JONES’ SCHOOL-RECORD SEVEN RBIs HIGHLIGHTS SOFTBALL’S ROUT OF SANTA CLARA

4/29/2010

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Freshman Erin Jones went 4-for-4 with a double, home run, stolen base and school-record seven RBIs to lead Sacramento State to a 16-0 victory over Santa Clara in a Pacific Coast Softball Conference (PCSC) game Thursday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The game was shortened to five innings because the Hornets had more than enough runs to kick in the eight-run mercy rule.

Today’s contest was a makeup of a game earlier this season between the two teams that was rained out. With the win, Sacramento State swept the four-game series and outscored Santa Clara over those four games by a 49-5 margin. The two teams played the first three games of the series April 10-11, and the Hornets won by scores of 10-3, 6-2 and 17-0, respectively.

With the victories, Sacramento State (17-29, 7-5) remains in third place in the PCSC Coastal Division standings, two games behind first-place Loyola Marymount (9-3) and one game back of second-place Saint Mary’s (7-3). The Hornets have just eight games remaining in the regular season, including the final four home games this weekend against fourth-place Cal State Bakersfield (6-6).

Santa Clara (9-27, 1-11) has now lost 13 straight games to Sacramento State dating back to 2007.

In today’s game, Jones was one of numerous Hornets to have big days. Four of her seven RBIs came in the first inning, and she added a three-run homer in the fifth. The seven RBIs surpassed the previous single-game school record of six, held by teammate Jenice Bartee (2008) and Kelly Wilkins (1992).

The Hornets scored nine runs in a first inning which lasted 22 minutes, and saw all but two Sacramento State players score at least one run. Eight of the nine batters in the lineup reached base safely via hit or walk in the inning, Alyssa Nakken had two runs and three RBIs, Jones had a pair of two-RBI hits, and the Hornets sent 15 batters to the plate. The big blows in the inning came via two-run double from Jones, a three-run double from Nakken, and a two-run single later in the inning by Jones to cap the scoring.

Sacramento State scored two more times in the fourth inning (two-run homer from Marissa Navarro) and five in the fifth (solo home run from Nakken, three-run homer from Jones and an RBI-single from Jillian Canete).

Nakken finished the game 2-for-4 with three runs, a walk, a home run and four RBIs, Bartee went 3-for-4 with three runs. and Navarro went 2-for-3 with two runs, a homer and three RBIs. Jones, Nakken and Navarro combined for 14 RBIs. Every Sacramento State starter had at least one hit and/or walk in the game. A total of four Santa Clara pitchers made an appearance, and Kaitlyn Rauschnot (4-13) took the loss after failing to escape the first inning.

Sacramento State starter Megan Schaefer (7-6) picked up the win, allowing two hits while striking out two batters over three innings. Shelby Voelz worked two perfect innings of relief.

Sacramento State returns to its home field this Saturday and Sunday when the team hosts doubleheaders both days at noon against Cal State Bakersfield. Hornet seniors Bartee and Katie Bossenmaier will be honored for their contributions to the program prior to Sunday’s doubleheader.