LATE RALLY FALLS SHORT IN SOFTBALL’S 3-1 LOSS TO UC DAVIS
2/20/2011
SAN DIEGO -- UC Davis’ Jessica Thweatt allowed just three hits and one run over seven innings to lead the Aggies to a 3-1 victory over Sacramento State in the fourth and final round of the San Diego Softball Classic Sunday afternoon at the USD Softball Complex.
The Hornets (1-5) were supposed to play five games at the tournament, but rains wiped out one of those contests. In fact, Sacramento State was supposed to play Missouri today, but that game was scrapped in favor of the UC Davis matchup. The Hornets concluded the tournament with a 1-3 record, including close losses to 22nd-ranked San Diego State and 11th-ranked Washington, and a 6-5 win over UC Santa Barbara. All five of Sacramento State's losses this season have come by three runs or less.
Thweatt (3-2) was impressive while picking up her third victory of the season, striking out six while walking three. She allowed singles in the first and second innings, and Sacramento State went hitless the next four innings before getting an infield single in the seventh. With the Hornets trailing, 3-1, in the seventh, Sacramento State took advantage of an error, a walk and an infield hit to load the bases with two outs. However, Thweatt was able to get junior Jessica Abelia to ground out and end the game.
Both teams scored a run in the first inning, as a two-out RBI-single from sophomore Emily McCormick scored junior Alyssa Nakken to tie the score at 1-1. UC Davis (4-4) took the lead for good in the fourth after a Hornet throwing error allowed Kylie Fan to score. The Aggies tacked on an insurance run in the top of the seventh after Alex Holmes led off with a triple and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Elizabeth Santana.
Sacramento State senior right-hander Megan Schaefer (0-2) took the loss, allowing six hits and two runs (one earned) over the first 4.2 innings. Junior Shelby Voelz worked the final 2.1 innings, giving up two hits and a run.
Sophomore left fielder Kelly Shepard was the lone Hornet with a multiple-hit game, going 2-for-3 to increase her season batting average to .385. Freshman Shannon Kaufman went 0-for-3 and saw her four-game hitting streak come to a close. Nakken went 0-for-2, but did walk twice and stole a base. She now has a team-high .583 on-base percentage, and is 4-for-4 on stolen base opportunities this season.
These same two teams will meet again this Wednesday, Feb. 23 when the Hornets travel to Davis to face the Aggies at 2 p.m. Sacramento State will then host the first-ever PCSC Crossover Tournament where the Hornets will play four games over three days. For complete tournament information, click here.
