SCHLOREDT’S WALKOFF GRAND SLAM HIGHLIGHTS DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF SAINT MARY’S

5/5/2007

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Sophomore Jamie Schloredt hit a walkoff grand slam in the first game, and junior Hilary Johnson added a two-out, walkoff RBI-single in the second game to highlight Sacramento State’s sweep of Saint Mary’s in a Pacific Coast Softball Conference doubleheader Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium.

The Hornets won the first game, 5-1, and took the second game, 2-1, in eight innings.

The victories improved Sacramento State to 19-32 overall and 10-7 in the PCSC. Regardless of what happens in tomorrow’s season-closing doubleheader against Saint Mary’s, the Hornets are now assured of finishing at least tied for second in the conference standings. Portland State is 8-9 in the league standings and could tie the Hornets with two victories, and two Hornet losses tomorrow. Loyola Marymount (16-2) has already clinched the conference championship and will receive an automatic berth into the NCAA Regionals, which begin May 18.

After opening the year by posting an 11-30 record, Sacramento State has now won eight of its last 10 games. In addition, the Hornets are 9-7 at home, and are assured of finishing with at least a .500 winning percentage in the PCSC for the fifth straight season.

With the loss, Saint Mary’s dropped to 23-35 overall and 8-10 in the conference.

In the first game, Schloredt’s grand slam came on a 1-0 pitch with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. The home run, which was hit to right field, broke a 1-1 tie, and Schloredt was mobbed by her teammates as she crossed home plate. The home run for Schloredt was her seventh of the season, and she is now one shy of tying the Hornets’ Div. I (1990-pres.) single-season record for most home runs. The record is currently shared by Nikki Cinque (2006) and Jill Haas (1998).

Both Sacramento State starter Kayla Meeks and Saint Mary’s starter Megan Galloway were locked in a 1-1 pitchers dual until Schloredt’s bomb. The Gaels scored the game’s first run in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of two Hornet errors in the inning. Sacramento State tied things in the bottom of the fourth after Sherry Clark’s RBI-double scored pinch runner Kayla Williams from second base.

That set the stage for the bottom half of the seventh inning when the Hornets loaded the bases via walk to Keri Elias, a single from Amy Tompkins and another walk to Whitney Loomis. All three scored on Schloredt’s shot over the right-field wall.

Meeks (11-12) got the win, allowing one run and five hits over seven innings while striking out seven. The seven strikeouts were her third highest total of the season. After beginning the year 2-7, Meeks is now 9-5 with a 2.58 ERA over her last 15 starts. Galloway (6-9) got the loss, allowing five runs and seven hits over 6.1 innings.

Tompkins (2-for-4 with one run) and Amy Jo McKenzie (2-for-3) each had a multiple-hit games for the Hornets.

In the nightcap, the game remained tied at 1-1 until the bottom of the eighth. Meeks was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning, and Clark followed with a single to put runners at first and second with no outs. Saint Mary’s reliever Kate Albaugh then struck out Amanda Meyer, and got pinch hitter Melissa Cross to ground out to first base. Both Meeks and Clark advanced one base on Cross’ grounder. That set the stage for Johnson, who lined the first pitch she saw up the middle to score Meeks with the game-winning run.

Hornet starter Jennifer Fryou (3-5) was dominant, allowing just three hits and one unearned run over eight innings. The senior struck out seven, and would have recorded a three-hit shutout if not for a Hornet error in the top of the sixth inning that allowed a Saint Mary’s run to score. She faced just three batters over the minimum and retired the Gael side in order in the first, second, fifth, seventh and eighth innings.

The Hornets got their first run of the game in the second after Rachel Miles scored on a throwing error. Albaugh (7-5) took the loss in relief, allowing two hits and one run in 1.2 innings. Chelsea Loftis went the first six innings for the Gaels, allowing eight hits and one unearned run.

Schloredt (2-for-4), McKenzie (3-for-4) and Clark (2-for-4) each had multiple-hit games for Sacramento State. In fact, McKenzie finished the doubleheader a combined 5-for-7 (.714). Fyou and Meeks combined to go 2-0 with a 0.47 ERA over 15.0 innings.

Sacramento State and Saint Mary’s will finish the four-game series tomorrow with a doubleheader at noon. The games will be the last of the season for the Hornets as seniors Fryou, McKenzie, Ashley Dawson, Katie Rhoe and Michele Bochenski will be honored prior to the first game for their contributions to the program.