MILES’ TWO-OUT, TWO-RUN SINGLE IN THE SEVENTH KEYS SOFTBALL’S 4-3 WIN OVER PRINCETON

3/14/2008

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Down to the Hornets’ last strike, senior Rachel Miles smacked a 1-2 pitch into right field for a two-run single which keyed Sacramento State’s 4-3 victory over Princeton in the first round of the Capital Classic Softball Tournament Friday afternoon at the Sacramento Softball Complex.

Trailing, 3-2, in the top of the seventh, Sacramento State was down to its last strike on two occasions but managed to squeak out the victory. With two outs in the inning and Whitney Loomis on first base, Izmena Cabrera clubbed a 1-2 pitch just off the top of the center field wall to put runners at second and third. Miles then fell behind in the count (1-2) before going the opposite way with a two-run single that scored both Loomis and Cabrera.

Sophomore Brittani Clifford was then inserted into the game and pitched a perfect seventh inning to grab her third save of the season and give the Hornets a 4-3 victory.

With the win, the Hornets improved to 1-0 at the tournament and 11-10 overall this season. The team returns later today to face 19th-ranked Ohio State at 3 p.m. With the loss, Princeton dropped to 2-7 overall and 0-2 at the tournament.

Loomis and Jamie Schloredt hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning to give the Hornets a 2-0 lead. However, Princeton answered with two runs in the bottom of the first (two-run homer from Kelsey Quist) and one more in the third inning to take the lead.

Hornet freshman Megan Schaefer (2-1) got the win, allowing three runs (two earned) and seven hits in 6.0 innings of work. Schaus (1-6) took the loss, allowing six hits and two runs in 6.0 innings. Princeton used three pitchers in the game including two in the first inning.

Schloredt and Cabrera both finished with multiple-hit games, and the home runs for Schloredt and Loomis were the fifth of the season for both players.