McCORMICK’S BLAST AND VOELZ’S SHUTOUT LEAD SOFTBALL TO SPLIT WITH SAN DIEGO

4/18/2010

SAN DIEGO – Sacramento State freshman Emily McCormick hit a home run in the sixth inning and sophomore Shelby Voelz threw her second shutout in as many days as the Hornets defeated San Diego, 1-0, in the second game of a Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) doubleheader Sunday afternoon at the USD Softball Complex.

Behind two home runs from Taylor Hensley, the Toreros won the first game by a 6-4 score.

With the split, Sacramento State moved its record to 15-26 overall and 5-2 in the conference. The Hornets and Toreros (13-22, 2-4) split the four-game series this weekend as the two teams split a doubleheader yesterday as well.

The shutout for Voelz was her second of the weekend as the right-hander tossed a five-hitter yesterday, and topped that with a four-hitter today. In two appearances this weekend, she allowed just nine hits while striking out nine over 14.0 innings. Torero hitters batted a combined .188 off Voelz, and the shutouts were her second and third of the season. The Vancouver, Wash., native has not allowed a run in 15 straight innings (spanning three appearances) and has won each of her last four decisions.

Today’s shutout came in the second game of a doubleheader that saw both teams combine for just nine hits. The biggest hit was McCormick’s blast to right-center field with two outs in the sixth inning. For McCormick, it was her fourth home run of the season, and third in the last seven games. That included a homer in the second game of yesterday’s doubleheader.

Voelz (8-13) allowed just four hits and one walk while striking out five. She faced six batters over the minimum and stranded six San Diego runners on base. That included a seventh inning where the Toreros had runners at first and second with two outs, but Voelz retired pinch hitter Allison Stalberger on a fly ball to center field.

San Diego’s Kaitlin Healy (1-6) was the tough-luck losing pitching as she allowed just five hits and no walks while striking out four over six innings. Despite the games being played in San Diego, Sacramento State was the designated home team in both games today per PCSC rules.

McCormick, Erin Jones, Jenice Bartee, Marissa Navarro and Molly Smith each had hits for the Hornets while the Toreros’ Danielle Duhart (2-for-3) was the only player with a multiple-hit game. Jones had hits in both games for Sacramento State today, increasing her season-best hitting streak to seven games.

In the opener, San Diego erased a 3-0 deficit by scoring six runs over a four-inning span, and held on for a 6-4 victory. In fact, things looked very good for Sacramento State as the team had scored one run in each of the first, second and third innings, and starter Megan Schaefer retired the first nine batters she faced in succession.

However, San Diego opened the fourth inning with three straight hits, the last of which was a three-run homer by Hensley. The Toreros would add single runs in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings off Schaefer, including Hensley’s second home run of the day, a solo shot to lead off the sixth.

Sacramento State scored its first three runs on a Jones RBI-single (first inning), an RBI-double from Kellie Frye (second inning) and an RBI-double from Navarro (third inning). The Hornets had plenty of opportunities to score more runs, leaving a combined four runners on base during the first two innings, and Navarro was picked off third base with one out in the third.

In the bottom of the seventh, McCormick led off the inning with a double and later came home on an RBI-groundout from Jones to cut the deficit to 6-4, but that was as close as the Hornets would get.

San Diego’s Jennifer Ellenbeck (10-10) picked up her second win in as many days against Sacramento State, allowing nine hits and four runs over seven innings. She also walked four and struck out five while stranding eight runners on base.

Schaefer (5-5) got the loss, allowing nine hits and six runs (five earned) while walking two and striking out two over seven innings. Sacramento State tallied nine hits as all but one Hornet starter had at least one knock. Jones was the only Hornet with a multiple-hit game as she finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

Sacramento State returns to action next weekend (April 24-25) for another four-game PCSC series. This time, the Hornets will travel to Moraga to take on Saint Mary’s. Doubleheaders on both Saturday and Sunday begin at noon.