SOFTBALL BEATS UC DAVIS AND IDAHO STATE, WINNING STREAK AT SIX GAMES
3/10/2012
Senior Shelby Voelz tossed a nine-inning shutout to propel the Hornets to a 1-0 win against Idaho State
DAVIS, Calif. -- Sophomore Devin Caldwell had two hits and two RBIs against UC Davis, and senior right-hander Shelby Voelz threw a nine-inning shutout against Idaho State as the Hornets won both their games in the second day of the Aggie Softball Stampede Saturday afternoon at La Rue Field.
The Hornets began the day by defeating the Aggies, 3-2, and came back later in the afternoon to knock off Idaho State, 1-0, in nine innings.
With the victories, Sacramento State (13-8) improved its winning streak to six games, the longest streak since the team won eight straight in 2009. In addition, the Hornets are five games above the .500 mark for the first time since the end of the 2009 season. Sacramento State also improved to 58-33 all-time against the Aggies.
UC Davis dropped to 8-16 with the loss, and Idaho State fell to 3-17.
Sacramento State is now 3-0 at the three-day round robin tournament, including a mercy-rule victory against Idaho State yesterday. The Hornets conclude the tournament tomorrow against UC Davis at 1 p.m.
In the game against UC Davis, the hitting punch of Caldwell and Marissa Navarro, and the arm of Taylor Stroud led the Hornets to a win over their rivals from across the Causeway. Sacramento State never trailed in a game that saw both teams consistently get runners on base as the Hornets left 10 runners on, and UC Davis stranded six runners.
The Hornets got on the board in the top of the second inning after Caldwell’s two-out, RBI-double scored Riley Price from first base. UC Davis immediately tied the score in the bottom of the inning before the Hornets retook the lead in the fourth on an RBI-singe from Caldwell.
Sacramento State picked up a much-needed insurance run in the top of the seventh inning when Navarro singled home pinch runner Sade Estes. The Aggies made things interesting in the bottom of the seventh, cutting the lead to 3-2 on a leadoff homer by Kelly Harman. UC Davis took advantage of a Hornet error later in the inning to get runners at first and third base with two outs before Stroud induced Megan Guzman to ground out and end the game.
The Aggies stranded a runner at third base in four of the seven innings, as Stroud (8-3) had to make a number of pressure pitches throughout the game. The sophomore right-hander allowed seven hits and two runs while walking none and striking out three over seven innings. She needed 102 pitches to pick up her team-high eighth win of the season. UC Davis’ Justine Vela (6-8) took the loss, allowing eight hits and three runs while striking out nine over seven innings.
For the Hornets, Caldwell finished the game 2-for-2 with two RBIs and Emily McCormick went 2-for-4.
In the second game, Voelz picked up a nine-inning shutout, allowing eight hits and just three walks while striking out four. Voelz worked her way out of trouble all game long as Idaho State had runners in scoring position in all but two innings. In fact, the Bengals had a runner at third with less than two outs in the first, second, sixth, seventh, eighth and ninth innings, but could not score. Idaho State also had runners thrown out at the plate in four different innings, including right fielder Kelly Shepard throwing out a runner in the first inning. Voelz worked her way out a no-out, runner at third situation in the sixth inning, and a no-out, bases loaded situation in the seventh.
Sacramento State’s offense, which entered the day on fire, was cooled by Idaho State’s trio of pitchers Amanda Fitzsimmons, Kelsi Ott and Haley Douglas. It was Douglas (1-5) who picked up the loss, allowing Caldwell’s RBI-fielders choice which scored Kelli Frye with the winning run. The run was unearned as the international tiebreaker rule was in effect, allowing Frye to be placed on second base to open the inning. She moved over to third on Price’s fly ball to right field, and after a hit batter, Caldwell’s ground ball to third base allowed Frye to beat the throw home for the winning run.
The Hornets had just three hits in the game, and Caldwell saw her career-high eight-game hitting streak come to an end. Navarro, Frye and Price were the only Hornets with hits in the game.
Voelz improved to 3-1 with the victory and her nine innings pitched were a career high. She also threw 122 pitches and stranded 13 Idaho State runners on base.
