McCORMICK’S THREE-RUN HOMER HIGHLIGHTS SOFTBALL’S 8-2 WIN OVER SAN JOSE STATE

2/28/2012

Junior Emily McCormick's three-run homer was the big blow in the Hornets' 8-2 victory over San Jose State

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Junior Emily McCormick hit a three-run homer and sophomore right-hander Taylor Stroud pitched a complete game to help lead Sacramento State to an 8-2 victory over San Jose State in a non-conference softball game Tuesday afternoon at Shea Stadium.

The Hornets scored five times in the third inning, twice in the fifth, and once more in the sixth as the team’s eight runs were one shy of a season high. Sacramento State also pounded out nine hits, including two each from McCormick, Shannon Kaufman (2-for-4 with a run and an RBI), Paige Martin (2-for-3 with a run and an RBI) and Alyssa Nakken (2-for-3 with a run).

With the victory, Sacramento State (6-5) avenged last week’s 5-4 heartbreaking loss at San Jose State in which the team stranded the bases loaded in the seventh inning. The Hornets also snapped a two-game losing streak in the process. The Spartans fell to 7-9 with the loss.

Sacramento State’s scheduled game tomorrow against UC Davis has been postponed due to rain that is expected to hit the Sacramento area all day. No makeup date for the game has been decided yet.

The Hornets’ five-run third inning broke a scoreless tie, and was highlighted by McCormick’s three-run bomb. After Sacramento State scored its first two runs of the inning on a throwing error by San Jose State, McCormick deposited a 1-2 pitch over the left field wall that scored both Kaufman and Devin Caldwell.

After the Spartans scored a run in the fourth inning to close the gap to 5-1, the Hornets scored twice in a fifth inning that was highlighted by an RBI-single from Martin. Sacramento State added one more in the sixth on an RBI-double from Kaufman.

Stroud (5-1) won her team-best fifth game of the season, allowing just four hits and two runs in seven innings. She walked none and struck out three batters while throwing 96 pitches. Jennifer Ames (1-5) got the loss for San Jose State as she allowed nine hits and eight runs (five earned) in five innings.

Sacramento State will return to action later this week for the three-game Louisville Slugger Invitational in Stockton (March 2-4). The Hornets will open the tournament on Friday against both fourth-ranked Washington (11 a.m.) and host Pacific (3:30 p.m.).