SOFTBALL KEEPS IT CLOSE, BUT FALLS TO A PAIR OF RANKED OPPONENTS
3/8/2008
FRESNO, Calif. – Sacramento State fell to a pair of ranked teams – first to 16th-ranked DePaul (7-4) and next to 14th-ranked Houston (3-1) – in the third and fourth rounds of the Bulldog Softball Classic Saturday morning at Bulldog Diamond.
With the losses, the Hornets conclude the tournament with a 1-3 record, with each defeat coming at the hands of a ranked opponent. That includes a 4-2 loss to 23rd-ranked Fresno State yesterday afternoon. Sacramento State, which is now 10-9 overall this season, defeated Rhode Island, 13-1, to begin tournament play on Friday morning.
With the victories, DePaul improved to 15-6, and Houston moved its record to 19-2.
In the Hornets’ first game of the day, DePaul jumped on Sacramento State starter Brittani Clifford to the tune of seven runs through the first two-plus innings. The big blow came in the third inning when Brittney Yniguez hit a three-run homer to give the Blue Demons a 7-0 lead.
The Hornets bounced back with two runs in the fourth (two-run single from Kayla Meeks) and two more in the seventh (two-run homer from Teri Ann Caoagan), but it was not enough. Lauren Frankiewicz (5-2) went the distance for her fifth win of the season, allowing four hits and four runs (three earned) while striking out five in 7.0 innings.
Clifford (3-3) took the loss, allowing six hits and seven runs in 2.1 innings. Megan Schaefer was solid in relief for the Hornets, allowing just one hit in 3.2 innings. Meeks was the only Hornet with a multiple-hit game, finishing 2-for-2 with a run and two RBIs. The home run for Caoagan was her first of the season and third of her career.
In the second game of the day, Houston starter Barbie Love led the Cougars to victory, allowing just three hits and one unearned run in 7.0 innings. She improved her record to 6-1 this season and faced only six batters over the minimum.
Houston got on the board in the first inning with an RBI-single from Laurie Wagner, but the Hornets tied the game in the fourth after Izmena Cabrera scored on an error. The Cougars took the lead back, and for good, with two sixth-inning runs after Angel Shamblin’s single drove home both Amanda Grote and Katy Beth Sherman.
Love got stronger as the game went on, as she retired each of the last eight batters she faced. Meeks (5-4) was strong for the Hornets but got the loss after allowing three runs and six hits over 7.0 innings. Sacramento State finished the game with just three singles - from Amy Tompkins, Jamie Schloredt and Rachel Miles.
Sacramento State returns to action on Tuesday, March 11, when the team travels to Berkeley for a game against Cal. The Hornets then host the 16th-annual Capital Classic on March 14-16 at the Sacramento Softball Complex.
FRESNO, Calif. – Sacramento State fell to a pair of ranked teams – first to 16th-ranked DePaul (7-4) and next to 14th-ranked Houston (3-1) – in the third and fourth rounds of the Bulldog Softball Classic Saturday morning at Bulldog Diamond.
