FRYE’S WALK-OFF SINGLE HIGHLIGHTS SOFTBALL’S SPLIT WITH NEVADA
3/10/2010
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman Kelli Frye’s walk-off RBI-single in the first game highlighted Sacramento State’s doubleheader split with Nevada in a non-conference softball matchup Wednesday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Hornets won the first game, 4-3, before Nevada came back to win the nightcap, 5-1.
Sacramento State snapped a seven-game losing streak with its victory in the first game. The Hornets moved their record to 4-13, and were playing at home for the sixth and seventh straight games. Nevada is now 7-11 with the split.
In the opener, Sacramento State erased a 2-0 deficit by scoring three times in the sixth inning without the benefit of a hit. After allowing just two singles through the first five innings, Nevada starter Katie Holverson walked three of the first four batters she faced to load the bases with one out. Alyssa Nakken then followed with a ground ball that Wolf Pack second baseman Chelsea Barilli threw wildly to first base allowing both Frye and Nicole Frayn to score.
Two pitches later, Nevada catcher Noelle Micka threw wildly to third base in an attempted pickoff which allowed Erin Jones to score the go-ahead run from third base. By the time the inning ended, the Hornets had scored three runs on the benefit of three walks and two errors.
However, with two outs and none on in the top of the seventh, Danielle Patrick crushed a Megan Schaefer 2-1 offering over the left field wall to tie the score. In the bottom of the seventh, both Jenice Bartee and Molly Smith reached base safely on Nevada errors, setting up Frye’s at-bat. The freshman center fielder delivered in a big way by driving a 2-1 pitch through the left side of the infield allowing Bartee to score the game-winning run.
Schaefer (2-2) went the distance for the victory, allowing three runs and six hits while striking out seven batters. Holverson (2-6) took the loss, allowing three hits and four runs (one earned). Frye, Bartee and Nakken had the Hornets’ three hits in the game.
In the nightcap, sophomore Kortnee Wiley’s three-run triple in the fifth inning broke open a scoreless game. For Wiley, it marked the first extra base hit of her career. Up until that point, Sacramento State starter Shelby Voelz had yet to allow a hit. Nevada loaded the bases in the inning via hit-batter, a fielders choice and a walk. That’s when Wiley lined a ball just over the outstretched glove of Hornet right fielder Jenice Bartee.
Nevada added insurance runs in the sixth (Lauren Lastrapes RBI-single) and seventh (Patrick RBI-single) innings. That was more than enough run support for Nevada starter Mallary Darby (5-5) who allowed just one run and five hits over seven innings. She struck out nine Hornet batters, including four in a row at one point spanning both the first and second innings.
Sacramento State got its lone run in the bottom of the seventh when Bartee scored on some nifty base running all the way from first on a single from Marissa Navarro. Bartee finished the game 2-for-3 with a run, and finished with three hits during the doubleheader.
Voelz (2-7) took the loss, allowing five runs and six hits while striking out six over seven innings. The Hornets were playing without the services of shortstop Desiree Beltran (ankle injury), who is currently batting .462 this season.
Sacramento State returns to action later this week when the team travels to San Luis Obispo, Calif., for the Mustang Classic (March 12-14). The Hornets will play five games over the three-day tournament, beginning on Friday against host Cal Poly (2 p.m.) and UC Santa Barbara (7:30 p.m.). The Hornets will also play twice on Saturday and once more on Sunday.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Freshman 
