Senior Cathy Coupar |
BERKELEY, Calif. – The Sacramento State softball team opened the 2002 season by getting swept at fifth-ranked Cal Saturday afternoon at Levine-Fricke Field. The Bears won game one, 3-2, before taking the nightcap, 4-0.Today''s games marked the first competition of the season for both teams.
In the first game, Jocelyn Forest threw a complete game, including 6 1/3 innings of no-hit ball before surrendering a one out, two-run homer to junior Jillian Bivert in the seventh inning. Forest stuck out 11 of the first 12 batters she faced and finished the game with 13.
The Bears opened the scoring in the second inning after an error by Meghan Cunningham brought home Jessica Vernaglia from third base.
In the bottom of the fourth, Cal struck again with a solo home run by Kelly Anderson, giving the Bears a 2-0 lead. In the fifth inning, Kristen Morley led off with a single to center field and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Chelsea Spencer. After Kaleo Eldredge grounded out to short, Candace Harper''s single brought home Morley for the third and final Cal run.
The Hornets threatened with the two-run homer by Bivert, but Forest recovered from there, forcing Erin Coyne to ground out to short and Amy Hillel to fly out to left to wrap up the contest. Bivert picked up the loss for the Hornets, allowing three runs (two earned) and five hits in 5.0 innings of work. Junior Kirsten Wise threw one shutout inning of relief.
In game two, Jennifer Deering threw a two-hit shutout while the Bears scored early to give her a two-run cushion. In the bottom of the first, Courtney Scott''s two-run double gave Cal an early 2-0 lead. The Bears scored again in the second as Mikella Pedretti''s solo home run increased the team''s lead to 3-0.
Harper led off the bottom of the fifth with a double down the left field line. After Jessica Pamanian grounded out to shortstop, Scott''s single advanced Harper to third. Deering helped her own cause as she hit a chopper over third base to bring in Harper for Cal''s final run.
Sacramento State''s only two hits of the contest came on singles by Amber Dragomir and Cathy Coupar. The Hornets combined for just three hits in both games of the doubleheader. Junior Gina Steenburgen picked up the loss for Sacramento State in the second game, allowing four runs (two earned) and 10 hits in 5.0 innings.
The Hornets return to action tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 3) for their home opener against Santa Clara. The doubleheader begins at noon.
