Senior Lori Meixner

The pair of victories lifted the team’s record to 2-4 on the season. The Gaels fell to 3-6.

In the first game, junior Jillian Bivert was 3-for-3 at the plate and recorded a complete game to spark the Hornets. Bivert allowed just three hits and struck out four to improve to 1-2 on the year.

Sacramento State posted its first runs of the day in the third inning. Bivert started the one-out rally with a single to center and advanced to third on a single by catcher Erin Coyne. Freshman Michelle Baraio came in to run for Coyne and immediately stole second base. On the play, the Gaels attempted to pick off Bivert at third but the throw was errant allowing Bivert to score. Freshman Amy Hillel added a sacrifice fly which plated Baraio to give the team a 2-0 lead.

The Hornets added an insurance run in the fourth when Meghan Cunningham singled to right scoring Lori Meixner.

In the second game, eight Hornets recorded at least one hit and all nine starters reached base. The group was led by Meixner and Hillel who each had a pair of hits. The seven runs proved to be plenty for sophomore Nicole Deatherage who picked up her first win of the season and surrendered just four hits.

Sacramento State scored one run in the second and two in the third before blowing the game wide open with three runs in the fourth. In the inning, the Hornets collected four hits and took advantage of one SMC error. The team added its final run in the fifth.

For the day, Sacramento State tallied 21 hits. The Hornets entered the game with just 14 through the first four games of the year. The 10 total runs also eclipsed the four-game total of five and the pair of complete games were the first by a Sacramento State pitcher this season.

The team returns to the diamond on Tuesday, Feb. 12, against San Jose State. The doubleheader with start at 1 p.m. at Shea Stadium on the Sacramento State campus.

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