SCHLOREDT POUNDS THREE HOME RUNS AS SOFTBALL BEGINS SEASON WITH DOUBLEHEADER SWEEP OF PACIFIC

2/12/2009

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Sacramento State senior Jamie Schloredt clubbed three home runs to highlight a Sacramento State offensive attack that combined for 16 runs and 21 hits in a doubleheader sweep of Pacific in non-conference softball action Thursday afternoon at Bill Simoni Field.

Sacramento State won the first game, 6-2, before coming back in the nightcap to win 10-0 and enforcing the eight-run mercy rule after six innings.

Schloredt, who is the reigning Pacific Coast Softball Conference MVP and an all-West Region selection, picked up where she left off last season. The 5-7 senior catcher combined to go 3-for-7 with three runs, three home runs and five RBIs. Schloredt’s performance highlighted a Sacramento State offense that combined to hit .368 (21-for-57) with five doubles, five home runs, 16 RBIs, a .446 on-base percentage and a .719 slugging percentage during the doubleheader.

Two of those five home runs were hit by freshmen, as first baseman Alyssa Nakken and shortstop Desiree Beltran each connected. Five different Hornets hit at least .400 during the doubleheader, comprised of Rachel Miles (3-for-5, .600, two runs), Beltran (4-for-7, .571, one double, one homer, three RBIs), Schloredt (.429, 3-for-7), Nakken (.400, 2-for-5, one home run, four RBIs) and Izmena Cabrera (.400, 2-for-5, three runs, a double, three walks and two RBIs).

Not to be outdone, Hornet pitchers Brittani Clifford and Megan Schaefer each picked up complete-game victories, combining to allow the Tigers just two runs and 11 hits over 13.0 innings.

The two teams were supposed to play yesterday, but rains pushed the doubleheader back until this afternoon. With the victories, Sacramento State (2-0) wins its season opener for the third straight year, and fourth time in the last five seasons. Prior to today, the Hornets had not defeated Pacific (1-4) in Stockton since the 1999 season, a span of eight straight losses on the Tigers’ home field. In addition, the Hornets swept a doubleheader on Pacific’s home field for the first time since the 1991 season. Sacramento State improved to 32-47-1 all-time against the Tigers.

In the opener, Sacramento State scored two runs in each of the second, sixth and seventh innings. In the second, the Hornets manufactured both runs as Schaefer sacrifice squeezed home Cabrera, and Nakken’s groundout to shortstop later scored Miles. In the sixth, the Hornets added to their lead with a Schloredt solo home run and an RBI-double from Beltran.

After Clifford went the first five innings allowing just one hit, the Tigers finally got to the junior right-hander for two runs in the sixth, slicing the Hornets’ lead in half to 4-2. However, Sacramento State immediately tacked on two more runs in the top of the seventh after Cabrera’s one-out double scored both Jenice Bartee and pinch runner Marissa Navarro.

Pacific loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh, but Clifford induced Briana Santos to fly out and end the game. Clifford (1-0) went the distance for the win, allowing two runs and five hits while walking four and striking out one over seven innings. Sacramento State’s Nos. 3-6 hitters of Schloredt (1-for-3, home run, RBI), Cabrera (2-for-3, double, two RBIs), Beltran (2-for-3, double, RBI) and Miles (1-for-2) combined to go 6-for-11 (.545) with five runs, three walks, two doubles, a home run and four RBIs in the game.

In the nightcap, the Hornets’ scoring was highlighted by a five-run third inning and a four-run sixth. In the third inning, all five runs were score via the long ball as Schloredt connected for a two-run shot and Nakken clubbed a three-run homer. Home runs also accounted for all four runs in the sixth, comprised of a Schloredt two-run bomb and a two-run homer from Beltran.

That was more than enough run support for Schaefer (1-0), who picked up her second career shutout. The sophomore right-hander, who was able to work her way out of trouble in the second and fourth innings, allowed six hits and two walks while striking out four over six innings.

Sacramento State returns to action for this weekend’s Santa Clara Invitational. The Hornets are scheduled to play both San Jose State and Santa Clara on Saturday, Feb. 14, and will again play the same two teams on Sunday, Feb. 15.