SOFTBALL SPLITS A PAIR, WILL PLAY IN SUNDAY MORNING’S CONSOLATION GAME AT PACIFIC TOURNAMENT

3/3/2012

Senior Alyssa Nakken has five hits over the last three games, including a three-run homer today against Pacific

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Marissa Navarro’s grand slam highlighted a win over Delaware, but Sacramento State’s pitching faltered in a loss to Pacific as the Hornets split two games in the second day of the Louisville Slugger Softball Invitational Saturday at Bill Simoni Field.

The Hornets erased a 3-0 deficit to defeat Delaware, 9-5, in the team’s early game, but squandered a 4-1 lead in a 10-4 loss to Pacific later in the evening.

The Hornets will now play Delaware (3-11) in the tournament’s consolation game tomorrow morning at 10 a.m. Pacific (9-7) and third-ranked Washington will meet in the championship game at 12:15 p.m. The Hornets (1-3 at the tournament, 7-8 overall) began the tournament on Friday with losses to Washington and Pacific.

In the game against Delaware, the Hornets erased a 3-0 deficit with four runs in the fourth inning and five more in the sixth. In fact, Sacramento State also came back from a 5-4 deficit in the sixth inning. The big blow was Navarro’s one-out grand slam in the sixth which snapped a 5-5 tie and proved to be the game-winning hit.

Trailing, 3-0, the Hornets strung together four runs and six hits in the fourth inning to take a one-run lead. The team’s first run came on a throwing error allowing pinch runner Sade Estes to score, followed by a Riley Price sacrifice fly, a wild pitch scoring Kelli Frye, and an RBI-single from Emily McCormick which plated Devin Caldwell.

Delaware (3-11) bounced back with two runs in the fifth inning off Sacramento State starter Caitlin Brooks to reclaim the lead at 5-4. However, the Hornets posted a crooked number in the sixth inning with five runs. The first four Hornets reached base safely in the inning, including a Shannon Kaufman RBI-single. That eventually set up Navarro’s at-bat where she promptly deposited a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall for her first career grand slam. It marked the second straight game Navarro hit a round tripper as she struck for a three-run homer yesterday afternoon against Pacific.

The 9-5 cushion was more than enough for Hornet reliever Taylor Stroud, who allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out three over the final 2.1 innings. Stroud (6-3) has now accounted for the decision in all but one of Sacramento State’s wins this year. Brooks worked the first 4.2 innings.

The Hornets’ 15 hits matched a season high as eight of the team’s nine starters had at least one hit. That included multi-hit games from Caldwell (2-for-4, two runs), Kaufman (3-for-4, one run and one RBI), McCormick (2-for-3, one run and one RBI), Navarro (3-for-4, one run, career-high tying four RBIs) and Alyssa Nakken (2-for-3, one run).

Three Delaware pitchers appeared in the game, and Brianna Jennings (0-5) was saddled with the loss, allowing four runs and six hits over 1.1 innings.

In the loss to Pacific, all three Sacramento State pitchers on the team’s staff made appearances and all three were hit hard, giving up at least three runs apiece. Things started out well for the Hornets as Nakken hit a three-run homer in the second inning to give the team a 3-0 lead. Sacramento State added a run in the fourth inning after Kelli Frye scored on a Pacific throwing error to go up, 4-1. However, the Tigers would score three times in the fourth, twice in the fifth and four more times in the sixth inning.

The sixth inning was especially disastrous as Pacific scored four times without a hit, taking advantage of four walks, a passed ball and two illegal pitches. The Tigers were issued eight walks in the game, and six of those runners would come around to score. Pacific needed just seven hits to score its 10 runs. Sacramento State finished with five hits, but had none during the final three innings.

Tori Shepard (2-3) got the win, allowing five hits and four runs (three earned) while walking three and striking out three. Stroud got the loss, allowing four hits and three runs in two innings. Shelby Voelz worked the first three innings, and Brooks pitched the sixth inning.

NOTES -- A team strength during the first three weeks of the season, Sacramento State’s pitching staff has been battered during this weekend’s tournament. The Hornets have allowed at least five runs in all four games thus far, sporting a 9.74 ERA. That includes allowing 20 walks, five doubles and five home runs over 23.0 innings.