SOFTBALL COMPLETES PERFECT DAY AT THE MUSTANG CLASSIC WITH WIN OVER SANTA CLARA

2/22/2008

SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. -- Junior Izmena Cabrera had two hits, two walks and a team-high three RBIs while senior Sherry Clark tacked on a two-run double to lead Sacramento State to an 8-5 victory over Santa Clara in the second round of the Mustang Softball Classic Friday evening at Bob Janssen Field.

With the victory, Sacramento State (3-3) improved to 2-0 at the five-game, three-day tournament as the team defeated UAB earlier today by the score of 15-8. The Hornets resume tournament play tomorrow when they face Cal (9 a.m.) and host Cal Poly (4:30). The team concludes play on Sunday with a game against UAB at 9 a.m.

With the loss, Santa Clara, which is one of the six teams in the Pacific Coast Softball Conference along with Sacramento State, dropped to 0-12.

The Hornets jumped out to a 5-0 lead with five runs in the bottom of the second inning. An RBI-single from Amy Tompkins which scored Melissa Cross, followed by a Whitney Loomis sacrifice fly scoring Amanda Meyer got the Hornets their first two runs of the innings. Later, with two outs and the bases loaded, Cabrera struck the big blow with a three-run double to right field giving Sacramento State a lead it would never relinquish.

Santa Clara chipped away at the lead with three runs in the third and one more in the fourth, eventually chasing Hornet freshman starting pitcher Megan Schaefer after 3.0 innings. However, the Hornets immediately responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to reclaim an 8-4 lead. Highlighting the inning was an RBI-double from Jamie Schloredt and a two-out, two-run double from Clark.

That proved to be more than enough for Sacramento State reliever Brittani Clifford, who worked the final 4.0 innings, allowing two runs and two hits while striking out five. Clifford got the win, improving to 1-1 on the young season. Santa Clara’s Kaitlyn Rauschnot (0-2) got the loss, allowing five hits and five runs (two earned) in 1.2 innings.

All but one Sacramento State starter had at least one hit, including Loomis, who went 2-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI. The Hornets’ Nos. 1-5 hitters of Tompkins, Loomis, Schloredt, Cabrera and Rachel Miles combined to bat .500 (7-for-14) with five runs scored, five walks, two doubles and six RBIs.

Schloredt, Loomis and Clark have each hit safely in all six games this year, while Cabrera and Schloredt share the team lead with seven RBIs. Five players are hitting at least .400 consisting of Schloredt (.467), Cabrera (.429), Miles (.429), Loomis (.421) and Kayla Meeks (.400).