Senior Alison Norman |
GOLETA, Calif. – Sacramento State increased its season-high winning streak to four games after defeating both Illinois (1-0) and Iowa State (7-2) in the second day of the UC Santa Barbara Invitational Saturday afternoon at Elings Park.The Hornets, who have now won all four of their games at the tournament, improved to their overall record to 8-8. Junior Jillian Bivert (3-5) picked up the win over Illinois, throwing a five-hit shutout while walking just one batter. Sophomore Nicole Deatherage (4-0) went the distance in the win over Iowa State, allowing two unearned runs and five hits over seven innings.
Deatherage and Bivert have combined to go 4-0 with a 0.48 ERA during tournament play, including Deatherage''s first career no-hitter yesterday against Providence.
Against Illinois, the Hornets scored the game''s only run in the fourth inning on a two-out, RBI-single from freshman Amy Hillel that plated pinch runner Alison Norman. After the first two outs of the inning were recorded, freshman Erin Coyne singled to right field. Norman came in to pinch run for Coyne and stole second base while advancing to third on a throwing error by Illinois catcher Janna Sartini. Hillel then followed with what proved to be the game-winning hit.
Illinois (8-5) threatened in the second inning, putting runners at the corners with one out before Bivert got Alicia Hammel and LeeAnn Butcher to ground out to the end the frame. The Illini also had runners at first and second with one out in the sixth before Bivert retired Jami Bradley on a pop up and got Hammel to ground out.
Bivert set down the side in order in third, fifth and seventh innings. Illinois'' Amanda Fortune (4-3) got the loss despite allowing just one run and four hits in six innings of work.
Against Iowa State, the Hornets pounded out seven runs and nine hits, including two hits apiece from Cathy Coupar, Amber Dragomir and Hillel. All but three Sacramento State starters notched at least one hit as the team scored two runs in the third and five more in the fourth.
Iowa State (1-2) opened the scoring with two unearned runs in the bottom of the second on an RBI-double by Lindsey Herrin and a sacrifice fly from Katie Ruby. The Hornets answered back with two runs in the top of the third on an RBI-single by Dragomir and a dropped fly ball off the bat of Bivert scoring Dragomir.
The Hornets then posted five unearned runs in the fourth, taking advantage of three Cyclone errors in the inning. Coupar''s two-out, three-run double highlighted the inning as she and Dragomir would both come around to score on errors later in the inning.
Sacramento State will look to close out the tournament with a perfect 5-0 record tomorrow as the team closes against Cal Poly (11:30 a.m.). Should the Hornets win tomorrow, it would match their longest winning streak (five games) in two years.
