SOFTBALL BEATS UC DAVIS AGAIN, IMPROVES WINNING STREAK TO SEVEN GAMES

3/11/2012

Senior first baseman Alyssa Nakken pounded a two-run homer in the fourth inning of today's victory

DAVIS, Calif. -- Sacramento State’s Alyssa Nakken and Marissa Navarro both hit home runs to lead the Hornets to a 6-4 victory over UC Davis in the fourth and final round of the Aggie Softball Stampede Sunday afternoon at La Rue Field.

With the win, the Hornets complete the three-day, round robin tournament with a perfect 4-0 record, which includes two victories against UC Davis and two wins over Idaho State. Sacramento State is now 14-8 overall and has won seven straight games, the team’s longest winning streak since the 2009 season.

During the winning streak, Sacramento State has played well in all facets of the game. Over the seven games, the team’s offense is batting .323 with five home runs and 38 RBIs, the pitching staff has a 1.90 ERA, the running game has tallied 10 stolen bases in 11 attempts, and the team fielding percentage is a very impressive .981.

For the second straight day, the Hornets never trailed against UC Davis. Sacramento State scored one in the second (on Navarro’s solo home run), two more in the fourth and sixth, and one insurance run in the seventh. Nakken’s two-run blast over the center field wall in the fourth inning put Sacramento State in front, 3-1.

However, a two-run homer by the Aggies’ Kelly Harman tied the score at 3-3 in the fifth inning. The Hornets immediately responded with two runs in the sixth on a Riley Price RBI-single which scored both Kelli Frye and pinch runner Sade Estes. Sacramento State added a run in the seventh after the team pulled off a successful double steal which saw pinch runner Jessica Abelia steal home while Nakken took second.

UC Davis (9-17) made things interesting with a run in the seventh inning to close the deficit to 6-4, and had the tying run at the plate before reliever Taylor Stroud got Rachel Miller to ground out and end the game.

Stroud (9-3) got the win in relief, allowing three hits and two runs (one earned) while walking none and striking out five over three innings. Freshman Caitlin Brooks worked the first four-plus innings, allowing two runs and five hits while striking out six. Aggie reliever Melanie Russell (0-2) got the loss after working the final four innings.

Six different Sacramento State players recorded at least one hit, including a 2-for-4 day from freshman Kaitlyn Taylor and 2-for-2 from Frye. The home run for Navarro was her team-high fourth of the season and she now has 24 RBIs in 22 games. Navarro has hit safely in five straight games, and has at least one RBI in four of those contests. Nakken’s home run was her third of the season, and all have come over the last eight games.

Sacramento State will return to action when the team hosts the 20th-annual Capital Classic from March 16-18. The three-day tournament features 10 games with all contests being played on campus at Shea Stadium. Sacramento State is joined by tournament participants Akron, Colorado State, 16th-ranked Louisville and Princeton. The Hornets begin tournament play on Friday against Colorado State at noon. For complete tournament information, click here.