SCHLOREDT HITS TWO HOMERS IN SOFTBALL’S SEASON OPENING VICTORY OVER SANTA CLARA

2/9/2007

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Sophomore Jamie Schloredt had two home runs and three RBIs, and junior Sherry Clark added three RBIs to lead Sacramento State to a 9-3 victory over Santa Clara in the first round of the Cal Poly Invitational Friday morning at Janssen Field.

The game was the first of the 2007 season for both teams.

The Hornets scored two runs in the first, four more in the second, and three in the sixth as the team belted out nine runs and nine hits. A notoriously slow starting team, Sacramento State won its season opener for just the third time in the last 10 years. The Hornets return to action later today to face Santa Clara again in the second round of the tournament.

Sacramento State opened the scoring in the first with back-to-back homers from Schloredt and senior Amy Jo McKenzie. The Hornets tacked on four more an inning later after Hilary Johnson was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, a two-run single from Clark, and an RBI-groundout from McKenzie.

The Hornets scored their final three runs of the game in the sixth on an RBI-single from Clark and a two-run homer from Schloredt. Despite being just a sophomore, Schloredt now has eight career home runs, which are five shy of Sacramento State’s Div. I era (1990-pres.) career record.

Schloredt finished the game 2-for-3 with two runs and three RBIs, Clark went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and McKenzie finished with two RBIs and her sixth career home run. Junior Amy Tompkins went 2-for-3 with two runs.

Senior Michele Bochenski (1-0) picked up the win in relief, allowing three runs (one earned) and three hits in 3.2 innings of work. Starter Cassie Cervantes did not allow a hit or a run, but was pulled after 3.1 innings after allowing 10 walks and striking out seven. Starters need to pitch at least 4.0 innings to be in line for the victory. Cervantes, who finished last season with 127 walks and 221 strikeouts, has not allowed a hit in each of her last three starts dating back to last year.

After the Hornets’ second game with Santa Clara later today, the team finishes the tournament with two 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.).