SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Jamie Schloredt combined to go 4-for-6 with two doubles and two RBIs, Amy Tompkins combined for five hits, five runs and two RBIs, and Amy Jo McKenzie added five RBIs to lead Sacramento State to a sweep of San Diego in a Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium.
The Hornets won the first game, 9-1, in six innings before winning the nightcap, 7-1. Sacramento State combined for 16 runs and 21 hits over the two games, as eight different Hornets combined to hit better than .300 during the doubleheader.
With the victories, the Hornets improved to 16-31 overall and now move above the .500 mark in PCSC play to 7-6. The Toreros fall to 21-23, 5-9 in the conference. Sacramento State has now five of its last six games after a rough first 10 weeks of the season.
While the offense exploded today, the Hornets’ pitching staff was equally impressive as Sacramento State’s Kayla Meeks and Jennifer Fryou combined to allow just eight hits and two runs over 13.0 innings. San Diego batted just .186 during the doubleheader and combined for one extra base hit.
In the first game, the Hornets used a seven-run bottom of the sixth inning to institute the eight-run mercy rule. McKenzie led the way with a career-high five RBIs, including a three-run homer in the sixth.
Both Meeks and San Diego starter Christina Haake were locked in a 1-1 pitchers dual through the first four innings. However, the Hornets broke through with a run in the fifth on an RBI-single from McKenzie which scored Tompkins. McKenzie also accounted for the Hornets’ first run in the first inning on an RBI-fielders choice which scored Tompkins.
The Hornets put things away in a sixth inning which included seven runs, five hits and one Torero error. A two-run double from Whitney Loomis began the scoring, and an error later in the inning eventually brought Loomis home. San Diego then inserted Jennifer Ellenbeck into the game at pitcher, and she was immediately greeted with McKenzie’s three-run bomb which cleared the left-center field fence. Keri Elias’ RBI-single later in the inning scored Sherry Clark which was the game-clinching run.
Meeks (9-12) was impressive in the circle, allowing just three hits and one run over 6.0 innings. The sophomore also struck out three, and has now won seven of her last 12 decisions. Haake (8-9) took the loss, allowing nine hits and seven runs (five earned) over 5.1 innings.
Tompkins (3-for-5, three runs), Schloredt (2-for-2), McKenzie (2-for-4 with a home run and five RBIs) and Clark (2-for-4) each had multiple-hit games for the Hornets.
In the second game, the Hornets never trailed as Fryou gave up just five hits in a complete-game effort. Sacramento State jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning. With one out, Clark was hit by a pitch by Torero pitcher Katie Nelson. Rachel Miles then singled to center, advancing Clark to second. Ashley Dawson laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Clark and Miles. Hilary Johnson then had an infield single to second, where Danielle Treiber picked up the ball and threw it away after Johnson had got to first, scoring Clark and Miles.
After San Diego picked up its lone run of the game in the third inning, the Hornets tacked on three more in the fourth to break open the game. Clark led off the inning with a walk. Miles then sacrificed Clark to second base. Dawson followed with a bloop just past the mound where a diving Carey Casciola could not make the play. Johnson laid down another sacrifice bunt to advance Clark and Dawson. Tompkins then singled to right, scoring both Clark and Dawson. An RBI-single later in the inning from Loomis eventually scored Tompkins.
Sacramento State got two more in the sixth after a two-out single to left by Schloredt which scored both Johnson and Tompkins.
Fryou (2-4) was equally impressive in the circle as only three runners got past second base all day. She struck out three while only walking two batters. Nelson fell to 4-9 on the year for San Diego as she gave up nine hits and seven runs, six of which were earned. She also hit two Hornet batters (Clark and Meeks).
Tompkins, Schloredt and Johnson each had multiple-hit games for Sacramento State in the nightcap.
Tompkins continues to be a run-scoring machine for the Hornets as the junior has now scored 18 times in the last 11 games. She has scored a team-leading 33 runs this season, which is already tied for the fifth best mark in Sacramento State’s Div. I history (1990-pres.).
Johnson stole another base in the second game, and improved her Sacramento State single-season Div. I record to 13 swipes this year. Her 30 career stolen bases are just two shy of the school record of 32, set by Lindy Winkler.
Sacramento State and San Diego will wrap up their four-game set tomorrow in another doubleheader set for noon at Shea Stadium. Per PCSC rules, San Diego will be the designated home team for both games.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – 
