earned the conference’ automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals.
RENO, Nev. -- Sam Bias, Brittany Puzey and Sarah Hunt each homered to lead Nevada to a pair of wins over Sacramento State in a non-conference softball doubleheader Thursday afternoon at the brand new Christina Hixson Softball Park. The Wolf Pack won the first game, 3-2, before taking the nightcap, 5-2.
